Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-02-16
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
THE SOCIAL YOKE.

S>~''~ O'~-'
ftf
The Few who Lead the Many-A Species
of Tyranny Which Enters Into All the
Relations of Life.
While the question of the equality OF
man and woman continues to occupy
at least one-half of the public mind,
there is point in connection with it
of which it might be we'll to say word.
Woman s right to be considered mans
equal in every respect l think second
to another, which she shares with him,
and which he himself does not appear
TO value. 20
This, the heritage of every human
being, is freedom. 1t is really aston
ishing that men and women, who will
sacrifice SO much and fight so tena-
ciously for certain indefinite rights,
should remain blind to the fact of their
own slavery to social tyranny of the
pettiest kind. There is no yoke so irk-
some as that of fashion in little things,
nothing which adds so greatly to the
daily burden of life as obedience to the
dictates of that impersonal tyrant who
has usurped the place of Mrs. Grundy.
and who more or less enslaves the en-
tire population of every village, town
and city.
Everywhere, the mass of men and
women are subjugated by the few.
One or two leaders regulate the fash
ions for set, and the remainder, like
sheep, follow the leaders. This in
definable yoke enters into all the rela-
tions of life, regulates every detail,
from the arrangements of q wedding
to the patterns of china or the num-
Der of courses served at meal. 1t
establishes the time of our meals. In
some towns every one dimes late, in
others every one takes dinner at
twelve. 1t is the "way," and SO in
every thing. No matter whether
fashions suit us or not we bow to
them. men just as much as women,
doing as our ''set" does with the full
est complacency and the satisfaction
of a good conscience.
Not to amplify, l would only sug.
gest, that when men and women are
sufficiently honest to assert their right
to absolute freedom in every thing, tc
freedom of opinion or of idea in rela'
ton to minor matters, to think fol
themselves (what not one in twenty
does) upon religious, literary, socia
and political matters, to read books
not because they are talked about
and everybody reads them, but fol
their intrinsic value, to have their owl
opinion about them ana NO! sdont thu
of the critic, to 60 even without gloves
when every one else wears them, t.
do as they like when no principle is in
volved, and as they individually thinl
right, when it is matter of principle
then they will be free; and, being free
with the absolute freedom of min,
which is every ones right. men ant
women will stand upon the only pos
sible platform of equality the equalit.
of thought. 1t is very well to CLAIM
freedom of opinion and equality o
rights; but neither is possible unit
women as individuals think for them
selves and act in small as well as il
great matters in accordance with thei
own opinion, based upon their owl
actual thought, instead of accepting
the thoughts and opinions of other
ready-made
This applies to the gravcst ques
tons, as of political suffrage, and t.
the smallest details or everyday life
Let us all strive to free our minds iron
the tyranny of social leaders, and t
think for ourselves. Then we shall b
in equal enjoyment with men of tn
only possession that can make lif
what it ought to be-absolutc freedom
of thought and opinion. Janet Z
R,,ifz- Peee ssa Wo,,0u' .To,yrooI