Are Women People

Are Women People?

A Book of Rhymes For Suffrage Times (excerpts)

by Alice Duer Miller

author of "Blue Arch," "The Modern Obstacle," etc.

New York

George H. Doran Company

To the New York Tribune, in whose generous columns many of these verses first appeared, the author here wishes to express her gratitude.

A Consistent Anti to Her Son

("Look at the hazards, the risks, the physical dangers that ladies would be exposed to at the polls." Anti-suffrage speech.)

YOU'RE twenty-one to-day, Willie,
And a danger lurks at the door,
I've known about it always,
But I never spoke before;

When you were only a baby
It seemed so very remote,
But you're twenty-one to-day, Willie,
And old enough to vote.

You must not go to the polls, Willie,
Never go to the polls,
They're dark and dreadful places
Where many lose their souls;

They smirch, degrade and coarsen,
Terrible things they do
To quiet, elderly women
What would they do to you?

If you've a boyish fancy
For any measure or man,
Tell me, and I'll tell Father,
He'll vote for it, if he can.

He casts my vote, and Louisa's,
And Sarah, and dear Aunt Clo;
Wouldn't you let him vote for you?
Father, who loves you so?

I've guarded you always, Willie,
Body and soul from harm;
I'll guard your faith and honor,
Your innocence and charm

From the polls and their evil spirits,
Politics, rum and pelf;
Do you think I'd send my only son
Where I would not go myself?

Our Idea of Nothing at All

("I am opposed to woman suffrage, but I am not opposed to woman.' --Anti-suffrage speech of Mr. Webb of North Carolina.)

0 WOMEN, have you heard the news
Of charity and grace?
Look, look, how joy and gratitude
Are beaming in my face!
For Mr. Webb is not opposed
To woman in her place!

0 Mr. Webb, how kind you are
To let us live at all,
To let us light the kitchen range
And tidy up the hall;
To tolerate the female sex
In spite of Adam's fall.

0 girls, suppose that Mr. Webb
Should alter his decree!
Suppose he were opposed to us-
Opposed to you and me.
What would be left for us to do-
Except to cease to be?

The Revolt of Mother

("Every true woman feels---" - Speech of almost any Congressman.)

I AM old-fashioned, and I think it right
That man should know, by Nature's laws eternal,
The proper way to rule, to earn, to fight,
And exercise those functions called paternal;
But even I a little bit rebel
At finding that he knows my job as well.

At least he's always ready to expound it,
Especially in legislative hall,
The joys, the cares, the halos that surround it,
"How women feel" -- he knows that best of all.
In fact his thesis is that no one can
Know what is womanly except a man.

I am old-fashioned, and I am content
When he explains the world of art and science
And government -- to him divinely sent
I drink it in with ladylike compliance.
But cannot listen -- no, I'm only human --
While he instructs me how to be a woman.