Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-08
EVOLUTION OF WOMAN.
Radical Changes During the Nine
feenfh CautnrN-

The changes in the nineteenth century,
writes Charles Dudley Warner in Harpers
Magazine, have no doubt been more radical
than those of the eighteenth were, and they
go on at an accelerated pace, but they have
their root in two forces long maturing. One
is popular education, and the other is what
is called the emancipation of woman. This
latter Is viewed by some as her escape from
a state of dependence, and by others as her
loss of the sort of chivalric devotion that
was once paid to her, and which she took as
due to her sex. A change of this sort in
progress necessarily produces confusion. For
the fact is that women have not yet fully
realized the meaning of the position they
desired. They wanted equality with men
in regard to property occupations, and
the choice Of making what they could OF
their lives, but they have been at the same
time unwilling to surrender the privileges
Of their sex. This is as much as saying that
few of them, as yet, are willing to assume
the full responsibility of the struggle for
life. This, of course, is not their fault.
The instincts and the various organiza-
in one hour Of freedom. Man has been
knocked about and has had to fight for
his own so long that he expects nothing
that he does not win on its merits; or
rather he does not reckon on any lenency
of judgment on his work because he is
In time woman will also learn, If she will
be independent up to the limits Of her
full physical and mental power, that she
can ask no allowance for work Of any
sort because 1t is the production of wo-
man. But 1t is perfectly natural in the
present state of development that she
should expect protection, while she de-
mands almost absolute freedom and equal
ity in all opportunities. And l believe that
when the soca1 state is settled in the new
order Qet us call it the order of education
and of justice), the relation Of the sexes, so
far as dependence and mutual help go, will
be not very different from what it is now
Women, having ventured as far as they can
in assuming the work Of the world hitherto
done by men, will find that nature, after
ALL Is governed by laws that cannot be set
aside, and that woman has duties, impossible
for men to perform, which cannot be neg
lected. And men will learn that there Is
much in the activities of life which women
can perform as we'll and perhaps better than
they, and this they will cheerfuly accord,
while treating them still as women. In that
way concord of view and of purpose will
come again. But 1t may be safely predicted
that it will not come until some further ex-
periments have been tried until the complete
education of women puts them in
possession of the full exercise of
their natural powers and capacities,
and teaches them their limitations,
and the peculiar duties that belong to the
human family by reason Of the difference
Of sex. No one any longer disputes the
right Of woman to the fullest development
Of her powers by the education to be got
from books and from life. Just now it
seems to be assumed that this education
should be exactly the same as that given to
men. This experiment is bound to be
.ried to the end. While it is in progress
here will be extravagances of conduct.
There will be women aping men in man
lers and in dress, and losing the qualities
hat make women most lovely and agree
,ble to their own sex as well as to men
md there will be men who will declare
hat the education OF women is a total
mistake, because 1t is destructive Of those
eminne qualities and charms which make
he world interesting and endurable. We |
lave faith, however, that natures laws are |
inform, and that trees will continue to |
'ear fruit of their kind. We have no |
ear that the educated woman will become |
nly man. She herself will be as fully |
onscous where her strength lies, and in the |
nd Will take the kind of EDUCATION best |
tted to develop her feminine powers, and |
est fitted to the duties that nature has i'm
osed upon her. We have not got very far |
With general education yet, but no one
oubts that the salvation Of society depends
pom 1t, or that in a well-balanced world the
ducation Of the one sex is as desirable as
hat OF the other. To educate both alike might
roduce monotony, and sacrifice some Of the
est qualltles In each. man, for instance |
'oud be of small account If he owed his
hole training to an old-fashoned female
eminary, and 1t is quite belevable that the
igher education of women must include
races and accomplishments not suited to
len, and not in the curriculum now being
'ied for them.
Fashion Notes.
Lusterless all-wool crepons are used for
eep mourning.
Vandyked yokes OF velvet and let are
atures on fashionable blouses.
China and Dresden ribbon bows are used
connection with plumes for swell hat
innings
Loyeest ribbons and rare French flowers
shaded velvet are displayed for winter
ess and opera bonnets.
Fashionable furs for trimming are martin.
aska sable, Persian lamb, seal, fox chin |
inchilla and mink.
Narrow mink and sable edgings are applied
bodice trimmings of velvet, silk, satin,
inon. and even lace.
The new shade OF blue which is a deep.
tense shade called Roman, belongs to the
acock blue family.
violets or half-open roses are set among
e lace choux and rosettes on new deep
larettes and fchus for ful-dress wear