The herald., 1896-06-14
WOMEN AND ECONOMICS
BY MRs. D. 3. sTEELH

Iknow of no reason why women should
study economics apart from the gen
eral ones that apply to man as human
being. as a component part OF society,
as largely dependent upon social condi-
tions for the measure of his progress;
then, as benefited by that discipline OF
mind, that practice of discrimination,
that exercise of reason, that use of judg-
ment. that general attainment of abil-
ity and influence which results from
study and application given from in
terested motives either personal or al
truiStic.
The especial reason for the choice Of
this subject Is, presume, that the study
OF economics has not received that gen.
eral attention from women which is sup
posed to have been given it by man by
virtue OF his Importance as political
entity. Whether or not this has been
for the best interests Of the individual
and for society in general is a question
admitting of diverse opinions.
But. however that may be, we some
how find ourselves necessary factors, OF,
if you please, indispensable adjuncts of
society, and We further find that what
ever has operated to affect the physical
and mental and moral condition of man
has had its influence upon women.
Moreover, the human mind is so con-
stituted that 1t must be occupied with
some sort of proposition, and what to
be busy about and what the nature of
the proposition which best promotes the
growth and happiness of the individual
and the interests of society ought to be
of considerable Importance
The economic conditions of the past,
as we'll as religious teachings, have
tended to separate woman from a
knowledge of the practical interests Of
society. and to produce on the one hand
class burdened by toll and poverty,
occupied almost solely with the func-
tions of nutrition and reproduction, and
on the other class reared in luxury
worthy oftentimes to be admired and
aided. yet with an inadequate sense of
their responsibilities.
This has tended to separate woman
from woman, and to retard that prac-
tical helpfulness woman should give to
humanity through an understanding of
the general laws which govern it.
The ideal woman has often found illus
tration In the character Of Cornelia, the
Roman matron who presented her lit
tie sons as her only jewels. yet the one
plain, but generally neglected Inference
from her birth, surroundings, friend
ships, and the history of her sons, is
that she was an earnest student of the
vital questions of her time and that her
sympathy and thought extended beyond
her home to the welfare and fate of
Rome.
But the necessity for Cornelias has not
passed away. The question of govern
ment Is still problem and the mothers
OF the race have largely the destiny of
nations In their hands, and for this rea-
son woman should study economics.
science has demonstrated to us the
absolute reign Of law in every domain
OF nature, and that neither tears or
prayers are of any avail to change the
lmmutability of its sway. So, no matter
49, xl.I
splendor OF our palaces or strength of
our navies, if we are ignorant of those
economic laws which govern the phen-
omena of society there can be but one
ultimate to it all and the woman who
out Tor moment gets a glimpse of this
absoluteness of law will feel RESPONSE
| bility she had not compassed before: she
VIII begin to bear the burdens of others
with sacred care and realize that the
highest virtue is to regard the good of
all being. She will begin patiently to
seek those laws which govern the vary
ing health and lapses of the social or
| ganism.
1t may be said that the ultimate cause
is In the nature of man himself, but the
| tact remains that we cannot separate
man from his environment for it is the
environment that furnishes the susten-
ance of life and the conditions of life
both physical and developmental.
| The necessary factors to human exist
ence are nutrition and reproduction. 1t
is with these fundamental factors that
| economics is so closely related, and it
| may be broadly stated that the history
! of mans civilization is the history of his
nutriment and the evolution of his
wants. His first crude implements were
| but rude attempts to supply his wants
with less exertion. Then came the di-
vision of labor and it's specialization,
giving birth to the sciences, and civiliza-
ton is characterized by the number of
mans wants and his ability to supply
| them.
Here in the anthropological build
ing" says Prof James, was a yerita-
| BILE history of man In the things he has
created from the rude stone implements
of barbaric age up to the time of pol
ished stone and copper and on again to
| the finest mechanisms of our own Won
derful era, In the vast temples of agri-
culture, machinery and the liberal arts. "
Herbert Spencer tells us that written
language, painting and sculpture were
at first appendages of architecture, ar
chitecture having its origin from man
efforts to shelter and protect himself. Sc
the question of economics Is an ancient
and important one, interesting from the
standpoint of evolution and philosophy
as we'll as for it's present practical inn
portance.
The crises of nations have been asso-
ciated with their economic conditions
from the time of the Aryan migrations
to the present 1t was an old man, hag-
gard and in rags who escaped from his
creditors prison that melted the first
plebeian insurrection in Rome. The cri
sis preceding the laws of Licinius was
connected with the liberty of man tt
supply his wants or rather the nullifica
ton of that liberty by the government
1t was the large slave plantations dis
paraging free labor and small holdings
that filed Rome with a class unable II
supply their wants that gave rise to th'
dissensions from which the Grachl
vainly tried to save the republic. Thel
under the empire the tale of economi
ruin was told in the frequent insurrec
tions and riots, the increase of infanti
eide and other evils until its final decay
If we turn to the eighteenth century /
is still largely a question of nutrimeni
of the liberty of man to supply hi
wants. Turgot would have stayed tn
ruin of the French monarchy by al
equality of taxation and the suppression
of exclusive privileges but the nobilit.
and clergy cried nay and he fell befor