FEMALE SUFFRAGE.
A VOLLEY FROM THE DOWN-TRODDEN.
A DEFENSE.
Editors Missouri Democrat:
I should think you would be ashamed of yourselves. I would, anyway—to publish the vile, witless drivelings of that poor creature who degrades me with his name. I say you ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Two hundred noble, Spartan women cast themselves into the breach to free their sex from bondage, and instead of standing with bowed heads before the majesty of such a spectacle, you permit this flippant ass, my husband, to print a weak satire on it. The wretch! I combed him with a piano stool for it. And I mean to comb every newspaper villain I can lay my hands on. They are nothing but villains anyhow. They published our names when nobody asked them to, and therefore they are low, mean and depraved, and fit for any crime however black and infamous.
Mr. Editor, I have not been appointed the champion of my sex in this matter; still, if I could know that any argument of mine in favor of female suffrage which has been presented in the above communication will win over any enemy to our cause, it would soften and soothe my dying hour; ah, yes, it would soothe it as never another soother could soothe it.
MRS. MARK TWAIN,
President Affghanistan Aid Association, Secretary of the Society for introducing the Gospel into New Jersey, etc., etc., etc.
[The old woman states a case well, don’t she? She states a case mighty well, for a woman of her years? She even soars into moving eloquence in that place where she says: “two hundred noble Spartan women cast themselves into the breeches,”, etc. And those “arguments” of her’s afford her a prodigious satisfaction, don’t they? She may possibly die easy on account of them, but she won’t if I am able to stir her up in her last moments. That woman has made my life a burthen to me, and I mean to have a hand in soothing her myself when her time is up.—MARK TWAIN]
MORE DEFENSE.
Editors Missouri Democrat:
I have read the article in your paper on female suffrage, by the atrocious scoundrel Mark Twain. But do not imagine that such a thing as that will deter us from demanding and enforcing our rights. Sir, we will have our rights, though the heavens fall. And as for this wretch, he had better find something else to do than meddling with matters he is incapable of understanding. I suppose he votes—such is the law! —such is justice!—he is allowed to vote, but women a thousand times his superiors in intelligence are ruled out!—he!—a creature who don’t know enough to follow the wires and find the telegraph office. Comment is unnecessary. If I get my hands on that whelp I will snatch hair out of his head till he is as bald as a phrenological bust.
Mr. Editor, I may not have done as much good for my species as I ought, in my time, but if any of the arguments I have presented in this article in favor of female suffrage shall aid in extending the privileges of woman, I shall die happy and content.
MRS. ZEB. LEAVENWORTH.
Originator and President of the Association for the Establishment of a Female College in Kamschatka.
[I perceive that I have drawn the fire of another heavy gun. I feel as anxious as any man could to answer this old Kamschatkan, but I do not know where to take hold. Her “arguments” are too subtle for me. If she can die happy and content on that mild sort of gruel, though, let her slide.—MARK TWAIN.]
See this and much more at www.thisismarktwain.com.
