Morning journal and courier., 1891-06-02

Profound Essay by Professor E. D.
 Cope of Pennsylvania.
 From the Open Courtl
 The foundation facts of the situation, as they appear from a physiological stand point, are somewhat opposed to our ideals, I freely admit; but it is the history of eve " human mind that is not incurably i'm sginative rather than exact, to learn the lesson which bondage to material condi- tions imposes on us all alike.
 The question is asked: "Is woman's in feriority the cause or the effect of her eco homie subjectiona" The answer is that it is the effect and not the cause of such subjection, as well as of ''body dwarfing dress and custom" This is the funda- mental error of large class of women doctrinaires, and it needs but a superficial knowledge of natural history to compre- bend it.
 The inferior physical strength of the fe- male sex is general (though not entirely universaD in the animal kingdom; and, as mentality is one of the functions of hu- man mechanism, it extends to the mental organism in man as well. It is 8 simple corollary of the law of the conservatism of energy that where large amount of energy is devoted to one function less re- mains for expenditure in performing an other. The large part of the female or ganism devoted to the functions of gesta- tations, lactation and maternal care of children simply puts her out of the race | as a competitor with man on anything like equal terms. Even if those functions are not active the machinery for the perfor- nance of other functions is not thereby increased in quantity or improved in qual- | ity, except in such small degree as one wo- | man may accomplish in q lifetime. And | this small accomplishment she does not transmit, since the unmarried woman has no children.
 call attention to the fact that, although woman has had the advantage of the in | heritance of male accomplishments and capacities since the origin of the species, the relation between her and man still re- mains about as it ever has remained. The | one sex progresses about as rapidly as the 1 other, and they maintain about the same l relative position. This fact is so funda- mental that it is unreasonable to expect | any change in the future. What can be done is to improve both sexes as much as possible in all their powers, and to ac- quaint each with their limitations. In this way the greatest amount of happiness | fiict and waste.
 It is evident that marriage is the desti- ny of both sexes, and in the first place monogau,ic marriage is no more a slavery to women that the support of family is | to a man. Man is, to use this common but inexact expression, in 6 state of "slave- ry" to the conditions of his environment, | and no socialistic scheme can relieve him of the difficulty, though some nnitigations can be doubtless introduced. Man is an essential part of this environment, and contributes to the "slavery" to which he is subject. Woman's environment differs frem that of man, in the difference in the
 relation in which she stands to man, as | compared with that which subsists be-
 tween man and man. That she should es- cape the consequences of this environ
 ment is no more to be anticipated than ii
 the case with man himself She has the
 advantage of man. however, in having for
 her "master" 8 being who is naturally in.
 clined to admire, aid and support her
 while, to man, the environment is mostly
 controlled by grim necessity imposed by
 unfeeling forces. When man rebels
 against this environment, and makes re
 prisals on society by appropriating tho
 property of others, he makes @ serious
 mistake, and he finds it out, generally
 soon. So some women, dscontented witt
 their relations to husband, are dishones
 to him. They always have trouble. Com
 munity of wives is as impossible as com
 munity of property, unless wives surren
 der all claims to more than teInporar,
 consideration. There are both men anc
 women who think this the better system
 and act on it. But the men general,
 abandon it ultimately and marry. |
 would be interesting to know what be comes of the women. More information is needed, but the impression is that sucl men have not chosen wisely.
 It is true that woman, like "any ami
 nal, ," can bear children; but it is also tru that man, like. "sny animal" :" must make l living. The two occupations are on @ par But neither should neglect to develop thei , ''sef-hood" in such leisure time as the can command from these necessary oecu : pations. Every girl should have Q goo education, especially in biology and house rr keeping, and the more she knows of tn l science of life the better will she be prs 3 pared to fulfil her part in society.
 Another aspect of the question of WI T mans entrance into the industrial field ( 1 a competitor to man requires more spac :, than I can give to it here. It is the fac !. that woman, not being responsible forth {. support of her husband and family, ca K afford to work at some occupations fC d much lower wages than man can accep s This is one of the reasons for the low, q rate of women's wages; and it is not du as mAny thoughtIess agitators assume,
 the parsiuony of severe taskmasters.