New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-20
WOMAN'S RANK IN FRANCE.

ABILITIES AND fCClAL sLi1HlE-OIO 'i@'''S -
FRANCE AND ENGLAND CoNPARED-A RkNlh"
OF LEGISLATION.
IPRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRlBUSEI
PARIS, Jan. 29.-M. Legouve, the elegant drama
tisr essayist, lecturer and elocutonist, docs not
make himself cheap. He has fairy good income
and as much literary distinction as he can nope 10
earn. When he now writes or speaks IL u
not to add to his fame or to, increase
his fortune, but TO say something WHICH
the spirit moves him TO utter. He has lately pun
lished his recoectiOns of Malibrsn, which were de-
lightfu reading, and little volume ON the att Vi
speaking and reading well. NJ. Legouve has Written
his souvenirs of 2stOr. but they will not appear IN
either his lime or hers. This most amiaDle
member Of the Academy often. appears 81
receptions there in the character OF godfather
He was the sponsor of Littre. who. being TOO weak
the day on which he received to read his Speech
begged of Nj. LegOdve 10 get through MS eisA'
There is no such ieci.Ous reader OF literary prouuo
tons in which there arc no strong cnects do
Legouve and no more delightful lecturer, because
he Is a master in the art of speak ing well is 1u %
his subject and knows how to satisfy the nteects
and touch the hearts of lis bearers N. Legouve
ia a poet who has lived poets life, and mas
the impressible organization Of the highy
cultured Cet. In his last lecture the subject he
chose was THE Womans Rights Question" lilo
has been for some time impecd to treat this ques-
ton publicly. 1t is one which he has long medl-
tated and spoken upon in private, and which from
the time when 1t was first started enlisted his oe7t
sympathies NJ. LeQOuye's father was champion
OF the unemancipated from his school days anu
wrote poem on 10 Mcrite DIES Fcmncs," or Inc
Merits of Women" which opened TO him the Acan-
omy. The lecturer had tho satisfaction. when ne
entered the Amphitheatre Of the Sorbouns on Huh'
day. to find il filled to overlooking. Elegant toetes
predominated. ~ LegOuve IL seventy-two years Olu'
lie uses double eye glass in looking at his notes.
is carefully dressed, and gives the idea OF man
who is the object of tender housewlfey care Inc
general bearing and tone is well-brcd and easy.
His surroundings, 1t is evident, nave from yontu
up been refined; but If they had been luxurious he
would not be so elastic and fresh at the ago of sew
enty-two. NJ. Lcgouvo likes classic sobriety.
A maxim of his is that when the
general tone of work of art is sober. few
ornamental details 20 a long way NJ. Legonv"
has no penchanth for eecentricity. Hc
started in the commonplace old-lashioned
manner. by asking a ducstiou 'Qu est &C qn'nne
femmeT" what is womanD he demanded at tbs ont
set. The auditory applauded If tho idea OF asking
had never occurred TO any ono before.
FRENCH VIEWS OF woMAN's RIGHTS.
NJ. Legouve.in answering his question related how
II had been answered by the doctors OF the jewish
laws by the fathers Of the church, tile councils
Popes, philosophers of ancient aud modern times
aud by the lcgists. Moses represented her ~ being
an afterthought Eve was the complementary annex
10 Adam; and Bossuet described her rs the suprl-
1uus RIB Savages ordered woman to carry their
arms and bear their heaviest burdens. She was
the servant OF the wild man of the woods. In the
Middle Ages a theological council asked whether
woman had a soul Some poets called her angel
and others devil" and Montcsqnicu sad IN the
Esprit des LOIS Nature, which has distinguished
men by their strength and reason, has fixed no other
limits than strength and reason ether power She
has given 20 woman the sccp.rc Of beauty, and
when that falls from her hands her sway ceases by
virtue OF a natural law" Rousseau albeit senti-
mentalist went further. and maintained that The sole
mission OF woman was 90 please man. The Rcyolu.
ton was more just. Sicycs aud Condorcct claimed
PLACES moro worthy OF woman IN the
family circle and demanded that sieps should be
taken to raise her 20 n danifed rank IN the Repub-
lie. rcdoubtabe orator stood up 10 opp05e them.
II was Rohespicrrc. the Apostle 0f Equality. who
forgot IN hi, plan 81 cnaucip zion ball the human
spr,ies. Under the Consulate woman WIS deemed
good for nothing out 10 surply human FISH To tho
lannon's nav. In the Council 81 state the fw-t
Cnu,ul sat!: Nothing can be- less French tlan 10
SUI r women 10 do IS they please 1t me t""r'-
fore never hear Of plans for ewing liberty
20 them" Bpnald. the Philosopher OF thn
Rrs.ofatIon denied that woman was the
equal III man or colId ever merit 20 be trcairl ~
such. Comic Joseph dc Mal,tre gave h"r every
where a subordinate role and cNhoTI d hi' own
daughters not 20 asnirc To br ANYTHING but 'a'riitcs
ol tarir husbands. All former centa.ics has" H.
fined woman ~ an nior r aud relative beihs'
N Lcoouye rriniccd 10 SO the SnctcrHth Century
had taken new dopstturo aud wuuld require lew
definition whcreon to base equitable legisIi'
ton. The world was beginning TO hHd
ont that although absolutely different h"'n
mau woman was his equal. aud M moro IfIi-
tive than he was She had the same Hght ~
he had 10 perfect liberty, To develop herself ~ "a
woman. and To bring out TIE qualities whlrh were
tho glory of her sex and enabled human beings ~
1--we in societies. The more liberty she had The
greater would be the differentiation between tho
sexes and the more complete the harmony. VI Le-
you've, in considering woman as g.rl. q wife aud
mother, would insist on her equality with the lad.
the husband aud the atlef and her right TO 1--we
out her own life shc pleased and to make herself
happy according to her own Idcai.
DEGRADATION or THg Fl.MALY s9X.
In trea ing in this lecture, on the young girl. VI.
Legouve said many charming things about old
maidenh0od. French civilization did not respect Tho
old maid as she deserved. II was cruel to her. be-
cause it had entirely accepted the axiom that woman
is "rclatve aud subordinate aud therefore Oi
$40 value or class unless provided with
husband. The position of young girl IN
France when doYcrless, undgniied and miser-
able. There was no welcome for her nc her birth.
1t a rule Of the medical profession not to tell
mother who had just gwen birth to daughter what
the sex of her child was II she heard it when her
strength was exhausted her life might be- endan'
gered. The words, IT'S girl" fell ominonsly on
the ears Of both parents. II was an announcement
which brought with it bitter disappointment and
shame. There women who felt they did not