WOMAN'S POSITION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4344, 18 July 1871, Page 3

WOMAN'S POSITION.

TO THE EDITOR. , ■ Sib,— lf "Polly Plum" has no desire for controversy with "Old Pra'cticafJ" why does', she make those renaarlta which, as a matter of course, lead to it, and make it as necessary, for me, as herself, to crave a short space in your columns for a reply.? This lady complains that she scarcely ,ever takes up the r Cross without finding-some letters from me.' Surely I have as much right to address you, Mr. Editor, and the public through your columns, as " Polly Plum" has, and to! address myself to the subject in which " she is so deeply interested," for I am the same. "Polly Plum," like many other correspondents, seems to grudge my descanting upon; such a variety of subjects. Is there any particular wonder in my -doing this ? Does not every editor and sub- editor of a newspaper do the same, taking a round of subjects of the day to write upon ; and is there asy wrong or wonderment in my amusing myself in descauting! upon; the passing subjects and ' events of the day ? I do not profess to be; an oracle, but, in scanning events, take the liberty of giving my opinion upon them, ] leaving the public to take or leave them as ' tbeyplease. A very blunt, plain-spoken, honest • fellow once said to me upon being intro- * duced, "Oh ! you are * Old Practical, ' are you ? Well, you write a good .deal . of non- ( sense, and some very good sense. " I replied, < "Do you ever shoot witbra rifle?" He said, " Yes ; but what has that to do with it ?" "Well," I said, "do you always hit the bull's-eye ?" li No; " was' hik ! r^'ply. xif Then why should you expect me to. dp it ?" "Yes ; I understand," he said, "all right, all right." I do not believe that any of my letters give a false impression of what is wanted by women who * are agitating this question j and I am sure " Polly Plum" has quite an erroneous yiew of my opinions on the subject. 1 am quite willing that all women independently situated— as widows, or having prqpqrjby, . n wtiwly in their

own right — should have precisely the same privileges aa men, should vote and do all that man have a right to do. But when a woman has a husband, I would most certainly have him to be the head over his own house, and I am very sure when it, is not bo $he woman immediately begins to despise him.' ' It is lib argument " Polly Pltim " saying she is "sure no good ; woman who loves her horne 1 and. children , would use her legal freedom to the disadvantage of those commit ted, to her care," &c, Neither would any good husband use his privilege to the i disadvantage of those committed to his cdre. Surely "what ia sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander : ' this old but true adago must not be forgotten. There must be a head to a country, colony, province, city, or family ; and that head, according to €he usage of all ages and according to Scripture, should be man, although under an hereditary government we have a Queen at the head of our British Government. That there are bad husbands, who doubts ? — and unfortunately there are bad wives, and we cannot form laws on exceptional cases. It may be strafcge, but in my whole range of female acquaintance, married and single, I cannot discover one who agrees with "Polly Plum's" doctrine, if they rightly understand it, and, if not, why not make it cltar and unmistakable what " Woman's Charter " is intended to be ? "Polly Plum" is quite uuder error in supposing that woman's occupation is lessened of late years, and I much doubt whether machinery has not increased female work. "Women are much ecaplojed in telegraph stations, railways, printing offices, fee. That men are employed as shopmen is not our fault, for it >is a universal fact that ladies will not deal at shops where they are attended to by females only. <' Polly Plum" almost invariably argues «n false premises ; states a case, supposes it a fact, and then argues upon it as such. I can assure the lady that I was much pleased at the success of her lecture, and, although I was uot there myself, several of my family were. But, sir, I must apologise for the length of this letter, for I do not often inflict so much upon you and the public. From natural gallantry (notwithstanding men 1 being such wretched creatures) a man invariably suffers in writings or controversy with females ; and this they must bear. — I ' am, &c. , Old Practical.