The San Francisco call., 1896-05-08
Splendid Address by Miss Eliza.
beth U. Yates of
Maine.
HISTORIC VIEW OF WOMAN
Charles A. Murdoch Reads a Paper
on Our "Fore- Mothers at the
Evening Session.

Stainless callas, graceful annunciation
lilies, white roses. snowballs and margue
rites made the stage at Native Sons Hall
look like bridal bower yesterday. Inter
est in the great Woman's Congress seems
to increase day by day. Yesterday sew
eral ladies expressed the keenest dis
appointment when they found it impossi-
Bile to get within hearing distance of the
speakers. The entrance way was thronged
with eager, enthusiastic women, whose
lively interest in the proceedings gave
them endurance sufficient TO stand the or
deal of passing hour after hour on foot in
one cramped position.
The first paper, on "Prinmtive Woman" }"
was by Mrs. Sara Gamble. She said:
In the primitive form of marriage men fought
for their mates in all probability the primitive
woman looked on in delight at the combat for her
ownership. The difficulties of presenting any
thing beyond mere speculation OF our primitive
foremothers very great, as she longer exists
anywhere.
not believe, however, that she is worth con-
siderlng except as anInGa until long after she
has well developed great toe TO her foot instead
OF a Hypothetical thumb; until long after the
period when her mate built her temporary home
of twigs in tree and remained with her only q
season instead of for life She must have been a
wife with something binding about the marriage
tie before she is ready to pose as q human being.
III calling up primitive woman from her long re-
tirement have awaited myse.f of four sources
history, deductions from mythology, considera-
tions OF woman's qualities ROW and what would
do stripped OF civilization and placed in primitive
circumstances.
II has been tritely said that the difference be-
tween barbarism and civilization is simply the diff
ference between a wigwam and lady's boudoir
Earlier testimony describes the women of Gau as
being iercer In battle than their husbands, coming
up to the charge with blazing eyes, streaming hair
and loud, hoarse cries-t1nging their huge fists,
capable of beating in the skull of an adversary.
They were ready to die Tor their chastity when
taken prisoners and killed their children to pre-
serve them from slavery. This primitive woman
took OF the hut kept the fire going gave birth
And training TO the young warriors, fought at her
husbands side, and when he out OF temper
and gave her beating she able to return It
No one could conceive that the model which
stood for the pictures presented by these myths
were weak, dependent creatures who wanted to
be ivy leaves and twine or TO repose on a sofa or
bank all day. Brunhildas lovers must fight and
win three combRts with her to gain her hand, and
she was so strong that only overcome by
stratagem at last. Early scandinavian ntera
is full of such instances and is refreshing to
turn from the namby-pamby heroines of the civil
Ized descendants OF these same people.
There is something equally suggestive in the
story OF our first mother, Eve. Her curiosity her
daring and her disobedence were magnificent
She cuts better figure than Adam, who appar-
emily would never have taken even a nibble at the
fruit of the tree of knowledge-a full meal of which
would have made them as wise as the gods Pan
dora must not be ignored-her curiosity led her TO
lift the lid, and so all the evils let Suffer
ing and shame result from both exploits But If
we had always remained naked and innocent
where were the arts and all the interesting com
plications of civilized life? If evil and suffering
are the natural preIudes to knowledge and virtue
we are proud 10 know that the primitive woman
raised the curtain and gave the signal for the
tragedy to begin.
westermarck describes four forms of marriage.
First when men fought with each other for the
possession OF women: second, she an object
of barter, and her suitor pay good price for
her TO lIer father: third, she made choice of a
husband from combatants who fought for her
favor; fourth, the peasant form, except in happy
America, where the father must pay a certain sum
q ma nT m ma arrxy raQ nc
last form would seem to insinuate that the woman
of to-day is not as useful and desirable her
primitive mother, and it is hard to say which form
leaves. woman with the most dignity.
At first glance we look at the earliest primitive
marriages, when men fought like amin ais for their
mates with shudcer, but probably the primitive
woman looked on with pleasure and gladly gave
herself TO the victor. Physical strength the
men. Titles money bags social position, leading
the cotilloD with grace were in the dim future as
reasons for feminine preference
Following this primitive courtship came the
practice Of the father demanding price for his
daughter, which varied with her beauty, family
standing and drudging capacity. The higher the
price paid in shells hard service the prouder the
primitive maiden, who would have felt disgraced
10 pass from her father to her husband as some
thing worthless.
The point which wish to accent in all this is
that the primitive man paid or served for and
painfully adorned himself 10 sue for the primitive
woman, and that her industry, patience and con-
trvance gave her value quite equal IL not
greater than she has possessed in subsequent
states of society
The conclusion of Westermarck in the end is:
"Tbere is no doubt that under more primitive con-
ditions woman more free choose than
she is now among the lower races" Havelock
Ellis gives woman higher place in physical evo-
luton than man. Her arms shorter, her law
less protruding and her face smaller in comparison
10 her head, these things suggesting greater differ
ence between her and the ape than between man
and the ape.
Miss Severance. the woman Of ready thought in