Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-09-17
WHY SHOULD WOMAN OBEY
MORE THAN MAN?
From the Springfield Republican,


When Miss Ethel Clement of Rutland
that charming Vermont town in the heart
of the marble archaeological to utter
the word "obey" in the marriage service
of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and
elected rather to be married by Congre-
gational minister, who was not compelled
by any ritual to require it, she had no
notion of waking a general dispute over
the matter. But so great is the power of
tradition. so pervading the superstition
of the subsection of woman, that the in
cident has received much attention. We
read the most scathing comments on the
conduct of Miss Clement, who Is certain
~ a woman of character, of conscience,
and also of cultivated intellect and social
standing. Nevertheless here is what an
eminent journal like the New York Trib-
une allows one of its juvenile editors to
say:
"She embarks upon her conjugal career
with the buoyancy and light heartedness
of one not vowed to mind anybody.
The number of these headstrong and in
subordinate brides is happily never large
enough to cause social revolution, but
about so many are sure to appear during
Zach pairing season, and it Is just possible
that the records of most of them may
show forth a sweet docility instead of
that kicking in the harness which might
not unreasonably be looked for"
| The contrary Is the fact This woman
starts honestly on her wifcly duties. They
must be tho same for husband and wife,
and not otherwise The word and the
! idea obey as applied to the woman alone
are wrong. They would be not better
| but just as right, If it We're the man who
should say obey" They belong to an
age which passes as the higher concep-
ton of marriage prevails. Neither
should obey, neither should command
the husband and wife are equal part
| ners in the life of the family and they
meet on equal terms; they are to reason
together, and in mutual love to determine
the course of their life. The husband
may be the stronger and the wiser,-tht
wife may be the stronger and the wiser
| and If the union be based on anything
more permanent than mere attraction OF
sex or sordid business conditions, the es
sential qualities of the pair will fine
| their own power, and be recognized tc
the gradual arrival at a true CO. working
such as fulills the fit idea of marriage
A structure like that we have quoted is
not worthy of utterance in this day anc
this stage Of perception of the equality
of man and woman
The legend of Eden, the doctrine Of
Paul, the tyrannic notions of Milton
(Which he so hatefully eXemplified il
his treatment of one of his wives) ,-thes,
are of the past. Woman was never tn,
inferior OF man; indeed, 1t is known
that the earliest growths of civiiza
tion were from woman. In the agei
OF violence, of barbarsm, OF feudalism
she was crushed under the iron hand
, and at the best was an exponent o
sweet, attractive grace" This is no
so to-day. AS matter of fact, woman
has ruled the household, and not in
frequently the state by indircction Sh
should not rule So but frankly, by he
brain and heart, which work togethe
with mans brain and heart for the hes
results, and when this is the case, Their
is tho honorable and high motived fam
lily and the noble community. The com
munity yet lacks this great element II