A SPIRITED REPLY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1994, 19 May 1885, Page 2

A SPIRITED REPLY.

A letter signed " Bachelor" in a South Australian paper urging that ladies shml .take part in the defence of that colony, elicited the following spirited reply from "A Daughter of South Australia":— " Will you kindly allow me space for ,qfc faw lines in reply to 'Bachelcr?' Pooi fellow, he must bo some poor disappointed cynical, soured bachelor, to" write thus of us women. He has evidently not made the acquaintance of many (if any) true women of South Australia, for he appears to judge us all by one or two of his shallow-minded acquaintances. Let me tell him that there is many a South Australian girl who would fight side by Bide with father or brother in the''foremost rank,'to defend her country, her honor, her freedom, and those she loves, with equal courage. She would not Bhun danger, but do her utmost to save the colony in whioh she was born from invasion. There is many a South Australian girl with whom dress is but a secondary consideration, who, to save her father's honor, and to keep those;she loves from ' the shame of an Insolvency Court,' has left her home to earn her bread, and assist her family. igk no, 'bachelor,' we are not all such epithets as ' frivolous extravagant ingrates.' There are many of us who, though lacking' physical strength' to bear arms, would come forward in time of need and prove that we have given our'time and thoughts' to more: than 'the dresses and hats we must have for the coming winter.' Do the Vol-. unteers need women to come forward and inspire them with courage? Is there need for us to step out of our legitimate sphere of labour, and form a ' ladies' Volunteer corps? Yes. Then„ t ' Bachelor' I am ready for one, and there w aremorewhothinkasldo.: I have had some practice with the rifle, and can hit a "post" at the distance of 200 yards, So, 'BaoJielcir,' I answer your challenge of 'Women, I say, be up and doing 1' Take back your calumny upon our sex,, for we women of South Australia are not such frivolous empty-headed creatures. Our fair city will never be sacked by Russians while their is a love of home, honor free-' dom, and country in the hearts of Jjry fair daughter of South Australia. .▼'