Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 03, April 16, 1870Various
General
Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 03, April 16, 1870
Various
American wit and humor -- Periodicals
We have always looked upon the champions of woman's righteousness, those
who believe in the _fee-male absolute_ as the real estate of woman, as
principally married women, whose housekeeping has proved a failure,
(except in the single item of hot water,) and certain ladies who have
lived to mature age without reference to men, and whom no man would take
even with the best of reference.
There surely must be something wrong, somewhere, when those in the
younger walks of age take on this armor.
Where is the need?
Why should they who have never had their young lives blighted by a
husband linger pathetically over the tyranny of the sterner sex?
Instead of shedding all these tears over other people's husbands, they
ought rather to rejoice that they have been spared such inflictions in
the past, and give exceeding great thanks that they are beyond danger of
such in the future.
[Illustration: _Tour_ 2.--SHE SEARCHES FOR A FIRE. "THERE'S SOMETHIN' A
SINGEIN'!"]
There may be other young women (if I may so speak) who are so
heart-broken because of the oppression of their sex, as wives, so
disgusted with the state matrimonial under the present constitution of
society, that they would not marry--oh! no.
Now, we all remember the cogent reason why John refused to partake of
his evening repast, and we assure these young persons that they have
nothing whatever to fear. The danger is past, and they are safe beyond
the possibility of a peradventure.
They are not the kind that men devour. And yet we can not help feeling
pity for them; their experience has been _trying_, but in vain; they
know what it is "to suffer and be strong"-minded; they have learned "to
labor and to wait," and it is well; for in all probability they will
wait for some time.
It may be that the poor creatures are afflicted by the thought
that _perhaps_ they may be called upon to make warning examples of
themselves, and marry; and that _perhaps_ the man they marry may be a
tyrant, and--but the contingency is too remote.
Some tell us that their youthful ardor is to uphold the standard of
woman's mission: they want to work.
Well, all we can say is--_go it_! for under the circumstances, with no
one to work for them, the best possible thing they can do is to work for
themselves. But couldn't they do more, or at least as much, without so
much noise? If they only had plenty to do, and not so much spare time to
talk about what they are going to do, wouldn't they be better off, and
poor frail man be the gainer thereby?
If they could only resolve upon such a course, and stick to it, don't
you think they would receive more aid, material and moral?
Many would gladly contribute of their substance in such a cause, with
overflowing hearts; and the world of man will gladly guarantee to those
who avow their determination not to marry, entire immunity from any
temptation in that direction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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