The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-25

within our fraditionzTy or HISTORICAL Know
ledge have the same existing conditions
prevailed There have been epochs such
as that represented by Rome in the first
two centuries OF our era when women
were extraordinarily INDUCED in their lux
uries and caprices, but II was unaccom-
panied by intellectual growth. 1t was a
period of mere sensuogs lavishness and
the license rather than the liberty of ac-
ton.
The result. was then. as OF all such full
ness of female epicurisrn, that the race
suffered. Marriage was means only to
the end Of enjoyment Of social pleasures.
domestic Iife was discreditsd and the cares
OF maternity shirked.
Two influences are for the first time con-
Jointly at work on womanhood. On the
one hand the NERVOUSNESS of Europe IS
leading 10 a return OF conditions which
must tend TO the deterioration OF poster
lty In those ranks where the indulgence is
permitted. and on the other the higher
education of woman Is tending TO restrict
the number while l. raises the quality Of
offspring. Statistics gathered with the OBJ
OF advanced education on women. indi-
rectly affords some information OF coll
lateral but not less interesting character.
Returns from fifty institutions show that
the women of these colleges enjoy better
health than women in general. and that
their death rate is very much less than
the death rate Of the community of their
-T... IT,
institutions. So far as general health and
occasional sickness are concerned. they lose
no more time than do men under the same
circumstances. The general conclusion. so
far as hygienic and sanitary eonsidera-
tons are concerned. is that the higher ed
ucation OF women is conducive to health,
strength. working power and longevity.
When ii comes. however. TO the ques-
ton of woman's relation to domestic af-
fections and responsibilities. the results
are sufficient to startle those who sec in
the new order of things a menace to the
theory that 'woman's only mission Is Wife
hood and motherhood. The average wo-
man marries at or near twenty years of
age: college graduates average twenty
In the selection of husbands. however. il
this Is to he judged by the fact that legal
separations and divorces are almost un-
known to the alumnae. They have much
smaller families. and in many cases no
family at all, the college graduate aver
aging just half the usual number, as one
and half 10 three But a very satisfac-
tory general result Is that those restricted
children are shown by mortuary tables
and physical examinations TO be healthier.
stronger. and less subject TO infantile
troubles. How much of that result is due
10 tho late marriage and how much 10
higher education must al present be left
open to hypothetical speculation. II it he
due 10 higher education. IL starts a train
OF thought which cannot be well followed
I'm tho columns OF a newspaper.
Tho advanced woman" who makes
no claim TO higher education. and pre-
tends TO no exalted physiologicalo or psyche
logical aspirations for more perfect pos
terity. is none the less directing her aim
toward diminished maternal cares. Her
theory is that woman has a right to the
thraldom OF family rearing. She rebels
against devoing the best years of her life
to domestieity and the nursery She de-
nounces the reckless fertility OF the I'M
oeasng mother who. at thirty. has lost
her youthful appreciation of ufe's pleas
ures. and haits only FROM repeated baby
cares 20 enter upon life OF preparation
for her children to begin similar round
OF anxiety and training.
Some such women go no further than 20
| excuse themselves on he ground OF selfish
participation OF pleasures reserved to The
unmarried or ehIldless. Others justify E,
on the higher ground shat fecundisy Is ar
injustice 20 those OF her children 20 whom
she is physically capable Of afTordins rr9-
per care. tenderness and Other advan-
tages
II the smaller number OF children were
! due to an increased sense Of responsibility
accompanied by a conscientious self-da-
NAL in which she was joined by her hus-
hand. tho world would he the gamer. al
though the Psychologist would have q
difficult task in determining how near
moral restriction nigh; be carried withou,
merging into the physical repression q
| progeny, whicA civilization very properly
| abhors.
The mxuriousness OF The Weather
classes IS not duo apparently 81 much 70
iaso'viousness as Il vas IN some OF the
! Ncll-rusrkea periods when fiush Of rios
| Gus pleasures was followed BY national ae-
| cadence. The sensueusnsss IL not OF an
/ iuter-scxual character bat Is rather
/ craving for perpetual suusemcnts. social
! activity, admiration and the less unre-
! stricted occupations and Independence 81
| movement entoyed by men. The enlarged
! sphere Of Intellectual activity attracts. no
/ doubt, many women. bat the moro r.af-
| ant lights and richer perfumes O. the
| glitierirc attractions held out by the
world. the fesh and TIE devil form the
ehief anuremcHts which tempt women 10
| forsake the home Ercside and the basl-
net:e.
II modern research Is reliable. Man has
/ existed on tire earth since some time IN
! the Picsstocene period. not less than So.aao
years ago. AMI e must he admitted We
/ have spent much OF thai tine 70 little pur-
/ pose. We arc as Tar from a practical
/ knowledge az the duties ard responsible
| ties % an;e-natAl paternity as were Adam