Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-26

mental fitness for maternity and it's
grave responsibilities being apparently
the last consideration. Itresults, there
fore, that the first and most impressive
lesson instilled into the female mind is
that she must look pretty, have
nice clothes, and above all, keep
them clean, and not soil the gay ribbons,
laces and frills, by romping and playing
rough games, climbing trees and fences.
aud in short, behaving like "horrid
boy" To behave like little lady Is
the first and lest Injunction. TO run,
kick up her heels, "skin the cat, y OF see
how bigh she can jump, would be q
crow1ing disgrace.
Indeed, the chances are ten to one
that before she is old enough to do such
things she is crammed into waist, or
worse still, corset, SO tight as to make
such antics impossible.
How long would a wide.awake boy
stand 1t to be hampefed with skirts and
coreets that forbade him any play? Yet
q normal girl, unspoiled by love of dress
and the vanity OF personal adornment,
takes as naturally to outdoor sports and
play as any boy, and If allowed to grow
up naturally, would be as healthy and
robust.
Give them the same chance for physi-
cal training as boys plenty of exercise
in the open air at home, and at school q
gymnasium of their own judiciously
conducted SO as to develop their physi-
cal powers symmetrically-having regard
to personal DEFICIENCIES and the amount
OF their mental labor properly adjusted
to their bodily strength, and this course
pursued systematically and wisely dur
ing their school life, manual training
being also added, the same as in boys
schoo]s, only suited to their different
needs. and the world would soon be less
full Of tired, nervous women, whom
matrimonv at once consigns to state of
chronic invalidism and the perpetual
care Of the gynecologist.
These "constitutionally tired" girls,
pretty to look at, perhaps, but with soft,
habby muscles, and no po yer OF endur-
ance, whom study gives the headache,
and whose nerves are always in q state
of unstable equilibrium, fuctuating on
the verge of Mysteries, and ready to suf-
fer complete collapse, mental and physi-
cal, at any unusual demand upon either
mind or body, how could they be ex-
pected to properly fulfil the duties of
wives or mothers? What contrast
with their great great grand
mothers who carded and spun the
wool and wove the cloth to
clothe husband and ten or dozen
children, and did the household work
besides, with only the help OF the grow
ing girls? The toll and drudgery and
hardships which they endured through
childhood and youth are not now needed
or possible, but one hour day in
scientifically conducted gymnasium,
with tight home training, would make
women az strong and well as they, with
fresher beauty and happy enjoyment
of their exercise.
The highest interests of mankind, the
vigor and progress of the race, demand
this reform in the dress, treatment and
educgtlon of girls. I do not advocate a
dresasreform that, even in appearance,
unDgxes woman. and am no admirer oi
''long-haired men or short-hsirsd wo-
men, but there is no good reason why
girls clothes should not be built on =
plan to allow full chest expansion, and
q freedom to use their arms and whole
bodies in any gymnastic exersize with
the same freedom 20 boys, and draperies
at least SO abbreviated as not to act as
street ecavengers.
OF course such reform will not be
easy when the mothers persist in wag-
Cling their long-tailed dresses through
the tilth of the streets at the behest of
fashion, and, here in dry California,
kick up such q dust that one needs to
keep we'll to windward.
There is another consideration that
must not be lost sight Of.
Mrs. Linton says: "Be it pleasant or
unpleasant, it is nevertheless an abso-
lutte truth-the raison d'etre of woman
is maternity. For this and this alone
nature has differentiated her from man
and built her up cell by cell and organ
by organ. The continuance of the race
in healthy reproduction, together with
the fit nourishment Of the young after
birth ia the ultimate end of woman as
such, and whatever tells against these
functions and reduces her power or per-
fectness, is an offense against nature
and wrong done to society.
If she chooses to decline her natural
Office altogether and dedicate to other
services life. which has no sympathy
with the sex of humanity, that comes
within the list of her lawful preferences
and discords.
"The cradle lies across the door OF the
polling booth and bars the way to the
senate and other occupations naturally
belonging to men and inconsistent with
maternity and the care of well regu-
lated home."
No truer or more forcible statement oi
a physiological fact could be made than
this. That some women deliberately
choose life Of celicacy, and certain
percentage are prevented by circum
stances from entering the marriage state
does not alter the general law. They
are but the exceptions that 60 to prove
the rule.
I have no desire to limit woman's free
choice of a profession or occupation.
honor and reverence the women who
voluntarily renounce the happiness O.
welded love and the ineffable joys O
motherhood to dedicate their lives tt
the service of humanity, as 1 do the
saints OF old aud the sisters Of charity
and mercy, and respect those wht
have the courage to enter the lists with
man and strive for the same prizes ht
wealth, power, high position
but the fact remains that the materna
instict is the strongest in human nature
and she who attains fame and dietinc
ton will still feel that there is void ir
her life-an unsatisded longing.
A Awoman who had attained honor ant
fame to satisfy the loftiest ambition
once confessed that she would gladly ex
change them all to have been thu
mother of good and great man. Sh'