250 EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN. 



to a reform in temper and habits of life. Besides, I do 

 not believe the wives of this country would accept of a 

 strict legal equality at all, if it were tendered them as a 

 FINALITY. I believe they would prefer remaining as they 

 are ; for by being so, they are left to the resources of 

 their own genius, to win by their tact, what is not guaran- 

 teed by law. I know that there are a good many crazy- 

 headed people in pantaloons as well as petticoats, who 

 go about laboring for the 'emancipation of women,' as if 

 the heavens and earth were coming together. But those 

 of them who wear skirts, generally have delicate white 

 hands, flowing curls, flashing black eyes, and the gift of 

 oratory and a desire to exhibit them all ; while those in 

 pantaloons have their hair combed smoothly back, as if 

 preparing to be swallowed by a boa-constrictor, wear white 

 cravats, talk softly, and show a good deal of the whites 

 of their eyes, from a chronic habit of looking up towards 

 the moon and^jitars. As a general thing, these latter are 

 of no practical use in the world, and make as good a tail 

 to the kite of the ' strong-minded women ' as anything else. 

 But these people represent a very small portion of the 

 American women, and until the masses demand 'emanci- 

 pation,' I rather think that matters had better be permitted 

 to remain as they are. The women will take care of them- 

 selves no fear of that." 



