, 1873-06-02
LITERATURE.


LITERATURE.
"Womnn I'm American soofetr.n
In Woman IN American Boofoty," BY Abba |
0sosA Woo'xon, Tho moro Obvious phaaos OF
wcn,an'n anoinl hthtnb III ArnorioA aro tsoatod In
soofo ot bright, outApokcn onnaya, wi,'oll nro
pleasantly tFnlMdnd lty cordial 1loto from tho
paot Whtttlar,
I1,oKo HnutmontaIatn Win t,rofona 10 rngard
woman N \ nort "f otaont.r tytjI, :" tto glori-
i,ol ango, nf Tia l'osts, nr III" "ttIanH rtmp1s-
ton Of thu rot,Ian0nrh," "-thlWYa tho 'fI'les Ut
anarnHr s'aa,lIa jnsa!tjKa'loat kRd ll1'Aoy"raLla
II her "''srst"H !,,s!!trnt" ralAar than to Tia
nhntM ut bts,1'Nnn hn,tap, take a,tA' n',,ia-
fnrt IN pa1llninK thulH pAHnn lhay will fna
W0lttAH durlntad Nv nha iV IN faAt,
lila produut pf ~ l4'sHatAFa, apa-
atdat elslllkntIunt lha praAs,lsa m njf-
o''tnHtsIraH, Idtllerto mAlnly synrha aud ora'pp-
lnK,"'|nt Huwly anarHnH tn lila realisation IT
LIN ,'onnlhllit!nH and dutlaH ln n,ltnrn and
achievement. IL tlo nnyaIa of har uabjaas, t,tir
author nhows tho unsesorved nnd kind noyAr.t3
Of ono who ioyos too profoundly to llnttor.
Il" s>ae e1piains in = predatory Hnlutntion 10
tho roa1crB, In pointing out some Of tho follics
that still besct hor. L havo chosen to speak tho
sober words Of truth rather than tho dloot flnt-
i
honor tho native qualities which lio hlddcu be-
meath these poor d1sgulsos, and long to eco
hor attain that idoA1 OF truo woman-
hood which must, Gro long, hover
within her grasp." Ono by ono tho
several shsms Of woman's education and career
are horo diaseotod. From tho piauant aohoo1-
girl OF the opening essay, through tho various
stagos Of ornamental ng-ladyhood,- happily,
ws nro assured, in procoss Of extinction,
to misunderstanding and other worthless accom-
plishmcnts,-to tho ordinary conventional ma
tron, joalously conforming to tyraunous dooial
formulas At the expense Of her present comfort
and Of hor children'a futuros,-wo are g1ven
serioa Of skotohos only too pungentfy truthful
In such papers as :" 1nyalfdiBm aa Pursuit."
Mrs. Woolson pleads for tho soundor physical
education Of girls, advancing arguments that can
never grow tzitc until tho healthy American
woman has ceased to bo m anachronism. In tho
qnsa sss s2o
eating It on the score Of taste.
recognizing certain cheering advances during
tho past ton years in the direction OF comfort
tnd scope for individual prefereuco, Trailing
akirts, !" aave for flying angels in fair weather
On tho canvas Of the old mn8tors, aho pronounces
Al unrnitigatod nuisance - affirming that,
"6hould tho majority Of wonon, now that they
go back, Of their own FREQ will, to this enB1aving
and disgusting fashion, no can blame no one for
giving them over as by nature an infcrior aud
subject raco."
deniabio, TINT tho explanation Of fhe feminine
mania for dress Is found in tho necessity Of
pleasing and attracting tho opposite ae1, who,
as whole, would rather SEQ women pictur.,
oaquolly than healthtul1y Glad. We are Inclined
ton perhaps denied, that quite a. many
soneiblo men will be found ready to assist at tho
Inauguration Of this reform, % OF women to
initiate 1t. Mrs. Woolson would, therefore, have
women 80 trained to honorable self support that
marriage may not bo,. as now, tholr aunnmun.
bouum, the only outlooh into a successful
future believing, with Margaret Fuller: Tin
order that woman may giro her band with dig
nifty, ahe must bo able to stand alone."
"When no longer . hopeless pensioner upon
mans bounty che will cease to marty In pitiful
Btl aits for shelter and sure supply Of food
and clothing; and wedtock viii appear no othox
than sserod and soaton taas she as
Of steadily approaching reform in thoso dirso-.
tions,, and her apt portrayal Of such an ora an
for tho first time In thc history Of the world,
onta, seeking to win wealth and Independence
in many Professions and trades, and regarding
family resources and social station - no longer
an excuse for idloness and vanity in their aox,
We know that tho ne" order Of things has be-
gun"
In that botter time, too, matrimonial pro-
| posala can ba no longor the prorogative OF one
sax, ainoo 1t Ia not woman'a naturo that now
compels this but her position. Once render
hor inan's equal in resources aud public recogni-
ton, aud tho aly arts by which she is now taught
| to aim at . sultor's enticement will bo sup-
| planted by the direct expression Of her indo-
] pendent and honorable choice.
:. OF tho two or three essays somewhat aside
| from the main purpose OF tho volume, that on
drandmoshers' Houses" giyes vivid sketch
| Of q quaint and fast~yaniahtng phase Of our
| New England ho1neateads, drawn in with careful
| roalistio touches.
(Roston Roberts BrotheEs.)