The sun., 1894-03-21
Women and the Suffrage.

Within q few days postal card reading
thus has been sent TO q large number OF
people In this city. both men and women:
"A eommttss of ladies invite you and all the adult
members Of your houshod to call at SHERRY, on any
Saturday IN March and April between and O'Clock
to sign petition to strike out in Constitu-
tion the word nais qualification for voters Cir.
euArs sxplaininx the for request may Be
obtained At the same time and place
Mrs cHARLxs RussELL LowELI. Mra wARREs GoppARp
| Mra JosEya II. CHoArI Mra RosERr AssI
| Dr. AAHr PurSAs JAcos. krs HEsRH u. sAspERst
Miss ADzLz n FIELDE"
| This circular has much significance because
OF the character of the ladies whose names are
| appended to 1t. So far as we know, none OF
them has taken part In the women's rights
agitation OF the last forty years. and hith-
erto they have not been among those who
| were active In demanding the suffrage for
| women. The radical womens rights agi-
tators like Mrs. STANTON and Miss ANTHONY
have not had them among their followers,
and have not enlisted their sympathies.
They have represented feminine conserva-
tism. or the prevailing feminine sentiment,
and hence have kept aloof from the little
band OF women who have struggled for
years and against so many discourage
ments TO arouse In their sisters desire
for political privileges which would put them
on an equality with men In the State.
1t Is true that Mrs. jacob. for instance
was one OF the first American women to
enter the regular medical profession, and
that she has won much distinction In that
field; but she has not been publicly asso-
ciated with the womens rights agitators
who have been engaged In eeaseless fight
for those privileges during the whole OF her
successful professional career. She began
by contenting herself with resisting the
prejudice. then almost universal. against
what was called the enlargement Of "wom-
ems sphere" which opened for them other
activities than those pursuedin the seclusion
OF the home or the sehoolhouse. At the
time when che prepared herself for the
medical profession. IL was brave step for
her to take; but since that day 1t has be-
come matter OF course for women to en-
gage In any honorable occupations for
which they can MT themselves. With
the sole exception Of the employments
that require rude masculine strength
and endurance. they are now success-
fully pursuing every department OF
business and professional industry in
numbers so great that their appearance in
So"PeAdOh WIN hion no longer attracts |
attention. II a woman has her living to |
make. or practical abilities which she |
wishes to exercise. public opinion finds no |
fault with her II she goes out into the field |
OF industry like man. She can do as she |
pleAses about 1t. whether the occupation be |
trade. manufacture. profession. the public |
service. the stage. the platform. or any other
career for which she is competent: and she
suffers nothing In public or private estima-
ton in consequence. She rather gains in /
esteem because Of her self-reliance: and ex-
perienee shows that she loses nothing OF
the feminine charm that is in her.
This great advantage was won by women
during period when the cause Of wOmen's
rights. as represented by the mere agita-
tors for woman suffrage. seemed 10 bo
going backward rather than making prog-