Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-01-27
twD ALLY
POST MTELLIGENCER.


POST MTELIGENCEk.
TN. aEALTM OF CAN "I"'
This is the subject Of discussion IN
racent number of the North american
Rxciep. carried On by Dr.. Dio Lewis
Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and LIZ.
James Reed Chadwick. 1t - very ap
posite Just now. when the comparison
Il a
en-
inine loneliness il the theme OF iioau'n
conversation. For, aft. ah' pnSH'oo'
health is at the bottom of 1T ~ ooH..s'
and il essential to it's sxisten. anu '''
preservation. al
OF course, DR.. Dio Lewis attribut IL
the shortcomings Of our women ins e
way Of health TO improper dressing
Corssts, tight shoes, and garments gen
orally which impede locomotion and
prevent free respiration have always
been objects Of the assaults of that zeal
ous reformer and rather shallow observ-
or. There ia no need Of saying more
about his line Of reasoning, for his Ii an
old story, except that the more obvious
evils of fashionable dress for women
have been good deal overcome OF late
years. Tight lacing is not 20 common
AZ It was quarter Of a century ago,
shoes are better fitted to the fest, and
women Of fashion. especially the young
women, are now eager for outdoor exer-
cises, which presupposs and render
necessary garments admitting OF free
muscular movement. DR.. Dio Lewis is
out Of date, indeed, and long time ago
We got little tired OF him and his one
idea.
Nrs. Stanton, who has far broader
and more philosophical mind, refers the
i'll health Of American women to detr'-
mental social customs and restrictions,
some Of which are peculiar to us. The
social competition in republic, where
every ono wants TO get round higher
ON tbs ladder, she argues, falls mainly
ON woman. II IL their duty 10 turn to
the best account small incomes; by dex-
terity TO make something out OF moth
inQ.n The position of our women -
mere dependents Is also, according TO
Mrs. Stanton, source Of much evil for
them. "Housshold work 10 the profess
siop without recompense-the contract
made for all time. To 20 through weary
days, doing with all thy might what thy
hand findeth to do, and at the end have
nothing that You can call your own, Is a
sting 10 the spirit, a rasp to the nerves,
that will soon brush away the bloom
from the rosiest cheek"
Women marry without dowry. ex-
cept in comparatively rare cases, even
II they are the daughters Of wsll-to-do
mem. The consequence ia complete Pc
cuniary dependence on their husbands,
AGAINST which Mrs. Stanton rebels,
especially as the rule is that our women
give mp earning anything for themselves
after marriage, even where they were
accustomed to work for their living be-
fore. They relapse into worried and
weary housekeepers, almost ooaselsss
laborers In "the profession without
reoompense."
In France, however, married women
are saved this humiliation" In "ths
upper classes" she adds, every father
must give his daughter dowry at mar
riage." And she might have said more.
Even French fathers who are not Of the
"cpper Glasses" feel that the necessity
Of accommodating dovry for q daughter
IL imposed upon them almost from her
birth. Girls, too, who are at work, save
mp money for their marriage portion,
and the possession Of IL 10 Of inoontsst-
able advantage TO . married women.
Another fact TO which she refers shows
the better organization Of French soci-
ETY. - compared with ours.i "In the
laborinQ GLASSES the women arc either
In businsss with their husbands or carry
ON some separate trade Of their own"
Tho wife Of the shopkeepsr attends to
his books Of account or waits on cus-
toners; the mate Of the upholstsrer
may b dressmaksr. This, Of course,
tends TO relieve the woman from the
hardships Of total dependence, and
gives her stimulating occupation. Her
housswork abe hires done, in all It's
rough part q least, her labor elsewhere
being moro valuable.
4ra Stanton truly regards ''remuns1-
ativs employment and pleasant mental
occupation" - essential TO the health
and happiness Of women. In proof Of
tho salutaSy effect Of msthodioal labor
upon hse ~ che adduces the facts Of
convent life; the cream Of Catholic
France h In it, eonvensa," says Ars.
Stanton. After having described from
personal observation the nuns svsrs
routine Of employment, che remarks:
"Yet With al their labors they are
happy, because they are respected and
healthy, and bsoauss they are fulfilling
the mision Of their duty"
Dr.. Chadwiek agrees With MIA Stan
ton that II h ESSENTIAL TO the health and
TO the general harmonious development
Of women that the sphere Of thar en-
plcymants should b extended. Train
them IN ycath physically and mentally.
hs ayA and than ''opsn. = an end and
motive Of their efforts, the same fields
Of labor. with the prospects, Of reward,
- ars noW opsn for men,"
In spits of M. HsthsEt 6psncsr's mo-
ton thAt ~ are killing ourselves with
ovsfvogk, comparison Of ths Enalish
life insurance tables with our own
w - -