The sun., 1894-03-25
Tho Revolt OF Young Women in Eng
land.

! There has been Of late In English news
papers and periodicals great deal OF talk
about the discomfort alleged to exist among
young women at the degree Of supervision
and control to which they are subjected In
the classes constituting what is called So
ciety. The discussion may be said to be
| summed up In the current number Of the
Nineteenth Century. which prints four articles
upon the subject. Two Of these are writ
| ten from tho mothers point OF view. while
| the other two set forth the grievances and
aims Of the young unmarried women. 1t Is
the latter papers which especially deserve
attention. and one OF them presents q
thoughtful. cogent, and powerful plea for a
larger measure Of liberty than English girls
OF the higher classes have hitherto enjoyed
The article signed by Lady KATHLEEN
CUFFE Is likely to strike the masculine
reader as frivolous. The writer apparently
has no wish to claim for young women the
same opportunities OF education as are
open to their brothers. She has no desire to
secure thorough training for whatever
talents she may possess. 80 that through
out her life her mind may have invlgorat-
ing occupation. II not lucrative employ
ment. She speaks frankly In the name Of
the average tea-drlnking. lawn-tennis-
playing. ball-going damsel. and apparently
all she wants Is the abolition OF chaperons
on all possible occasions. Lady KATHLEEN
considers 1t hardship that an unmarried
girl cannot. like young married woman,
walk through the streets alone and drive
In hansoms alone. This, which she deems
trivial concession. is apparently all she
asks for. The average girl. she says. does
not want this small amount OF liberty for
any wild or vagrant purpose. She has no
craving to read books forbidden by her
parents. or to see plays they prefer she
should not see. She would simply like to
enjoy the minor pleasures and duties OF life
without the now inevitably bored and
wearied chaperon. On this point 1t may
be Justly said that English girls. like
American girls. might safely have good
deal OF freedom as regards walking and
driving alone. provided their mothers were
at pains to equip them with the requisite
information and self-possession. The COM
parative liberty granted TO American girls
Is justified by the fact that their parents
are careful to impart to them betimes a
certain amount OF knowledge OF the world,
In grave and decent way. thus enabling
them to recognize pitfalls. and to save
them. at any rate. from laundering into
ruin. Let the same course be followed In
England, and 1t would surely be possible
for an English girl to cross the street, to |
drive In hanson to a friends house. or |
even to travel by rail. unaccompanied by a |
maid. q governess. or duenna.
The chaperon question. however, is not |
one OF absorbing interest. and Miss ALYs |
SMITH. the second young woman contribu. |
tor to the NiRsteelth Century repudiates the |
assumption that the revolt Of the daughter |
is directed against any merely surface con-
ventionallties. The revolt OF the unmar-
ried girl is. she says. an uprising against
a bondage that enslaves her whole life. |
According TO the principles and methods by
which she has been hitherto brought up.
she has belonged to other people: now she
demands to belong to herself. In the past
other people have defined her duties for
her; now she asks that she may determine
them for herself. In the matter OF mar
riage. every girl has an acknowledged
right to shape her own life: why not, then,
Miss SMITH inquiries. let her have some
power Of arranging her life when she does
not marry? Some day her parents must
leave her. and. II they do not leave
her with a husband and children
TO hll her life. ought they not to leave her
with some pursuits and interests OF her
own, to occupy her aud make her happy
AS matter Of fact. grown-up sons are
started on on Independent careers. but
grown-up daughters. although they may
have equal. or perhaps greater talents.
and at least as high aspirations. are con-
iemned to life Of dependence at home;
their energies are limited to the social and
duties OF the household; their
native aptitudes are thwarted or cramped.
and every impulse to do something for the
aorld outside is treated a. unWomanly and
evolutionary.
1t is In the name Of unselfshneSs that
Eonsn are urged 70 this hsbituAl sAeEihos;
,at Aiss sAJEH regards 1t rather - form