The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-16

reached hight which forbade the litera-
ture OF preceding age, and women who
tolerated 1t now put il away with q frown.
In these novels, women and their virtues
and affections were the subject OF jibe and
jest, from which not even the respectable
classes were exempt. As for poor women,
they were considered lawful prey, as it was
deemed impossible for poverty and virtue
TO exist together. II was cruel age.
Piracy prevailed on the seas, the slave
trade was among the most profitable COM
mercial ventures; bull-baiting, bear-bait-
ing, dog.fghting and cock-fghting
were the chief sports. The punish
ments for crime were extreme
and inhuman, cruel and unusual.
Miserable wretches were hanged by the
dozen for picking pockets, stealing sheep,
cutting down apple trees or forging checks.
1t was gross age, licentious and so luxu-
rious that the writers OF the time dealt
largely in ridicule OF the extremes of
frivolous fashion prevalent among the
women Of the upper classes and the
| ellemlnate Alterations OF the men.
Speech was very loose and language was
tolerated such us is not now INDUCED by
the debased upon the streets OF our cities.
The novels of Mrs. Marley, Miss Burney,
Mrs. Inchbald, Miss Austin and Miss
Edgeworth were each a remove in the
succession named better than those OF
Mrs. Aphra Behn. The titles OF some of
them will indicate their character. scope
and quality-'"rhe Power OF Love-" "The
Fair Hypocrite." "The Wiie's Resent
ment," "The Perjured Beauty" "The
Unhappy Mistake" "Evelina, or the
History OF a Young Lady's Introduction
to the World" OF Mrs. Behns novels,
one was entitled "The Wandering
Beauty" and another "The Unfortunate
Happy Lady," Among the men who
wrote novels were Fielding and Smollet,
Goldsmith, Mackenzie, Richardson and
Brooke, who wrote "The Fool OF Quality"
which even 80 good man rs
John Wesley tried TO mend and repub-
lished under the title Of the "Ilistory OF
Harry Earl OF Moreand." Inall Of these
works we get faithful photographs not only
OF the very low ebb OF private and public
morals, but OF the degrading views rs to
women which men held and which even
women painted in colors that justified the
views OF the men. There were, OF course,
exceptions TO this rule that, while they
| frequently awoke in some men q senti-
ment Of respect for women, had little effect
Grafton OF the rights OF women rs their
equals in the home, much less tine State.
In sinking the dignity OF womanhood be-
| low level so gross and uniecling they lost
/ sight OF womcn's claims as members OF the
human family, their equals as they have
been held by the church TO DO their
equals through all the Christian dis
| pensation, their equals in accounta-
bility and responsibility, and therefore
entitled TO all the benefits that are the
special promise OF the Christian creed.
History has transmitted the story OF brave,
heroic women like Jane dc Montiort. the
wife OF William Purcfoy aud Joan OF arc;
IL tells OF extraordinary women, OF women
Of ambition, iirmness, resolution, spirit,
energy and remarkable executive ability,
OF avaricious, adventurous, helpful, hon
ofed and discreet women, patriotic, schol-
arly and philosophic women, and women
VINO ruled on the throne and in the cabi-
net. And history also bears testimony
10 the virtues and zeal OF women, but un-
fortunately also 10 the weakness, wicked
ness and degradation OF women. II tells
of rcyengeful as well as tender women, OF
even icrocious and monslrOus rs well as
timid and chaste women, but Il has pre-.
served but few examples OF industrial wo-
men ofsuch n caste as We have thousands
OF to-day. Women ruled in courts at the
cost OF their honor, and were either petted
after tho manner OF the Zenana, or were
degraded rs in some parts Of Continental
Europe they are still degraded to the
level Of beasts Of burden, yokcd with the
horse TO the pillow and with he dog in
the cart. The occupations opened TO them
were few and were mainly confined 10 the
house and kitchen in which they toilcd
rs drudgcs and dTabs, whose work from
sun 10 sun was never done. Some Of
them became governesscs and school
teachers, but these, too, were considered
| little more than mcnial positions. English
literature and the English stage OF the
eighteenth, and even Of the nineteenth
century Afford many examples Of the
general estimate Of young women who
| follow these callings Becky sharp"
became q dangerous schemcr 10 escape
the social outlawTy that was the school
teachers fate, and Jane Eyrc's" pitt
iiul tale depicts the sorrows Of q proud
and spirited woman held by the leash Of
women might also become, but
| they, too, were often branded rs
oulcasts. labor was degraded and the
women who laborcd were casssd among
the degraded. Even the clcrgmen Of the
Established Church were rclegalcl to the
kitchen for companionship and for wives.
| And 10 lite for women continued far into
this nineteenth century. with only such
mitigation rs the Sunday-school aud the
church, aroused 10 action by tho jealous
oyangelicals, could afford. The world ut
large owes much TO the sundayschool, but
women more. Up 10 1870 the condition
and fate Of women was the concern OF but
few good Christian people, who at.
tempted 10 stem the general prejudice and
arouse women themselves 10 q conviction
that the Improvement Of the condition OF
their sex was necessary 10 tho improve.
inent Of tho condition OF society. Forty
| years ago even In this country women had
no place anywhere except IN their homes,
no pecuniary Independence, no purpose Ia
| life save that which came through mar
riagc. From u condition In which no
woman thought Of such n thing ~ earning
her bread by any other means than sew
ing, cooking or factory work, in these lat.
ter years there has been opened to her
every avenue Of industry-eyory PROBES.
sion-wheroby woman today stands almost
the peer OF man in her advantages for Pc
cuniary Independence. And what 10 true
In the world Of work is true as 10 educa.
ton, is truo everywhere. "Men," said
the noble agtator, Miss Anthony, re.
Gently, "hayc granted us, In the privileges
and civil rights Of society, which We have
been demanding, everything almost, but
tho pivotal right, the one tia. underlics
all other rights, the right with which citi.