The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-08
WOMAN'S SOCIAL STATUS.
Reviewed by Mrs. Gait, of Woman's
Suffrage Fame.

Brooklyn, Dec. 6.-Mrs. Carrie Chap
man Gait. president of the National
American Womans Suffrage association.
gave the third in the Brooklyn institute
series of addresses on THE Position OF
Women, by speaking at the art gallery
on The Position, of Woman in the
Home" She was introduced by Mrs.
Noah H. Chapman and many Brooklyn
women interested in suffrage were in hef
audience, together with many men who
were equally earnest with the women
IN expressing appreciation of the speak
er'S words.
A general review of the position of
women from the earliest known period
to the present time set forth her social
status under all conditions of the race.
The unit of society in the earliest time
was formed by the mother and her child.
and the work of civilization was de-
clared TO have been the uniting of these
and the father: thus making a perfect
family and pure society. Various
forms of the marriage relation were told
of, and then Mrs. Gait said:
We must not FORGET that monegalny
is not yet established in the United
States: were it there would be no d.
vorce and no social inpurity. 1t is since
the study of evolution came to the front
that woman has been given opportunity
to assume her true position. Before that
the idea prevailed that man was the real
race-the mother gave the body to the
child, but the father gave the spirA.
Even Swedenborg believed this. ana
considered woman but an adjunct to
man
After the coming of the Christian
religion the Jewish influence was mark
ed, and those who are interested in the
rise of women should study the Jewish
law for an important sidelight upon it.
Because men were necessarily the
lighters all the arts of the world-artS
and crafts-were started by the wo-
men who must care for the home ana
children. Even among the rudest tribes
women know much about cooking; In
dian women can cook maize in forty
different ways. Women were the first
doctors and family names first came
down through the female line. In the
beginning names were taken from ami
mails, SO Mrs. Gait said to those inter
ested- in pedigree, that if one had
name of an animal he could surely trace
his family further back than others
could.
"A time of great freedom for women
existed in Rome when Cicero lived, but
it was also time of RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Cicero himself divorced one wife and
took another so as to get two dOwries.
Then came an aScetic reaction until in
the eighth century in Christian house
hold the wife did not eat at the same
table with her husband, but was kept
in subsection to him. Even then arts
and crafts were largely in her hands,
and she wove and made up the cloth
for her family garments"
But, Mrs. Gait said, some people could
remember when that was done in this
country, and most could remember when
cloth was largely made up at home even
if not woven there Farmers wives 80
years go made the overalls for their
family, and it took at least two days to
make a pair. Now, by machinery, a pair
is made in 20 minutes See how much
time we have gained in 30 years." said
Mrs Gait
When talking of the present time, the
lecturer said it is best characterized as
a time of change. even the home as it
was five years ago no longer exists, and
it is impossible to predict what that of
the future will be. Now, more than ever,
even prepares thebaby foods which may
be bought the kindergarten takes the
small children away and relieves the
mother of their care for a portion of the
day, and later the advanced schools con-
tinue the work; clothing is made outside
the family: in most cities food may be
bought deliciously prepared, which the
all his wife has to do is to take it out of
the papers in which it is sent home and
to serve it, and soOn'' said the speaker
I'VE shall have an idle sex That is
idle so far as her old work goes but
ready to take UP the new forms which
will surely appear to take its place"
Among the many changes foreseen for
women in the near future. the recogni-
ton of her political equality was said
to be but a little thing in relation to the.
broad field she will fill While the ma
terial things of the home must change
yet the home itself will exist under far
more a1truistic conditions. Men will re-
alize that mankind can only be at it's
best when both men and women live up
to the highest that may be in them.
and when they are linked together as
EQUALS.