The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-06


tions has been entertainingly explained
by Mrs. Sara Yorke Stevenson in lec-
ture recently delivered in Philadelphia.
From the Times excellent report OF
that lecture We extract the following
paragraphs: ''In ancient Babylonia, as
Is shown by the contract tablets pre-
served to US, woman was before the
mercantile law the equal OF man. She
could testify in court and took part IN
legal transactions. She could own and
beQueath property and could enter into
a contract. 1t would seem that In early
times she may in other ways have oc-
cupied a higher position than she did
after the Semites overran the valley.
Generally. however. in the historical
documents she plays a subordinate. as
Il were, an unofficial role. Among the
Semitic races marriage was an eminent
ly business-like transaction. The dow
ry is always carefully mentioned. 1t
must be returned In case OF divorce,
which was recognized by the Babyloni-
an as we'll as by the Egyptian law. In
ordinary cases man was the recognized
master Of his own household. He owned
his family. the members OF which could
undertake nothing without his sane
ton. No marriage was valid without
the fathers consent Daughters were.
as it were. sold under contract. The
Semitic marriage has been aptly COM
pared to a transaction In which the wo-
man Is hired to the man."
Taking up the question Of woman's
position among the Hebrews the lee
turer said woman's testimony, accord
ing to Josephus. was considered un-
worthy OF credence and was not ad-
mitted to court. Polygamy was almost
unlimited. Four legitimate wives were
admitted by Interpreters of the Mosaic
law, as we'll as later by the Koran.
while hardly any restriction was
brought on divorce. Renan regards
the Semitic woman of patriarchal times
as occupying a far more dlgnified posi-
tion than she later did. The inaugura-
ton OF harem life would mark, accord
ing 10 him. the second period and the
debasement of women. Among the
Hindoos the legislator Manu- put an
end to marriage by sale" the lecturer
continued. only one legitimate wife
was recognized by him. But although
he wished woman no harm, and even
forbade her being hurt, HIS respect for
her was slim. Women ne says. have
for their share the love Of their bed,
and oftheir seat q. e. laziness). Of adorn-
ment q. e., vanity. sensuality. wrath.
evil dnclinations, perverseness. Let
husbands watch them with vigilance.
Day and night they should be kept in
dependence. Young and old they. should
never. even in their own house, follow
their own, WILL Elsewhere he says Of
woman she Is falseness ITSELF"
A JULY The CHIT:
The poet sings in glowing rapture pent
While the white clouds in airy grace
unfurl
Nov Is the Winter Of our
discomfort
Made glorious Summer by
the Summer girl!~
Judge.
Taking up the condition Of the wife
in the early Indo-European family, a
more worthy one resting upon the rec
ognition by the husband Of certain
rights more or less ignored by the poly
gamous people of Asia, Mrs. Stevenson
said that the women of Homer seem
to be inspired by a higher condition
than those Of later period. The posi-
ton of women from the time of Homer
to the Persian war varied among the
different Greek communities. The lit
ara rv ca roar nf So ppho ~ Cnrin mn opd
Of Telesilla and others seem to point
to her freedom in the sixth century, B.
c., but by the middle of the fifth CEN
tury the restriction of the liberty Of the
free-born citizen women, which had be-
gun some time earlier, attained to Its
full development in Northern Greece
and in the Ionic communities. The
wife now lived In the gyneceum. She
might eat with her husband when
alone. but she never appeared before
his friends. Only old women were al
lowed to walk out without comment
and even they must have attendants.
In the Graeco-Roman epoch woman
became much freer and the family life
became far closer. Matrimonial joys
became a favorite literary theme. In
the Dorian settlements the status of
woman before the law was far higher
than In the Ionian communities. At
Sparta woman had a favored position.
Girls were brought up on an equal foot
Ing with boys. In the state she WELD
ed an influence to a great extent equal
to that Of the men. Not only could
Spartan women inherit property, but
Aristotle states that two-ffths Of the
soil OF Laconia was held by women,
whereas the average proportion of the
real estate held by women in Philadel-
phia In 1893 seems only to be something
like one-fifth. In the old Roman law.
the free woman, the legitimate wife,
seems to have been regarded az the
mater familias, in honor the equal Of
her husband. The ms rriage tie was a
sacred one in early Rome. The prin-
ciple of monogamy was firmly rooted.
II Is only after the revolt of the plebe-
ians IN setting UP -alonside of the old
sacred law a civil code uniform In its
dealings with all that woman lost
much of her position. Notwithstand-
Ing legal discrimination against her,
however. the Roman matron seems to
have claimed and substantially won no
small degree Of respect. Tradition in
forms rs that to her we owe the street
courtesy which causes a. man TO step
aside and give way to woman.
AND THEN: -
At midnight In his guarded tent
The Turk was dreaming Of the hour
When Greece, her knee In suppliancs bent,
Would tremble at his power.
And In his. dreams the foeman fall