Josiah Allen on the Woman Question [Illustration: "She made me think that minute of them big rocks when I was tryin' to plough 'round 'em" (see p. 82)] Josiah Allen on the Woman Question By MARIETTA HOLLEY _Author of "Samantha on the Woman Question", "Samantha at Saratoga", "My Opinions and Betsy Bobbett's", etc._ _ILLUSTRATED._ [Illustration] New York Chicago Toronto Fleming H. Revell Company London and Edinburgh Copyright, 1914, by FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY New York: 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago: 125 North Wabash Ave. Toronto: 25 Richmond Street, W. London: 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street Contents I. In Which I Resolve to Write a Book 9 II. In Which Betsy Bobbett Butts In 25 III. I Talk on Wimmen's Duty to Marry 39 IV. I Talk on Man's Protectin' Love for Wimmen 59 V. Wherein I Prove Man's Courtesy Towards Wimmen 74 VI. I Talk on Females Infringin' 96 VII. About Wimmen's Foolish Love for Petickulars 113 VIII. I Talk on Wimmen's Extravagance 135 IX. The Danger From Wimmen's Exaggeration 151 X. The Modern Wimmen Condemned 169 ILLUSTRATIONS Opposite Page I. "She Made Me Think That Minute of Them Big Rocks When I Was Tryin' to Plough Round 'Em" title II. "And She Looked As If She Would Sink Down In Her Tracts" 42 III. "Till She Gets 'Em All Rousted Up, and Just Boy Cote That Man Till He Has to Keep Hullsome Food" 120 IV. "Josiah", Sez She, "a Hen Don't Cackle Till She Lays Her Egg" 138 I IN WHICH I RESOLVE TO WRITE A BOOK For years and years I've been deeply wownded in my most sacred feelin's and my reason has been outraged by my pardner, Samantha's, writin' agin the righteous cause of man's superiority to wimmen. But though my feelin's have been rasped and almost bleedin' from the unjust wownds I've kep' still and let her go on with other headstrong and blinded females, and argey and deny man's sole and indefrangible right to oversee and order the affairs of the universe, and specially the weak helpless female sect, the justice of which, it seems to me, a infant babe might see without spectacles. I have curbed in my wownded sperit and my mighty inteleck with almost giant strength, and never let 'em have free play in public print to dispute and overthrow them uroneous doctrines.