The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-04-16
Plain Facts for Thinking Women.

THERE can be little doubt that social
manners, education and circumstances
affect the qualities woman derives from
her material organization, and even
efface the original character which
nature has given her. In the simplest
condition, the man labors with his hands
and with his wits for mutual support
and protection; the woman rears her
children, tends the sick and conducts
domestic affairs. Such, if the most
primitive, is probably the healthiest and
happiest condition for the female. Her
sympathetic and susceptible nature has
here every scope for action without be-
ing shaken by rude and oft-repeated
shocks. In civilized life, especially
among the upper classes, everything
seems combined to foster and increase
the natural affectability of woman's ma
ture, and society renders her, already
unfortunate by organization, the victim
Of the most painful and varied series of
moral and corporal affections. Medi-
cal philosophers have acclaimed, and
will long continue to do so, in vain,
against the whole system of the educa-
tion and bringing up of women. which
is directed solely to the purpose of max
ing them personally attractive, and
subsequently securing for them brilliant
settlements for life at the expense of
their health. Much might be written
on this subject; suffice It at present to
state that the useless and insipid lives
that most young ladies lead, the total
want of an intelligent interest and occu-
patton, and the unnatural and artificial
existence pursued, are highly calculated
to injuriously enhance that natural af-
Reliability with which woman has been
endowed. The system of fashionable
neutrality-suspicious., whose anxiety to
render their pupils accomplished
and fascinating at all costs re.
suits in a forced and at the same
time imperfect training, combined with
luxurious living, absence of exercise and
other healthy circumstances, tends to
increase the irritability of the nervous
system and to foster a precocious evolu-
ton of character. As this is increased.
tone and energy are diminished. The
girl returns from school q hayward. Ca
PRECIOUS and hysterical young lady,
weak and unstable in mind, habits and
pursuits. She enters into society and
there her whole mode of life further
contributes to her unfortunate condi-
ton. The competitions, disappointed
affection and vanity, the artificial ex-
elements of balls, public entertain
ments, late hours and all the frivolities
and pleasures of fashion tend in the
same direction. The cultivation OF
music, poetry, novels and other infam-
matory literature nourishes illusions
contrary to the actual state of society.
Her very dress seems made on purpose
to interfere with the healthy functions
of her most vital organs, and to pre-
vent the free play of muscular action
essential to a sound constitution. Girls
subject to such a regime, when their
minds and bodies should be guided in a
totally opposite direction, have one
order of faculties alone exercised, and
these, predominating over the reason
ing powers. cause host of nervous. va
porous, historical and hypochondriacal
disorders. Sanitary Record.