New-York tribune., 1894-10-31

Uniformity. he declares. was the end and aim
of the primitive artisan. If she departed from
her model the alteration rather the result
OF an accident than design. 1t was part Of the
conservatism Of her traditions that this should
he 50. and this so-called conventionalism In her
work was not thing which she struggled
against a civilized artist would struggle
against his mannerisms. Her whole effort was
TO be conventional to make things look just as
her mother and grandmother and great-grand-
mother made them look THE wallet, the bowl.
the tray. the pot. the jar. the bottle. the bas-
ket after acquiring a family trait. goes on 10
perfection in It's monotony." Monotonous uni
forniy is the ideal Of primitive art. whether
the medium be textile or fcte. or sonant the
characteristic Of savage music Is its monotcny
and its accuracy in rhythm. But the personal
equation will work out. !, spite Of Itself one gen
Grafton changed the met hods by which another
had wrought. 1t kept tho old tradition, but un-
consciously supplied It with new contents. In
language and fOlk-tae the slow processes u changc
were the same and here again the gTeCarious.
laughter-loving women. not the lonely and tact
turn male hunters and trappcrs and warriors.
were the instruments of transmittal and evolu-
ton Thus. throughout the whole field of human
neaceful activity T. was woman's work and
WOmanS thOuSnt tndt gave lNt M'ii'a INN SAhl L
toward the nultiplex and varied life Of the pres
ent day But abundant her labors were.
woman was never truly a slave among peoples
that had in them the elements Of progress. She
slaved indeed. but she did willingly. II she
was treated bruay. this sign Of deca-
dence IN the tribe and meant rs ultimate disap
pearance.
On this point the little book British Free
women" forms a good supplement to DR. Ma
sons work. The whole purpose Of this addition
to the Social Science Series is 10 show that the
old Celtic and Teutonc customary laws left
woman free. and that the liberties which she
now seeks to obtain have been taken away from
her in England by gradual encroachment ana
by prejudiced legal Interpretation. for which Sir
Edward Coke and The analoges of Roman law
are chiefly responsible. The meagrc illusions OF
the Latin writers to the condition of British and
German women in early times are made the most
Of and after the Norman Conquest chronicles
and charters statutes and other documentary
| materials have been drawn upon TO show that
| under the feudal system women paid homage
| and received 1t as the condition of holding and
inheriting property. that they held courts were
| summoned for military service. that they could
be knighted. could hold the offices Of high sher-
| III. earl marshal high constable. high steward,
1
| royal castles. that they could not only attain
| office by nheritance, but might also hold IL
by appointment. These, Of course. were women
| Of rank and as peeresses they also had their
place in the House Of Lords. in person or by
| proxy. The gentlewoman also had her privileges.
| She could be a freeholder, could hold feof by
| military tenure. could be judge or juror, could
vote for knights Of the shire. for members of
Parliament in certain cases could be a member
of guilds with men, besides having guilds OF her
own and had various other rights which are now
withheld Then the author reviews the history
of what she calls the long ebb from the time
of Sir Edward Coke. when gradually all these
rights and privileges were taken away or ignored
in spite OF vigorous protests. She shows now
the tide has turned In comparatively recent
times Woman is now slowly recovering what
has been taken from her stealthily or by
force. and the author argues that she has on her
side the facts Of ethnology, Of history. the true
Interpretation of the laws. and the declarations
of the Scriptures when these correctly trans
lated.