Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-30
'THE nineteenth century is now in It's

vTHE nineteenth century Is now in It's
last year This century has, with
or without just cause, been called
the woman's century. Why? Because
in no other equal period Of time has
womanhood risen from a position so
degraded to one OF comparative free
dom and dignity. 1t Is not by the de-
gree Of respect that is accorded the
exceptional woman that the position OF
the sex may be determined. but by that
consideration accorded to the majority
Of them. one can Judge Of the estma-
ton In which womanhood was held In
the earlier part Of the century by not
ing, for instance, certain advertise
ments in old newspapers.
In England and continental countries
women Of the poorer classes were held
IN a position that was little. If any,
short Of slavery. A mans wife was
absolutely his chattel; he could beat or
III treat her TO any point short OF
that which would result In immediate
death. II she died as the result of the
III treatment a few days or a week
after, the husband was upheld by the
law; he had right TO chastise his wife,
his children and his cattle at any time
he thought best. II he wished, In GER
tain lands, he could sell his wife, and
the wife OF the average poor man was
valued at about the same price as
COW.
IL the wife had any money before
she married, on her wedding day It be-
came her husbands the marriage for
feited for her all legal right to il. She
could not recover her fortune even II
she separated from the man.
Divorces were almost unknown In
those days. and il a wife became heir
ess TO any property after her separa-
ton from her husband, IL he desired to
do so. he could appropriate the money
to his own uses. Moreover. he had a
right to all her earnings and could coll
iect them unchallenged, no matter how
he may have sinned against his wife
The case Of Mrs Caroline Norton. the
English poetess. who had a profigate
husband from whom she was compelled
% separate, yet who regularly went 10
the publishers and collected the royalty
on her works, had a good effect in
rousing public opinion against this un-
Just law. Mrs. Norton was the grand
daughter Of Richard Brinsley Sheridan
and a sister Of Lady Dufferin and the
Duchess Of Somerset. Her husband
the Hon. George Norton. a brother Of
Lord Grantley. was an unprincipled
spendthrift, yet by birth and education
he was what was considered a gentle
man. II such condition existed in
exalted ranks, little need be expected
Of the common people.
In 1905 an English paper commented
on the sale Of wife for sixpence and
a Quid OF tobacco as an occurrence
growing 20 be much too common.
Marriage was the only career then
open to a woman, and II she did not
marry 1t was supposed TO be because
nobody had asked her Jean Jacques
Rousseau expressed the sentiment Of the
day when he said: The education OF
women should always be relative to
that OF man-to please. TO be useful
to Us. 20 make Us love and esteem
them 20 educate Us when young, To
take care Of Us when grown up, to ad-
wise. to console Us, 10 render our lives |
easy and agreeable, These are the du- |
ties OF women at all times. which they 1
should be taught from infancy"
At the beginning Of the century II
woman desired an education for her |
girls she found il necessary TO employ
4 private teacher, for few OF the states
n America had public schools. In these
schools girl could not retain her place
Il Il was required FOR a boy Some
lines girls were allowed TO attend
school during the summer months, but
N most places il was thought best 90
,eep them from becoming too erudlte.
rhe daughters OF well TO do people we're
aught the common branches" and
lent 10 a female seminary perhaps,
where they received q smattering Of
rival accomplishments
Today, al the close OF the century,
lmost all the important colleges OF the
world have been opened 10 women, and
n the public schools their education is
onducted along the same lines as that
I she male pupils. Women have shown
hat they are just as apt as men in
aking up any branch Of learning they
ave pursued.
In the beginning Of the century a wo-
nan left alone and without an income
vas forced 10 beg or starve-that IL.
nless she chose the doubtful alter !