The Opelousas courier., 1884-06-21
what women Have Gained.

Times Democrat, Jnnel. f
There is no more interesting study
inst now than the woman question
| the investigation of what woman has
gained. The progress toward equality
of the sexes is very rapid n each
year the weaker II ls securing some
of its long denied rights. In ~6aroarons
countries, women occupy the de-
graded positions, and are slaves and
l%playthings to man but, as % nation
advances, improves and develops, her
true position is recognized. To % GER
tain extent, therefore, the civilized
standing of a nation is to be reckoned
by the position that her women occu-
Mr.. Theodore Stanton has recently
published "a very interesting book on
this subject, devoted principally to
Showing what women have gained IN
Europe during the present century,
and the position they occupy there to-
day.
MANY of the facts in this work are
entirely new and will prove something
of a surprise to the friends of woman's
rights. Few of these know, for in
stance, that the country where women
have come nearest to political emanci-
patton is Austro-Hungary. They have
a voice in the municipal, provincial
and national elections, although a male
citizen, duly authorized, casts their
vote for them. This condition was
made at the request of the women them
selves, who preferred voting in this
way through a friend to appearing at
the polls ia person. Women, in Aus
tria, moreover are eligible to Office. A
woman is a member of the town council
of Agram, and another, a countess, a
member of the Bohemian municipal
assembly.
In Russia also, a woman may take
part in the election of municipal and
provincial assemblies. Courses of lee
lures have been opened to women in
the universities and Russia is filled with
female doctors.
There has been but little improve
ment in the condition of the weaker
sex, in either Spain or Portugal, even
their education being neglected. In
Portugal there is but one intermediate
school in the entire kingdom for girls,
and 80 per cent of the Portuguese fe-
males are unable to read and write.
Women are admitted to certain lee
lures in the medical schools of Lisbon
and oporto, but they a only prac-
tice as midwives, and then only in the
presence of male physicians. A wo-
man in Portugal is not even allowed to
publish her writings without the con-
sent of her husband.
! The situation is decidedly more ia
yorable in Italy. The universities are
open to women, who can take any de-
gree there, and a bill has been offered
in the Parliament granting them the
, right to vote for members of the NUM-.
cipal and Provincial Councils.
| Woman can take any degree in the
University of Copenhagen except in
! theology. Married women, howAver,
are under the absolute control of theil
husbands in Denmark, both as to
i property and children. In Sweden, or
the other hand, they are admitted to the
i university and allowed to vote, on the
same terms as men, in the choice of the
parish clergy, municipal councillors and
electors.
On France, Belgium and Holland the
: same customs and laws prevail in re.
J gard to women. 1t was not until 1886
: that the French Legislature consented
: to give women more than elementary
! training. Now, however, the universe.
ties are open to them, but they possess
: no political rights whatever.
: Switzerland also, although liberal il
the matter of education, seems to be Of
J all the European countries, least dis.
posed to bestoW upon them politica
rights of any kind.
Germany lags behind nearly every
civilized country in the matter of the
s education of women, only two uniyer.
sites, Heidelberg and Leipsic, beins
open to them, and ever at these they
are debarred entrance by the severe
9 examinations. An attempt to estab,
lish girls high schools has failed, and,
9 as a consequence, the German woman
is far behind her husband and brothel
in education.
: In fine, in Continental Europe, ais il
will be seen, woman is making rapid
progress, both in the matter of educa.
! cation and political rights. Even in
t those countries where the electoral
privilege has not yet been granted her
il is due not SO much to any deter
mined opposition as to the belief tina
education is necessary before the grant
ing of political rights, and a better sys
. TEN of female schools to be ~establishe.
: before the right of the ballot box i
6 permitted. With the exception 0
g Germany and the Iberian peninsula
8 all the European universities are nov
: open to women.