Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-30
THE WOMAN QUESTION

DISCUSSED FROM A GENUINE WOMAN'S
 STANDPOINT. 5 To the Age Herald: Will you allow a woman (not thew woman," and perhaps not a progressive one) the space in your columns 10 express few thoughts on subject which is now engaging ths attention not only of nlr thinking women, but of the philan thro-. pist, the statesman and the divine, viz: 'The Woman Question- Woman E Righ.S;m hs ;,s,a ot modsro ,honsht and ot much modern literature produced by woman, Is to the uprOoting Ot many Of our social and civil laws and customs, and the "signs of the times' point to an upheaval; and there are many theories, all having their advocates and their errors, as to the best methods of harmoDizing and adjust ing these conflicting elements of society; but The strife is with present and future generations, and none of us can foretell the results.
 have not studied the subject in all its bearings and relations to society, but should the condition for which some women are now clamoring be brought about, and woman invade mans sphere and shoulder to shoulder with him fight the battle of life, will not this attitude of hers and this kind of association have tendency to de- stroy mans inborn spirit and sentiment of reverence and tender regard for woman- hood implanted in his breast by wise creator? Man is woman's natural pro. tector, and 'breathes there woman with soul so dead' who would lift her hand to destroy this ctivalrous attitude, which he has occul jed toward her sex from time im- memorial? Does she not regard his pro. teciion as her inalienable right?
 For my part must confess to a weak ness for that type of man designated "gen- tlemen of the old school,h at type which is fast becoming extinct, and should like to have lived in ante- bellum days, when southern gentlemen were as gallant and de ferential to ladies as any knight of the middle ages, ere Cervantes, with his inim. itable skill and finesse in the use o: that most powerful of weapons-ridicule-had dealt death blow to chivalry.
 And, again, should the avenues of public life and the learned professions be opened to women, would not the most talented and capable ones, she whose influence is most needed in the home and in the rearing of children, enter therein?
 Would we have race of Mrs. Jellybys, writing tracts and making garments for the heatL en while their own children wers garmentless; looking after the affairs of state and leaving the affairs of her house. hold and her children to take care of them- selves, or to the tender mercy of servants? What would become of OUT homes? The decay Of home life means the decay of na- tion. Our first recognized form of govern ment was the patriarchal system, which originated directly in and was sustained in the influences of home, and here is the birth place of civilizations; twas home in- fuences that cradled and rocked it in it's infancy, sustained the feeble and tottering steps of its childhood, and is the chief com. solation and support of It's maturer years,e And here is a prolific theme, well calcu-. lated to woo the inspiration of the poet, the eloquence of the orator and the wisdom of the statesman.
 From here, in a remote degree, eman ate the maxims of government and political