OFFENCES AGAINST WOMEN. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11329, 24 January 1899, Page 4

OFFENCES AGAINST WOMEN. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —I scarcely ever expected to write a letter for your columns, least of all on this subject. But in this wise we must, throw, mock modesty to the winds, and for our sisters' and children's sakes, as well as our own, freely state our opinions on a subject we would rather shrink from mentioning- . ( " The Lash for Certain Criminals." How many women have had cause to regret their feminine weakness, not only in a brief struggle for purity'and good name, but in after days—ay, and years to come? How many have had cause to curse those to whom they thought'to look for protection? How many women lose their husbands' love and respect because they cannot bring themselves to tell of the outrages they had endured through no fault of their own? And how many women are, or might be, in the lunatic asylum because' these brutes are allowed to go about in the shape and clothing of men? These horrors to a woman are awful. What must they be to children? And we know that even our little one r do not escape. Some may think this an exaggeration, but I have heard of many and ; know of several eases where children, some too young for school, have been tortured by schoolboys and others. No punishment, I say, is too great' for such fiends. .To be flayed alive would not be too severe for those whose deliberate aim and boast is the ruination of our sex. We must suffer, while they glory in our slfame and laugh at our misery, and when an occasional one is brought to justice there are dozens to plead for him that the temptation, etc., are greater for them than for us. That may bo so, but arc they not the stronger in many ways'than we? Is not grace offered in proportion to the need? Have they, not the offer of strength to overcome. if they will but ask it from One who was in all points tompted like as they are, yet without: sin? If some who were men act like brutes, let them. bY treated and punished as such, and if a son or a brother be among them do not spare. If nothing is done' to protect women, women must resort to means to protect themselves. .:■■•..-■•■■-

What an ennobling picture of .manhood "Anthropos" paints, and how little he must think of us if he thinks we would not.marry the; man -we loved because he had not enough to keep us. If that were the only obstacle in our path, we would not only work; before, but willingly do our share after marriage. I like the tone of " G. X's "' letter.better, though I don't agree.-with all he Eays. It sounds as if a man wrote it, but then it seems as if he and "Q" together . were trying to get us on two stools, the one above the other, entitled " Women's Proper Occupation." We have no wish to fall between for the public amusement, so will leave that alone fir the present, and do what we can to rid our town .and country of this crying evil.—l am, etc.,' ■ ; ~ .Womanhood.