92
A VOICE FROM
thieves and villains in both London and Paris.
Humanity from the first has had its vultures
and sharks, and representatives of the fra¬
ternity who prey upon mankind may be ex¬
pected no less in America than elsewhere.
That this virulence breaks out most readily
and commonly against colored persons in this
country, is due of course to the fact that they
are, generally speaking, weak and can be im¬
posed upon with impunity. Bullies are al¬
ways cowards at heart and may be credited
with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their
prey- Besides, society, where it has not ex¬
actly said to its dogs "s-s-sik him !" has at
least engaged to be looking in another direc¬
tion or studying the rivers on Mars. It is not
of the dogs and their doings, but of society
holding the leash that I shall speak. It is
those subtile exhalations of atmospheric odors
for which woman is accountable, the indefina¬
ble, unplaceable aroma which seems to exude
from the very pores in her finger tips like the
delicate sachet so dexterously hidden and con¬
cealed in her linens ; the essence of her teach¬
ing, guessed rather than read, so adroitly is
the lettering and wording manipulated; it is
the undertones of the picture laid finely on by
woman's own practiced hand, the reflection of
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