The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-05-09
tine Widening Of woman's sphere"

"Ine widening Oh woman y sphere
The lectures of Miss Mabel Jenness on
the preservation and cultivation of the
beauty Of woman contain nothing that is
novel, but they serve a valuable purpose in
| provoking renewed discussion of a very
important subject.
Not many years ago the mere appear
ance Of a woman as a speaker on a public
platform was looked upon as unwomanly
and unseemly. Now it has become so fire.
anent that il is taken as a matter of
course. Nobody thought that Miss Ed
wards unsexed herself, to use the old ex-
preston of reproach, when she lectured
in Chickering Hall on Egyptology and
Egyptian antiquities. Nobody suffered
in mind lest her example might lead other
women to 60 beyond their proper sphere,
| another cant phrase of the past, but the
whole audience, men and women both,
were delighted by the lucidity of her style
and the grace and precision of her elocu-
ton. 1t was a pleasure TO listen TO her
voice, sweet, flexible, of agreeable modu-
l%ation, and reaching to every part of the
house, though never overstrained; and her
pronunciation was well nigh fanlLless.
The young people of this generation can
have no conception of the extent and rigid
ity Of the prejudicas which had to be
overcome before a woman like Miss Ed
wards could receive respectful attention
as a public lecturer. Forty years ago she
would have excited hardly less disappro-
baton if she had appeared on the street in
mans costume. She wculd have been
avoided as a blue stocking, fit only to be
the associate of fanatics aud come cutters.
The prevailing notion in those days was
that women's sphere is confined within the
narrow limits OF purely domestic duties,
and that anything approaching full intel
lectual development is nnfominine and
monstrous.
AS a consequence, women suffered both
physically and Intellectually. They were
treated as hot-house plants. to be kept un-
der cover, and timidity was accounted a
prime feminine virtue. They were ex-
pected to shrek at the sight of a nous or
a caterpillar, and they joined with men in
no other amusements than dancing and a
small variety of indoor pleasures of con-
ventional approval. Riding was very un-
common among the woman of this region,
and they were debarrcd from open air
sports generally. They wore shoes with
the thinnest of soles, thought that beauty
lay chiefly in a face and complexion jeal-
ously guarded from the sun, and looked
upon delicate health, a feeble appetite,
and weak muscles as becoming to lady.
Alas. alas! what cellar plants they were;
aud yet how enhancing!
Now all that has changed. A woman
glories in her strength of both body and
mind, and her sphere includes the whole
world Of activities. She is more graceful,
her movements are freer, her figure is bet
ter rounded, her face blooms with health
and intelligence, and in this part OF the
Union she has grown appreciably in
stature. The superior height and sym
metrical proportions of the girls of this
generation are unqucstionablc. They are
strong, enduring, supple, courageous, and
hardy. In all respects they are more beau
tifnl and more engaging.
Yet .here are points in their develop