The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-11

for a woman to make her teeth black after marriage, but among the young generation the custom is unknown. In China woman has not only Jagged be- hind man in education, but she has been subjected to a torture known as foot binding, which is to be found mo- where else. Societies are now being formed to discourage the practice, but it ifs sad to learn how slowly this re- form has grown. In both Japan and China plural marriage. or what has been equivalent to plural marriage, has been common. The man has been allowed to take unto himself as many wives as he could support without asking the consent of former wives a practice which seems strange to those who have been brought up to regard the marriage vows as mutually binding, and to consider man and wo- man as standing upon an equal plane when entering upon the relation of husband and wife.
 In India child marriage Is one of the worst customs that has afflicted these unhappy people. Girls have been given in marriage when only nine or ten years old. and a widow of twelve and thirteen Is not unusual. Remarriage of widows is not permitted under Hindu custom, suttee, or the burning of the widow. formerly being regarded as the proper thing. In both India and Arabia the women are still yelled and excluded from the society of men. It is difficult to estimate the loss that has come to society from the failure to recognize the mutual stim- ulus which man and woman find in cooperation in the work of civiliza- tion.
 Even in Europe woman's position is not as good as it is in the United States, although in the Christian coun- tries her rights are more respected and her good influence more apprecia- ted Max O'Rell. the witty French lee turer, used to say that If he was going to be born a woman, he would pray to be born in the United States. It was a happy expression, for surely there i' no other country in which so high ar estimate is placed upon woman oI where she more fully shares in botf the joys and responsibilities of life For the superiority of her position sht has Christianity and education tc thank; Christianity has ever recog' nized woman's equality with man and | education has fitted her to be a req helpmeet in life.
 A third question which one meet, everywhere is the labor question. IT Europe it is a question between labol and capital and the laborer is organ izing for the advancement of his wei fare. The guild and the labor organ ization have long sought to enlarg, the laborer's share of the joint prof of labor and capital and to improve the conditions which form his environ ment The efforts of these societies have mainly been directed, first. to ward the improvement of sanitar! conditions; second, toward the short ening of hours; and third, toward al increase in wages. It looks like a re l flection on mankind in general to sa! that laboring men should have to asl Legislation to protect their lives whil at work. It would seem that employ CTS would of their own accord regar' the safety and the health of employe as of paramount importance, and vel 1t has been necessary even in the Uni ted States to compel the building o air shafts in mines and to force tn
 use of safety appliances on railroad and street car Hines and in the oper