"Some things we want" by Celestia R. Colby
Dublin Core
Title
"Some things we want" by Celestia R. Colby
Description
In this undated and unfinished manuscript essay, Celestia R. Colby begins to explain what rights she and other 19th century women seek in American society.
Transcript:
Written For The Mayflower
Some Things We Want
By Mrs Celestia R. Colby
Said a gentleman to me the other day, "I wish you
would write an article for the "Ladies Volunteer," (an
unpretending little paper which is sometimes "got up" by
the ladies of "our society" for our own private benefit,)
"and tell us plainly and clearly just what you want"
and he added with bitter sarcasm, "it would be something
that I never knew a writer or lecturer upon woman's
rights, to do yet!"
Of course ["I" underlined] have not the vanity to
suppose that ["I" underlined] can accomplish what so many more
learned and more gifted, have failed to do; viz. make that
man understand what the advocates of woman's rights
demand, for it is one thing to explain, and quite another
to give the understanding: and we have the faintest possible
suspicion that his case is hopeless, on the ground of the man
"convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.
Neither shall I attempt to show ["all" underlined] that we
ask but just jot down a few items, as the moments
snatched from labor or slumber will permit.
And here let me say that we do not merely ask a
change of legislation in our favor, knowing well that were
the ^all laws that oppress woman struck from the statute
books to day, that a tyrant ten-fold stronger, exists in
the ["customs" underlined] that bind men and ["women too willing" underlined]
victims in their fetters of adamant and like an iron
shroud cramps and crushes every ["every" crossed out] effort, every struggle
of those who would be truly free.
Transcript:
Written For The Mayflower
Some Things We Want
By Mrs Celestia R. Colby
Said a gentleman to me the other day, "I wish you
would write an article for the "Ladies Volunteer," (an
unpretending little paper which is sometimes "got up" by
the ladies of "our society" for our own private benefit,)
"and tell us plainly and clearly just what you want"
and he added with bitter sarcasm, "it would be something
that I never knew a writer or lecturer upon woman's
rights, to do yet!"
Of course ["I" underlined] have not the vanity to
suppose that ["I" underlined] can accomplish what so many more
learned and more gifted, have failed to do; viz. make that
man understand what the advocates of woman's rights
demand, for it is one thing to explain, and quite another
to give the understanding: and we have the faintest possible
suspicion that his case is hopeless, on the ground of the man
"convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.
Neither shall I attempt to show ["all" underlined] that we
ask but just jot down a few items, as the moments
snatched from labor or slumber will permit.
And here let me say that we do not merely ask a
change of legislation in our favor, knowing well that were
the ^all laws that oppress woman struck from the statute
books to day, that a tyrant ten-fold stronger, exists in
the ["customs" underlined] that bind men and ["women too willing" underlined]
victims in their fetters of adamant and like an iron
shroud cramps and crushes every ["every" crossed out] effort, every struggle
of those who would be truly free.
Creator
Colby, Celestia R. (Celestia Rice), 1827-1900
Source
Colby Family Papers, Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives, Milner Library, Illinois State University (Normal, Illinois)
Rights
Format
manuscripts; essays
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
colby_c_some_things_we_want_01
Coverage
Cherry Grove, Ohio or Freeport, Illinois
Files
Citation
Colby, Celestia R. (Celestia Rice), 1827-1900, “"Some things we want" by Celestia R. Colby,” Exhibits, accessed April 2, 2025, https://onlineexhibits.library.illinoisstate.edu/exhibits/items/show/14.