Huntsville gazette., 1892-04-02
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
WOMEN IN FINLAND.

Much Has Been Done and Is Yet Being
Done in That Little COlntry.
The woman question is progressing
| in Finland Woman's position in Fin
land has, in fact always been good,
and favored by the laws. The ma
tional character also permits advance
ment, because of its readiness to sub
ject the physical to the spiritual.
Again, our culture is comparatively
modern, and the young people are not
SO deeply imbedded in ancient Gus
toms.
In the thirteenth century Birger Jarl
granted woman the right of inherit
ance. The laws of 1854, however, con-
firmed the custom that had become the
prevailing one-that sons inherited two
thirds and daughters one-third, except
ing children Of clergy man, who were
to divide evenly. In 1850 we hear of a
school in Ny Karleby which admitted
girls to the study of reading, writing
and the catechism. The fact becomes
interesting when we remember that
the contemporary French lady, Fran
coise de Saintonges. was prosecuted in
Paris because she labored for the estab D.
lishment of girls schools in her native
land.
In spite of all this progress the wom-
en- at large, of Finland, did not until
1884, support or even encourage any or
ganized work for woman's rights.
Then in Helsingfors a Finnish
Woman's union" was organized by Mrs.
Elizabeth Lofgren, who became its first
president The union had to suffer like
all similar ones elsewhere, but it sur
vived criticism and opposition. 1t ad-
mits no male members, because that
would make it suspicious in the eyes OF
the Russian police, who are hunting
for Nihilists everywhere. The pro-
gramme of the union is as follows:
Equal rights and advantages with
men in the securing of both universal
and special knowledge.
Woman's right to pass aoademical
and other examinations and to profit
thereby equally with man.
The same wages for same labor with
out regard to the laborer's sex-pro-
vided the same amount of knowledge
and efficiency is furnished.
Married and unmarried women are OF
age when twenty-one years old.
A married woman shall have full
possession and right of administering
her inherited or otherwise acquired
property.
Woman's legal right to marry must
be placed far beyond the present fixed
age of fifteen.
The same law and custom for woman
as for man on all moral questions.
The law must acknowledge abuse and
drunkenness as sufficient cause for di-
vorce and equal to martial infidelity.
Considering the progress of the last
ten years, we can see an advance on the
whole line Women have now the
right to vote at municipal elections,
and they are elective to school boards
and as charity commissioners. The
public interest in admitting girls to
boys schools has grown very much,
and parents, as rule, are now bent
upon giving their girls an education for
nse, rather than for ornament Wom-
en- study now in the industrial
and technical schools. Upon special
application women are admitted to the
university, and, upon paying the regu-
lar fee, they enjoy the advantages OF
male students in the lccture-room and
elsewhere. There is not much pros
pect, at present, for women getting
equal wages with men, because of their
neglect in acquiring equal proficiency.
A law was passed in 1889, relating to
property and Indebtedness of married
people; according to this law the
wife, but the wife has sole right over
her own earnings The same law gave
the married woman the right to do
business without her husbands per-
mission, in case he isIimprisoned, has
abandoned her, or when the married
partners live apart. Public opinion is,
in general way, aroused on
the subject of the woman
question, and some of the daily
papers have put it upon their pro-
gramme. But though the voice is Ja-
cob's, the hands are those of Esau.
They talk nobly about progress, but
they practice according to the old Gus
tom of allowing man a moral code
differing from that of woman and Civ
ing him liberties denied her.
Very much remains yet to be done in
Finland. Our work and progress is
only local and limited as such.-Kvin.
den ag Samfundet.