The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-31

THE nineteenth century is now in its
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 estima-
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
III position that was little, if any,
short of slavery. A mans wife was
absolutely his chattel; he could beat or
i'll treat her TO any point short Of
that which would result in immediate
death. If she died as the result of the
i'll 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. If 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 a
cow
If 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 1t. She
could not recover her fortune even if
she separated from the man.
Divorces were almost unknown in
those days, and if a wife became heir
ess to any property after her separa-
ton from her husband, if he desired to
do so, he could appropriate the money
10 his own uses. Moreover, he had a
right to all her earnings and could col
lect them unchallenged, no matter how
he may have sinned against his wife
The case of Mrs. Caroline Norton. the
English pOetess, who had a profligate
husband from whom she was compelled
to separate, yet who regularly went to
the publishers and collected the royalty
on her works. had a good effect in
rOusing public opinion against this I'M
iust law. Mrs. Norton was the grand
daughter of Richard Brinsley Sheridan
and a sister of Lady Eufferin 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. If such condition existed in
exalted ranks, little need be expected
of the common people.
In 1903 an English paper commented
on the sale of a wife for sixpence and
a quid of tobacco as an occurrence
growing to be much too common.
Marriage was the only career then
open to a woman. and If she did not
marry it was supposed TO be because
nobody had asked her. Jean Jacques
expressed the sentiment Of the /
day when he said: The education OF
women should always be relative TO Z
that of man-to please, to be useful .
to Us, to make Is love and esteem .
them. to educate Us when young, 10
take care ofiUs when grown up. to aG- .
wise. to console Is. to render our lives .
easy and agreeable. These are the du-
ties Of women at all times. which they
should be taught from infancy"
At the beginning Of the century II a /
woman desired an education for her
=
, private teacher. for few az the states
IN America had public schools. In these
schools a girl could not retain her place
Z II was. required for a boy. Some
times girls were allowed 10 attend
school during the summer months. but
n most places il was thought best 20
zaep them from becoming tor eTudite.
TIE daughters Of well TO do people were
aught the common branches and
sent TO a female seminary. perhaps.
where they received a smattering Of
rival ccompiishments-
Today. ~ the close % the century.
almost all the important colleges of IRE
World have been opened 70 women. and
y the public schools their education -
conducted along the same lines as that
4 the male pupils. Women have shown
hat they are just as apt as men IN
akiug up any branch Of learning ghey
lave pursued
II the beginning q the century a zo- |
nan left alone and without an income
vas forced 20 beg OF starve-that is.
iuless she chose the doubtful alter |