Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1852-12-04
women the in United states.

Lovers Of "Womens Rights may BE-
interested by the following extract from al
article in the Edinburgh Review
In the North American States, women
occupy position III society very different
from that which females OF any class are
accu stoned to in this country, (Great
Brtain) Among US, women are treated
with delcacy and consideration, but al.
ways as il they were rational beings. they
are neither depressed TO the condition of
interiors, nor exalted TO that of goddesses ;
besides, for the attention and respect shown
towards them it is expected that they will
act with consderate politeness in return. so
that by their affabiliiy and agt gteeabeness
Of manners, they may command the esteem
| as well as The admiration OF all who APP
| ploach them.
| In America, the position Of women, as
we say, is entirely different. There they
| seem to be viewed as a kind Of superior
being--something more than mortal All!
| their caprices must be listened to with de-
ference, all their whims satisfied, even
though among strangers, aud for all the
attention shown towards them it is not
expected that they should offer any thanks
or show any condescensions in return
American women are in fact spoiled chill
dren; they can do as they like, aud the
men are their slaves. This remarkable
condition. of things is noticed by almost
every traveller Mr.. Grund, in his late
work, "Aristocracy in America thus
speaks of it.
American ladies' occupy, from mere
courtesy. a rank in society which is not
only opposed to that which they hold in
private life in their own families, but that
which is Incompatible with the exercise
Of discretion OIL the part Of gentlemen.
.The ladies' must be waited upon;" 'the
ladies' must be put into the carriage" !" "the
ladies' must be taken out of the carriage =
"the ladies must have their shoe-strings
tied ""the ladies' must have their India
rubber shoes put on '.the ladies' must be
wrapped upin sllawls; : "tlle ladies' must
be led up stairs and down stairs 2 ..ihe
ladies' must have their candles lit for them
when they go TO bed" On every occa-
sion they are treated as poor helpless crea-
lures, who rather excite the pity than the
admiration Of men, and as the services
they require are numerous, just III propor-
ton to the scarcity Of hired servants, the
gentlemen are obliged to officiate in their
stead
The American men. he continues, ap-
proacll women with the most indubitable
conscientiousness Of their own inferiorty.
and, either from modesty or prudence,
seldom open their lips, except TO affirm
what has been said by the ladies. One is
always reminded Of Candide's honest
PRAYER: Helae madames je rependria
vous voudrez, Alas, nam, I will answer
you Just as you wish.) Ihsse seen one
Of the most disting guisted old gentlemen III
the United States. one who held the high
est rank in the gift Of the American peo-.
pie, one whose learning and knowledge
on most subjects rendered him q most
pleasing and entertaining companion Of
men, betray as iittie selfpossession ii the
presence Of women as If he had been ma.
king his debut in society, and this too In
the house of his most intimate friends.
r.