Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1851-07-16
EXTRACT FRoM A LETTER TO THE
Akron Woman's Rights Convention

BY Mrs EGIzABETH c. STANTON of Seneca Falls n. Y.
Again, as Physicians. How desirable are educat-
ed women in this profession Give her knowledge
commensurate with her natural qualifications, and
there is no position that woman could assume that
would be so preemineny useful TO her race at large,
and her own sex in particular, that of mniserng
angel TO the sick and afflicted angel-no capable
of sympathy merely, but armed with power TO
leve suffering and prevent disease. The science of
Obstetrics is branch of the profession which should
he monopoliZed by woman. The fact that is al
most wholly now in the hands of the male FRACTION
er, is an outrage on common deeencv, that nothing
but the tyrant CUSTOM can excuse "From the
liest history down TO 1868 it was practised 10y
IMAM. The Distinguished fittfvidna first 10 mike
innovation this ancient time sanctitied custom,
was less a parsonage than court prostitute, the
Duchess of Nilliers n iavorite mistress of Louis
XIV. of France" This is formidable evil, and
productive Of much immortality, misery and crime.
But now that some colleges open to women, and
the "Femae Medical College of Pennsy lvania" has
been established for exclusively, hope this
custom may be abolished as speedily possible for
no excuse can be found for its continuance in the
want of knowledge and skill in our own sex. 1t
seems to me the existence of this custom argues IL
much greater want OF dclicacy and refinement in
woman, than would the practice OF the profession
by her, in all It's various branches.
But the great work before us is the education Of
those just coming on the stage of action. Begin
with the girls of today, and in twenty years can
revoutonize this nation The childhood of woman
must be free and untrammeed. The girl must be
allowed to remp and play, climb, skate, and swim,
her clothing must be more like that of the boy,
strong, loose-fitting garments, thick boots, NC,
that she may he out all times, and enter freely into
all kinds of sport. Teach her 10 go alone, by night
and by day, if need be, on the lonely highway, or
through the busy streets OF the crowded metropolis
The manner in which all courage and self-reliance
is educated om of the grl--her path portrayed with
dangers and difficulties that never exist is melan-
cloIy indeed Better lar, suffer occasional insults
or die outright than live the life of a cOlDGrd
er move without protector. The best protector
that any woman have is courage this she mus
get by her own experience; aud experience comes
by exposure. Let the girl I've thoroughly developed
in body and soul, not modelled like piece of clay
after some artificial specimen of humanity with
body like some plate in Godeys book of fashion, ant
a mind after the type of Father Gregory's paen
daughters, loaded down with the traditions, propre
ties, aud sentimentalities Of generations of sill
mothers, and grandnothers-but left free TO be, 4
grow, TO feel, TO think, to act. Development is on
thing; the system of crampng, restraining, torturln
peryerting, and mystiying, called education, is quit
another. We have had women enough beloole
under the SYSTEM pray let us try the other. TIL
girl must early be impressed with the idea that sll
is 10 be ga hand not mouth > worker and not
-drone, in the great hive of human activity. Llk
the boy, she must be taught 10 look forward TO Id
of self dependence and early prepare herself f
some trade or profession. Woman has relied here
tolore too entirely for her support on the neede-th
one-eyed demon of destruction, that Stays its thol
in spite of all our devotion will make US heo
thy, wealthy, or wise.
Teach the girl it is no part of her life to cater
the preiudices of those around her. Make her i
dependent of public sentiment, by showing her lao
Sgorthless and rotten thing it is. Ii is sett
axiom with me- after much examination and refie
ton, that public sentmen is false on every subie
Yet what Il tyrant il is over MS all woman especi
ly, whose very life is to please, whose highest ami
ton is TO be approved. But once outrage this tyra
place yourself beyond his jurisdiction, taste the j
of free thought and action, aud how powerless is
rule over you his scepne lies broken at your le
is very babblings of condemnation are sweet mu
in your ears his darkeling rown is sunshine
your heart, for they tell Of your triumph and his
comfort. Think yon women thus educated wo
long remain the weak, dependent beings that we n
find them? by no means. Depend upon II, they y
soon settle for themselves this whole question
Womans Right. As educated capitalists, and SIX
ful laborers they would not be long in finding III
true level in political and in social life