Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1868-12-01
ENGLISH PHOTOGRAPHS.
BY AN AMERICAN.

in any other civilized country. High
or low, rich or poor, married or single,
none of them escape from some of the
disabilities, prejndices and injustices
from which their sex suffers they
are obliged to endure not only all the
pains and p, nalties inflicted upon he
women of other nations, but also Ger
tain special injuries and annoyances in
vented and practiced by Englishmen
nj one. Perhaps an American notices
this state of affairs more quickly than
other obscrv ers, because he conner
from country in which, according to
the Judgment of foreign critics, the
women are treated too well. But
the Americans do moi believe that it is
possible to be too kind TO women -
They hold that, while nan may have
been created "a little lower than the
angels" women were formed upon
perfect equality with the celestial per-
sonages Nor is this Il mere sentimen.
tai belief, as immaterial as French po-
likeness it is carried into practical ef-
feet i'll thousand ways, and to a great
extent it modifes and mollifes the hab-
its, customs and manners of the peo-
pie. The result is, as our critics tell
us, that the American women are
spoiled. But in England the case is
even worse; for here the men are
spoiled.
In this age of vast educational expe-
riments, it would be an excellent plan
to ship few thousand Englishmen to
the United States and marry them to
American women, and bring few
thousand Americans here and marry
them to English women. The expert
ment would probably be very benefi.
cial to both countries but it would
certainly teach the bold Britons many
facts in regard to women's rights and
wrongs of which they are now in hap
Ply, unconscious, and selfish ignorance.
MARRIAGE IN AMERICA.
They would discover that in Ameri-
ca marriage is not simply partnership
to which, the woman brings the most
cash capital, in which she does the
hardest work, and from which she de-
rives the least advantages, as is the
case in England. In the United States
the husband is the person who is ex-
pected to possess the money, or to earn
it, and the wife is considered SO pre-
cious and sufficient treasure as to re-
quire no dowry but her own charms,
and to deserve the lifelong labors, sa-
crifices, and protection of her spouse,
without giving him any other return
than her existence, and as much as she
may see fit of her companionship.
Everywhere, in public or private, the
memorable rule is, Place aux DANES.
The only institution in which men are
still supreme is politics but women
are not yet allowed to vote because the
greater majority of them do not wish
to vote. If they did wish it there
would be no party in the United States
rash enough to deny them the suffrage.
ENGLISH WIVES.
The inferior position of English wo-
men is first apparent to foreigner in a
variety of little details. Returning
from an early morning ride, he notices
the cottages of the working people by
the roadside. The women are up and
about. making the fires, carrying the
Goals, opening the house, while the
men are still snoring soundly I shonld
like to see an American husband wait
for his wife, or an American son for his
mother, to perform these matutinal
functions. If he were not speedily be-
wigged by his own better half, a more
serious punishment would be adiudged
him by vigilance committee of neigh
boring housewives. Or break asst is
being prepared, and you notice the
women buttering the bread so as to save
their lords and masters the slightest
unnecessary exertion. An American
husband might eat dry bread forever if
he were unwilling to butter it himself.
Then you catch sight of woman on
her knees lacing or unlacing mans
boots So mental service would scan.
dalize the best American wives. If an
Englishman wants pipe, it is the wo-
man who fills it and hands him the
light if his not needs ranlenishinoe q