The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-12
EVOLUTION OF WOMANHoOD.
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sCIRA CT sBRMOK.

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Dsrsuas tie E-frssshise-sut 81 ws-sn,
wac sse-- Usswsrs thNt size r. = Slave
and = vieii. or Arrsstss Dsvsisp-ent.
The Science Sermons Society meets every
Sunday evening In the lecture room Of Robert
Collyer's church for the announced object OF
presenting the most advanced views and
encouraging their practical application" The
society IL called new departure and the plat
form Is said to be broad enough for all
The programme in general readsi "sohol-
arly and interesting lectures By acknowledged
leaders. discussion afterward instrum entail
and vocal music" Last evening discussion
followed a lecture on The Evolution OF True
womanhood." By DR.. Ellen 7. Kenyon. assocI-
ate editor OF the School Journal
DR.. Kenyon has an attractive face. . modest
and pleasing manner. aud q thin. piping
voice She is a dress reformer. but does not
wear the garments Of her more radical sis
ters. Last evening she wore q loose-httine,
hiRh-necked gown. She said In part
Woman 10 stirring uneasily in the narrow
confines Of her average thought world. only
half awake as vet to the fact that she is q
victim OF arrested developmen t; that tradi-
tion has her in it's clammy grasp so tightly
that much OF her ethical power IL benumbed
and nine-tenths OF her potential usefulness
deprived OF it's right to be aotuallzed.
About quarter OF a century ago the voice
OF woman piped out It's frat shril note OF de-
termination in this war for elbow room In
which to become freely developed ethical be-
ing. Society listened and turned away. pro-
nouncinR the note discordant but the female
'ranters' were listened to again and again.
and gradually truth got ioothold In public
opinion.
Woman IL trained from her cradle up By
orthodoxy. To have opinions 10 not dutiful
and feminine, therefore she lie trained to be-
lieve as she il told to believe. To dress freely
cut by the straitjacket pattern. To have in
vain. for her destiny is to wheedle men direct
servants. and dress bahiea
piano. though she may be stupid 10 music.
because q husband IL not easily caught With
out some form of flash. and Z hone Is nothing
tries to bulidozs his sisters ne Shove evidence
thing, from a band leader TO a two-term Presi-
dent OF the United States.
demands an uprising against the eardinsl
doctrine OF lIcentions men; and that , the veal
cred Keeping demands Of, her a participation
in the lawmaking Of thi. alleged Government
BY the people in order that certain dastardly
may % swiiily and Indignantly repesied,
sse ssnd spd to See RsP e ses
own feet: She y learning to reason about the
to her IN posms but scofns in the psose Of real
life. and to ask. II this intuition is such fine
% not IN d.
ing the educational facilities OF tho land to
american mothers pay them selves the COM
pllmsnt Of trusting their dan lighters. The open
ayenpes Of Vice thrust their hideous invita-:
oy ' sp sisrT Il. .vs f'i
high -souled American N other sets herself to
as VrsSe Is snsa
do not recognize that as virtue which exists
for ,, lack OF opportunity to DO vicious, Nor
!:ilst sSss !, ss.. fiji safely mai. ,;.
ing her for years by measures that plainly
ssy she IL regarded as open to temptation. and
1nsn sa uS.. asr .9Ff liz iS.f q
pitfalls than that. which has protected her.
with an unearped freedom 70 abuse the shelter s
line friend win nnd her too weak to resist
The idea OF education is. that 1t should re:
veal to the student his own. higher nature and
is the progress that woman has been making;
The dancer. Fatima. e at least three thousand
In her N entail development..
o.. She has neither inherited nor cauired the
She il free from the eonventionai restraints
she has never known. and impresses one as
Joyous, kittenish creature, entirely unham-
peIsd By personal dignity or responsibility.
Her bondage IL that OF the child-the bond
age from which education seeks to liberate its
subIects. 1t is the bondage OF sense and blind
i'm pulse. and OF an absolute dependence upon
the opinions OF others. She Is no more culpa-
BILE for her dance than puppy Is for jumping
through hoop.
The morally weak are moral children. The
libertine 10 o child. Say to him: Put yourself
in her place. How would you like IL IL you
were woman to be held cheaply, and to be
told in every glance and action, how eheaply
you are held p Not that this will reform him.
but 4 is the only appeal you can make TO him.
There are men who dread to sec the day
when women shall stand alone, NOT only selfish
Their idea OF = healthy girl is a hoyden. and
OF a strong minded woman . square figured.
feeble imitation Of a man.
The great thing to overcome 10 the isola-
tion OF the married woman. The absorbing
interest Of the family claims all her waking
thpughtA
DR.. Parkhurst has taught woman that II 10
high time she learned TO do her own reasoning
and take a hand In the law making OF this land
Of liberty, and EQUALITY. When free woman
longer hide: IL will die"
In the discussion following DR.. Kenyon's
lecture half Q dozen mem srs OF the society