, 1876-10-15

Italy first, toward the close Of the Middle
Ages, permitted to woman the free exercise Of
distinguished talents (says the New York 1fib-
nne). Oly1npia Morata lectured publicly in Fer
rara, the universities Of Padua and Bologna gave
chairs to female professors, and the study Of
medicine, the higher mathematics, and classic
literature was open to the sex Shakspears's
Portia is less than full type Of the accom-
plished Italian woman OF that dav. At this
moment, three or four hundred years later, Ger
many, France, and even England are not much
in advance OF the public sentiment which then
accepted such arecognition Of woman capacity;
while no modern university has ventured to 60
so far. Already, in the present general develop
mcnt OF Italy, the women are preparing to claim
their ancient privileges. A new intellectual
activity is stirring in the sex; not only
in literature and art, also in politics
and sociology, VIC are oegnning to hear softer
voices. The popular sympathy with the mar
tyrcd Bu1garians, which expresses Itself through
immense mass meetings in Rome and Naples, no
less than tn London and Glasgow, has given the
Italian women an opportunity which some of
tnem have instantly seized. 1t is true, indeed,
that the Italian pottess, Signora Fua-Fusinato,
has frequently made brief addresses before So
cieties; but We cannot rc-alI any previous fn-
stance of woman addressing great assem-
blage Of the people. At the meeting held in
Rome, in the Apollo Theatre, on the Sd ult., the
Countess Chiocci appeared upon the platform,
and presented written address, which she re-
-Quested to have published with the proceedings
OF the meeting. 1t was accepted, and the ad~
dress would have been willingly heard by the
auaence had the Countess not lost her
courage.
a week afterward an immense multitude as
scnlbled in the atrium of the monastery Of
Santa Maria Ia Nova. in Naples. Thousands
upon thousands OF all classes OF the people we're
present. The third speaker was Miss Matilda
Caselli, Who displayed such remarkable spirit
and eloqucnce, rousinE the vast audience to
such uncomfortable enthusiasm, that the re-
naming orations in the programme were iu-
stantly suppressed, and the resolutions adopted
by acclamation. From the report OF her speech
We find that Miss Caselli WAS NO less daring than
eloquent In Naples, the SO long BourD0nized
Naples, she cried to the new people
which is rising out of the. former
ty, can have no brotherhood with the
Crescent, the emblem Of barbarism! We repu-
diatc the Jesuit policy which now favors the
Crescent. Us we reject his authority who usurps
the name OF Vicar Of Christi" 70 appreciate
the force of this utterancc, it must be renem-
bered that the policy which emanates from the
Vatican has been hitherto unfriendly to the
Oriental Christians, and, therefore, SO far as it
may affect diplomacy, favorable to the Turkish
side OF the question. But the freedom OF speech
Of Miss Ca-4i is hardly more remarkable than
the readiness with which IT was accorded to her,
and tile manner in which it was received by the
audience There are still many turbil ingredi-
cnts in the life OF Italy, and, If Italian women
as wise and as patient as they are able and elo-
qucnt, they may render noble service to their
country.