The record-union., 1895-12-24

to be woman's business, and quite as
obviously man was given his exemp-
tions from personal inconvenience and
discomfort, that he might devote his
unhampered time and undiminished
strength to caring for her and their
mutual offspring. The advanced
woman" is the only female animal that
has risen in rebellion against her own
nature and deliberately advocated the
controverting of the Creators plans, by
evading or ignoring the purpose for
which she was created.
Mrs. Matheson then considers that
remarkable change which takes place
In the female and sets her upon the
exalted throne of womanhood. That
she is not exempt from suffering, acute
pain and great inconvenience after that
time, the essayist does not charge
against nature and natural functions,
but against artificial causes and de-
generacy that is apparent.
However that may be, this unad-
vanced woman insists with frankness
and blunt vigor that in wisely recur-
rent times woman is not fit to attempt
anything like serious mental or physi-
cal work: times when her mental vaga-
ries are incompatible with the require
ments of public life. During the period
of CESSATION the woman is subject to IN
numerable whims, fancies and ailments,
real and imaginary. But suppose that
she is free from all these, she owes IL 10
her child at such times, and to herself,
to be as thoroughly healthy and happy
as is possible, and to keep away from
crowds. excitement, bad air and dan
gers of all kinds. Imagine woman at
tending political conventions and ward
meetings, making stump speeches and
going frenzied over returns at such
times. And, alasi for the child born dur
ing such experiences.
But when the child-bearing age
draws to a close, there arises another
physical debarment, the dreaded
change" which for several years
makes woman nervous, irritable, ca
PRECIOUS, unreasoning often, and subject
to mental delusions and physical mis-
cries The governing mind should be
clear unclouded by physical disturb
ances of an ofttimes delicate and over
sensitive body. The governing hand
should be strong and steady, not shaken
and weakened by disordered nerves and
oyerwrought sensibilities The govern
ing heart should be courageous, just,
true-not influenced by petty pre-
iudice. false sympathy or sickly senti-
mentality.
Mrs. Matheson, without any conceal
ment. makes it known that she has no
sympathy for those women-no matter
how noble their self-selected vocation
may be in the abstract-who leave their
homes and families to the care of hire
they call "the broader life" outside OF
their rightful domains. That she should
he able to take care of her own children
seems to her law that should never De
broken. and the world of men, when
thev voice their innermost thoughts,
give hearty concurrence to this and the
preceding expressions.
But may not the unmarried woman
engage in the political field? AS to that,
our essayist delicately says that nature,
when opposed or ignored, is not by any
means a patient Griselda. She revenges
herself in many ways whenever she IS
deprived of her rights, and the crotch
cts irritability and general thorniness
and crankiness of some of our most
gifted and otherwise amiable women
bachelors arise for the most part from
this cause alone. AS for those fortunate
women who have time, strength and IN
clination to attend to affairs outside of
their homes, there is work in plenty
along educational, hygienic, charitable
and reformatory lines.
Mrs. Matheson concludes that If the
sex of which she is so courageous a
unit insists upon political rights" and
secures them, then there should be es-
tablished an "age qualification" so that
no woman. say under 80 years of age,
except she can establish physical ca
nacity. shall be competent to hold office,
elective or appointive, or to take a
prominent part in political affairs.
But Mrs Matheson has ignored a
most important natural debarment, and
surprises US by making no reference to
it whatever. To the Record-Union it
presents itself as an prevailing rea-
son for the exclusion OF women from the
political and official field, namely, the
absence of the cold judicial capacity
and judgment, that is antagonized by a
sympathetic and sentimental nature,
that makes woman wisely, beautifully
and blessedly the creature very largely
of her emotions, her sympathies and her
sensitiveness.
1t is rather perplexing to observe the