New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-01
Social Evolution.

Whatever may be thought of the rights
or the wrongs OF women, there Is no quee-
ton that they have wonderful amount of
vitality, and are exhibiting it in striking
and novel ways Fifty years ago the life OF
women was almost entirely domestic and
daughters, servants. They went to church,
and sometimes to concerts and places OF
amusement. They travelled but little and
they wrote less, but they took no part in
public affairs in a noticeable way. The
Odium that attached to few women who
took an active part in the anti slavery
movement IN the early stages of that his
toric controversy, was the natural express
zion of the prejudice Of society against any
departure from the traditional ways and
occupations of the sex.
The evolution of society is strikingly
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
positions she has gained. Most of the
trades and businesses are open to her. 1t
is estimated that over 40, 900 women are en-
gagged in different mechanical and mercan-
tile callings in New York city alone. There
are more girls than boys in our schools,
and they are cOnfessedly the better pupils.
The schools and colleges for girls and
young ladies' have increased and improved
more than those for the other 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 women as men
| live by literary labor. Women are among
our, most popular readers and lecturers,
| and few have won respective position
in the pulpit The departments at Wash
ingtOn 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 tirsless in
dustry and contagious enthusiasm many OF
our best charities would fail. They make
our hospitals home-like by the taste and
tenderness and unwearying patience of
| devotion, and in medical practice have
gained foothold which promises Perna-
nent possession. As teachers they are pre-
eminent, and they are the life Of the
| churches and sunday schools Clergymen
| of all denominations confess their depend
| ence upon the women in their congrega-
tions for the needed seconding of their Of
forts. The great revival which is stirring
Western city to its depths is the
| work of woman, and the new crusade
| against intemperance was begun by
| women, and has won its victories thus
I far through their prayers and exertions.
This wonderful evolution of society de-
| serves study. 1t means something more
than the mere breaking away from estab-
lished prscedents and time-honOred rOu-
tine. 1t indicates new development of
humanity under the influence and institu-
tions of our democratic civilization. IL
would seem that society does not move alS
together simultaneously, but half at time,
and the vitality Of our age is most strikingly
shown in the evolution Of the feminine half.
1t is no irruption of the Amazons, but . new
1 development of the race. Woman must
I 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-Grdphic.