Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-02-28
Social Evolution.

w Whatever may be JnOugnG o1 Tie
rights or the wrongs of women, there
is no question that they have won
derful amount of vitality, and are
exhibiting it in striking, novel ways.
Fifty years ago the life of woman
was almost entirely domestic and
private. They were wives, mothers,
daughters, servants. They went to
church, and sometimes concerts and
places of amusement. They travelled
but little and they wrote less, but
took no part in public affairs in any
noticeable way. The odium that at
tached to the few women who took
an active part in the anti-slayery
movement in the early stages of that
historic controversy was the natural
expression of the prejudice of society
against any departure from the tradi-
tionaI ways and occupations of the
sex. 90 i' .'
The evolution of society is strik-
ingly shown by the altered position
of woman and the enlarged sphere of
her activities. She is everywhere. 1t
is easier to designate the few posts
she does not occupy than the posi-
tions she has gained. Most of the
trades and businesses are open to her.
1t is estimated that over 10000 wo-
men are engaged in different mechan-
ical and mercantile callings in New
York city alone. There are more
girls than boys in our schools, and
they are confessedly the best pupils.
The schools and colleges for girls
and young ladies have increased and
improved more than those of the otHSs
Ell. sex, within ten years. More than
dozen colleges have opened their
doors and invited young women to
share their advantages with young
men. Our most popular novelists
are women, and nearly as many wo-
men as men live by literary labor.
Women are among our most popular
readers and lecturers, and few have
won respectable position in the pull
pit. The Departments at Washing
ton are full of women clerks, and IN
several States women have been
elected to places on the school board.
In the charities of our time they
take conspicuous and active part,
and but for their tireless industry
and contagious enthusiasm many of
our best charities would fail. q They
make our hospitals home-ike by the
taste and tenderness and unwearying
patience of devotion, and in medical
practice have gained a footheld
which promises pre-eminence, and
they are the life of the churches and
Sunday schools. Clergymen of all
denominations confess their depend
encc upon the women in their con
gregations for the needed. seconding
Of their efforts. The greatest revival
which is stirring Western city to
its depth is the work of a woman,
and the new crusade againstintem-
perance was begun by women, and
Aoo WIN 4Go NACGOllCo. Il1uo 1Cl1 OllOuSn
their prayers and exertionsa z This
wonderful evolution of society. de-
serves study. 1t means something
more than the mere breaking away
from established precedents and
time-honored routine. 1t indicates a
new development of humanity under
the influence and institutions of our
democratic civilization. 1t would,
seem that society does not move al
together simultaneously, but half at
a time, and the vitality of our age is
most strikingly shown in the eTolu-
ton of the female half. 1t is no ir-
ruptions of the Amazons, but a new
development of the race. Woman
must take her place by the side of
man, to share his responsibilities and
strengthen him for his work, and
unite with him in building the home,
the school, and the civilization of the
future.