The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-25

In the chapters which treat Of tho improve
ments In the condition OF women since tho con-
quest of the Western world by Christianity, tho
Cardinal reminds us that in pagan countries,
with rare exceptions, the history Of woman
las distinguished from the record, spelled with
difficulty. OF those prehistoric times in which
the regime of Mutterr chit is supposed to
have prevailed) has been an unbroken rec
ord of bondage, oppression, and moral de-
graduation. She had no rights that tho hus-
band felt bound to respect. In many Of
the ancient empires of Asia. notably in Baby
lonia. India, and Lydia. the wife was bought
like meat in the shambles, or like a slave in tho
market place. Every woman. no matter Of what
rank. had to submit to dishonor at least once In
her life by some stranger in the Temple of
Venus. Her life was one Of abject misery and
unrequited toll. Ministering to-day TO the capri
cious passion Of her husband, tomorrow she
might be exposed to the revulsions Of feel
Ing that arc assumed to follow the graft
~ication Of animal appetite. Strabo noted that
Among the natives OF India wives arc pur-
chased from their parents for q price equal to
that Of two head Of cattle. They are treated as
mere servants by their husbands. who have the
right to Bcourge them as their whims may do
tate" In Scythia, Tartary. and other countries
the wife who had the misfortune to survive her
husband was inundated on his tomb. II 10 woll
known that tho same inhuman custom Of self
immolation by widows. or Suttee. as 1t was
popularity called. prevailed in India till 1t was
abolished BY the English Government In l847.
As lately as between 1915 and 1925 no fewer
than 7.164 cases of Suffice were officially re-
ported to have occurred In Bengal alone.
Another scourge of woman in the greater part
of the pagan world was polygamy. Through It's
baneful influence her empire over tho domestic
kingdom was divided, and her ~conjuGal rights
were violated. Throughout the vast continent
OF Asia polygamy may DO said to have been uni
versal. The Zend.Avesta prescribed to the
ancient Perslans no rule limiting the number Of
wives for oach household. A maiden remaining
unmarried till her eighteenth year was threat.
ened with the most severe punishment in the
hfo 70 come. The Persians regarded the strength
of their nation as depending moro upon tho
number OF children than upon integrity Of
morals. Tho Modes, according to the testimony
OF Stfah0. wore compelled by law to have at
least seyen wives. The Mongols. the Tartars,
and the people Of ancient China legally sane.
TONED community Of wives. The same GUS
tom prevailed among the Massagete. as
Herodotus Aftrms. Passing to Europe. We
note that In no country was domestic
LIE moro grossly dishonored than among tho
ancient Bntons. Among tho Goths. a mans
dignity was estimated by the number of his
wives. The domestic life of the Germans Is do
picted by Tscitus in q comparatively favorable
light. yet he admits that q German noble would
have q rotinus OF wives. Aristotle boasts that,
In Greece. woman was not degraded to the level
of q slave. as In Asia. II not treated as a slave.
she was regarded as a minor all her life. She
lived under perpetual ~tutelage, first OF her
father, who disposed Of her for a price; next of
her husband; and, lastly, In her widowhood, Of
her sons. EVENT. she had no sons. she was not
free. for her husband could appoint a guardian
to succeed him after death. The fact 10 also TO
| be borne Ii mind that the Athsnian husband