Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-01
The Hue Stocking Scare.

from WOMAN world Tor September,
Although Frances Burney, Joanna Batllie
Marie Edgeworth and Hannah More enjoyed in
the eighteenth century an honorable position in
the cultured circles OF society," the authOress was
held In general discredit as adopting a vocatIon
not only at variance with the due discharge OF
Ienlnine duties, but Incompatible with the mod
esty that should ever be the distinguishing at
tribute OF her sex. The blue stocking was deemed
an abnormal creation OF corrupt society-a
fungus excreScence nourished by decay The
publicity Of authorship must inevitably destroy
that sensitive delicacy OF the feminine character,
which was its especial charm. A due perform
ance OF the vile and mothers duty was irrecon-
cllaole with The Essentially masculine function of
Wrltlng DOCKS. woman should md within The
sphere OF domestic LIE full scope Tor the exercise
OF any talent she might possess. Monk Lewis. the
author OF popular romance, reproved his mother
early In this century, for attempting TO write
tale, and With that uncompromiSlDg IrankneSS OF
expression which characterHes near relatives re-
Dukes, he Informed her shat she had no business
10 be pubic character, and that a female au-
thor became that contemplate thing, "a sort of
hall man."
The memoirs OF Jane Austen show that she
orayed the public opinion OF the DAY In publishing
her weil-known works; but though personally
that seems 10 have given her little concern yet TO
please her family she had always handkerchief
at hand to conceal from view the writings on
which SIZE might be engaged when visitors were
announced Miss MarLineau details early ex-
perienceS OF somewhat similar character, and it
MAS not until her 9TH year, when forced by cir
euinstances TO obtain the means OF sell-support
that she Ceased 70 take precautions to keeJ her
vocation secret from the world. But no lady
writer suffered SO severely Mrs. Somervilie from
the public opinion OF those days, as her unwOmanly
love OF mathematics immensely aggravated the
guilt OF her lnfraction or the established CODE OF
feminine propriety. Her afflicted relatives adlured
her 10 give up her discredltaDie studies and not
10 bring disgrace upon herself and family by In
diligence In sucn unwomanly pursuits. The evils
that a feminine study or Euclid were calculated to
produce oisquleted the clergy, and from the pulpit
In YORK cathedral Mrs soinervllie was condemned
as an offender against the laws OF God.
Is well as a tran RreSSOr OF the acceDIe,f
code OF w0manly proprety. The highly
gifted Caroline Herschel, declared by the
Astronomical Society In 1928 TO have Accomplished
work probably Unparalleled either ia Inagni-
tude or Importance IN the annals OF astronomical
Labor" shared with Mrs. SOmerville In the dis
credit attached 10 feminine scientific studies.
Even her illustriOus brother, 1mbued apparently
the long, interchangeable and loving service she
rendered him 10 have regarded and treated her in
the light OF useful drudge. And 50 little did her
nephew, Sir John Herschel, consider her entitled
To any marx or public honor and respect that.
when the Astronomical society resolved TO present
her with gold medal for her discoveries comets
and her Catalogue OF stars and nebule, he most
had ''strenuousiy resisted" the resolution The
pteous plant OF her old age that from the earliest
dawn OF recollection, her life had been one OF
"sorrow, trouble and disappointment" must evoke
the deepest sympathy, mingled with Indignation
at the social prejudice that had embittered her
laoCrlOuS existence. Since the day she died now
nearly forty years ago, the English code OF eini.
nine propriety has undergone a notable change,
and Since the more distant time when Mrs. Somer.
Vile was condemned from the pulpit OF York
cathedral, the change In some important respects
amounts 10 a revolution.