The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-22
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER %, 1869.
THE WOMAN QUESTION.


the sexes.
The advocates of the ''woman" side are
striving, with fiery ZEAL to prove that women
are fit and ready to perform the work of men;
and that it is only 'the dynastic reason of
stronger bones and stouter sinews" that pre-
vents them; and history is ransacked for the
remarkable and singular examples which serve
TO illustrate their doctrine.
ssThe subsection of woman" has been chosen
by Mr.. Mill as the best phrase for the express
sion of his theme, and the words are meant
to convey that the sex is held in species of
legal slavery. Women are truly in a state of
subiection, but the legal enactment from
which it rises is, we fear, beyond the reach
of modern legislators, and can be found in
those words in Genesis which, in good, old
fashioned, simple phrase, explain why cher
husband shall rule over her."
Republicanism finds its most stirring plea
in the fact that "a mans man for a that"
but the solemn truth that woman is woman
spite of every proof to the contrary, is the
stumbling block IN the way of the popular ad-
vocates who have taken direction of the pre-
sent warfare, and her ''subjection" arises
from natural and physical causes which find
only faint reflex in the less immutable laws
of the land.
1t is to be regretted that the question has
assumed its present aspect, for woman, or
rather womanhood, needs advocacy before
the world, and the exorbitant demands now
made may retard that just appreciation of her
legitimate work which would elevate both her
and her brothers.
The rhapsodizing about the fair sex, with
the vast amount of trashy poetizing in which
she is styled 'angel," saint, or goddess, has
befogged mens understanding, and prevented
the appreciation of her share in the worlds
work.
Despite all the sonnets that youth is ever
penning ''to his mistress eyebrow" the man
really considers her his inferior, and even
the system of delivering over piety and
charity into her hands is rather convenient
way of getting troublesome work off his own
shoulders than of elevating her position.
The forced confinement of broken leg
may occasionally open mans eyes to the
value of his wife's services, and the variety,
detail, and complexity of her employments,
but the healthy, Industrious, busy man is apt
to esteem her labors too slightly and under
.yalue her accordingly. Money is the stand
jrd of values; and female industry, economy,
Ind prudence, although ministering to do
nestle comfort, never appear in this tangible
)hape to attract attention and compel their
Just valuation. mans work is worth so
many dollars day, and the sum can be
weighed in the hand, but it requires not only
q mental but a moral calculation to count the
value of the work of the wife and the mother.
The ordering of the kitchen and the nursery
and the conduct of the parlor produce the
health and happiness, and even assure the
permanent prosperity of the household, and
yet the services of body, mind, and heart
which produce all this must be measured by
another standard than that which marks the
worth of mans work.
AS civilization advances, the intellectual
and moral powers of humanity acquire a
money value; sinews only are paid for in the
lower forms of industry, but the confidential
clerk is paid not only for his arithmetic, but
for his fidelity; and it is by similar process
that the work of women will receive its just
estimation.
A woman who undertakes to compete with
men in their special avocations suffers from
many disadvantages, and nature has placed
SO many obstacles in her way that her success
therein is a proof of her extraordinary
powers but if the strength is within her
heart, neither "Littleton upon Coke nor
even 'Mrs. Grundy" herself can prevent Joan
of Arc from leading an army, or Elizabeth
Blackwell from winning diploma.
The enfranchisement and elevation o.
woman appear at this time to be more the
work of individual endeavor than of politica
or legal agitation. If women can prove tina
they can do mems work, they will get thei
fair share of it, but it is probable that tn
number of women that are fitted for law o
medicine does not exceed that of men VIII
have fancy for worsted work, and so tn
balance will be maintained without seriou
detriment to either side. Woman's work
where her affections lead her; the daughte
ministers to her parents, the wife to her hus
band and children, and the bulk of the SO
will ever be restricted to such avocations; an
the immediate and pressing necessity 70
woman is that these occupations should b
regarded with fitting esteem. But, apai
from this majority of the sex, there will be
minority who, without domestic ties and bul
dens, require higher remuneration for the
services. These women have minds as we
as hands, and they are slowly winning the
way into many avocations hitherto close
against them. No laws can help or hinde
this intrusion: the success of the women d,