Woman's chronicle. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1888-1???, 1890-11-22
Is Woman Merely the Means for Perpet-
uation of the RaCeS2


The widely diverging views upon the subject of
womans place in the world are caused by the diff
ferent conceptions of woman reason OF existence
Is she merely means for the perpetuation OF the
race? Or is she being endowed with the highest
powers which it is her duty to cultivate for her
own spiritual and mental growth for the benefit
of her home and for the use of the world? Those
who hold the latter opinion, as do, believe that
the present tendency of education is in the right
direction.
The modern young woman who is suddenly con-
fronted with the important questions-"Does she
try at all to fit herself for her life-work? Is she
doing all she can to help herself? Is she making
the most of her present opportunities ?'-fnds an
answer in her efforts to fulfil the requirements
placed upon her by her parents and teachers and
by the exactions of the society in which she is
placed. The fairy god-mothers of the latter half
of the nineteenth century bestowed upon her at
birth the privilege of unlimited education. She is
taught that her first duty is physical development.
With gymnastc exercises, horseback riding, lawn
tennis and other out-of-door sports she attans
strength of body of which her lessons in physiol-
ogy, anatomy and sanitary science have shown her
the Importance.
It'll oCuOOl UldlHuS oloaa "iit WV" 1N'NAN'
1t is not at all unlikely that the disciplinary studies
needed for admission to college, lessons IN music,
dancing and cooking, are added to fit her for
more social and domestic career. There is still
time in this busy girls life for her to learn to sew
and to direct the dressmaker and seamstress.
Probably lessons in nursing would form part OF
the school curriculum, as your correspondent,
Gan Old Gentleman" advises, if their introduce
ton were practicable. Can it be said that not
withstanding this complex educational course,
which includes physical development, the study OF
languages, the arts, sciences, art mathematics, the
cooking school, and sewing class that ''women are
doing nothing to perfect themselves, to develop
themselves for the wonderful life work. OF wife
and mother?
1t is interesting to notice that your correspond
ent does not revive the old complaint that women
are not educated to be mems intelligent compan-
ions. One inconvenience of the old idea of the
necessity Of the "nursery existence for women
is that this resulted in the loss of their charm as
mems equals. A painful phase of real life is de-
pcted in the novel which shows the inability OF the
wife to truly sympathze with her successful
husband While he has been advancing in edu-
cation and knowledge of the world, she has been
leading purely domestic existence. At last she
realizes, the novelist says, that his affections are
aenated.
II understand more perfectly" she complains,
sthat have been fool. l have been too busy
over the house and the children. have neglected
myself | cannot talk and l cannot dress"
The typical modern woman is not compelled to
make such humatng confession, because she
is able to stand shoulder to shoulder with her hus-
band.
AS the duties of wife are best performed by
women who are able 10 sympathize with their hus-
bands, statistics show that children are reared most
carefully by the best educated women The NOR
tality of children of women college graduates is
proved to be less than that of any other class of
mothers. On the WHOLE children of to-day are
more sensibly clad and better cared for than ever