A SPIRITED REPLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7253, 16 May 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

A SPIRITED REPLY.

A letter signed " Bachelor" in a South Australian paper, urging that ladies should take part in the defences of that Colony, elicited the following spirited reply from a "Daughter of South Australia " : —" Will you kindly allow me spaca for a few lines iv reply to ' Bachelor ?' Poor fellow, ho mu,st be some poor disappointed, cynical, soured bachelor to write thua of ub woman. He has evidently not made the acquaintance of many (if any) true WOIU9D of South Australia, for he appears to judgo us all by one or two of bis shallowminded acquaintances, Lst me tell him that there io many a Sou h Australian girl who would fight side by eida with father or brother in the foremost rank, to defend her country, her honour, her freedom, and those sho loves with equal courage. She would not shun danger, but do her utmost to save the Colony iv which sha was born from invasion. Thero is many a South Australian girl with whom dross is buta secondary consideration, who to save a father s honour and to keep those she loves from the shame of an insolvency court,' baa loft her homo to earn hor bread and assist her family. No, no 'Bachelor,' we aro not all deserving of such opithets as 'frivolous extravagant ingrates. There aro many of us who, though laoking 'physical strength' to bear armß, would come forward in time of need and prove that we have given our 'time and thoughts' to more than 'the dresses and hats wo must have for the coming winter.' Do the Volunteers need women to cojne forward and inspire them with courage 1 Is there need for us to step out of our legitimate ephere of Jabour, and form a ladifis' Volunteer corps ? Yob. Then, " Bachelor,'l am toady for one, and thero hundreds mora who think as I do. I have had Bomo practice with tho rifle, nnd can hit a ' post' at the distance of 200 yards. So, 'Bachelor,' I answer your challenge of ' Women, I say, be up and doing!' Take back your calumny upon our sex, for we women of South Australia are not such frivolous emptyheaded creatures. Our fair city will never be sacked by Kussians whilst there is love of home, honour, freedom, and country in tho hearts of every fair daughter of South Aubtralia."

- Lord papier, in a recent address before the Church of England Temperance Society, said that while commanding the armies in India a return made to him relating to 18,000 men, Bhowed that among total abstainers there was do crime, but the whole body of prime W(W Wongnon-f»b«l;ajner9,. ' ' ' -'^