New-York tribune., 1907-06-27

is not a heIn.neet scarcely a companion but good
hausfrau. He rarely troubles himself about her
intellectual status: is ii not he VINO wiz cnoose
her newspapers her books her friends and her oc-
cupations once he has this right to do SO? ror
this fate almost every Girl in Germany up 10 the
present generation, has been trained Nothng' per
hans gives truer index of the actual position OF
the German woman than the modern plays ana
ronoances Thev do not attempt deal with her
&c - rstionai being. She remains either the milk
and water creation of thirty years ago or else she
is desperately wicked.
FEW SHOPPING RIGHTS.
THE position that the woman occupies in the
mind OF the average German man was demonstrat-
ed recently when American woman was travel
ling in a coupe In company with two women ana
one man The day and the window had
been let down. As soon as the train moved the
man without apology question closed the Win
dow. The American demonstrated politely, ana
was told with q conclusive emphasis that admitted
of no argument that the window would remain
closed, there too much wind. A little later
this man made himself comfortable ate his bread
and butter the inevitable accompaniment OF a
journey however short stretched out his legs and
fell asleep. scarcely giving heed 10 the demands or
decency Notwithstanding the fact that all the
other occupants OF the coupe were women. with
one OF whom he had been IN conversation a short
coarse, but TO him woman was an inferior being
existing chiefly for his convenience. necessary ap
pendage TO his home
Again. the position Of the German wife is DEM
onstrated many times daily in the large depart
ment stores in the cities. a couple pass down he
aisles. The stops to finger piece OF stuff,
or admire pretty bric-a-brac, picture or
lamp, which houseWfely ina agnation places al
ready the wall table IN the quite stube. AL
timdly she calls the mans attention. only to
be answered with rough gesture and peremp-
tory command to Come on! If they are of the
merchant or working class 1t may safely be
sumed that in nine cases out OF ten she IS the
Garner of half the money that IS being spent Let
man appear as shopper at one of the counters,
and two or three saleswomen rush TO servo him,
passing by women who, perhaps, have waited IF
teen or twenty minutes. The same thing occurs
ar the cash desk and. incomprehensble as II may
only when American happens 70 be in the
ber that a vigorous protest is made
OF LITTLE ACCOUNT IN THE HOME.
In the home the WIFE, even of the best man. has
such Limitations to endure as would drive any
woman not trained from childhood the part out
Of her senses. A man has party of friends in
the evening and his wife, wishing to show them
politeness. comes into the She has chosen
an unfortunate moment, for thu host about
TO tell OF his choicest stories It does not
occur TO him that the story can wait. He turns
end Liza. go out of the And she
retires in what state of mind scarcely
conceive. Not only in such instances, but q thou
sand timee day is the dependence OF her posi-
ton brought home to her. II is the husband who
arranges the summer holidays, and happy IS she
who preferences. He permits forbids
her becoming a member OF the women's
clubs determines what she shall spend on a1nuse-
ments and her wardrobe though she has
q private fortune. She must submit let dis
content consume her. This is the for much
Of the restlessness among the married women Cf
Germany. The reason Why so many have taken
up the woman question and agitate it. either
openly or otherwise Ellen Key. the Swedish re
former, says: No woman ever stepped out OF
perfectly happy domestic surroundings TO grasp
this banner of emancipation and cry aloud IN tho
public streets
Since higher education for has been
made possible in Germany. and the introduction OF
many other reforms has given her larger oppor-
tunitieS, the position OF the unmarried woman has
been established more less satisfactory
basis. II is the married woman who makes all the
sacrifices. The movement toward this betterment
OF her condition is going on, but while il may
work some changes theoretically and legally.
ditions will remain practically the long as
| the mind Of the German man remains as II is. firm
in the conviction that he is the superior being and
the woman clings TO the dead body of a tradition
| that servile obedience is her duty.