New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-10

Numerically. the so-called Feminist party in
France is not large one, bat it makes up in
vitality what It lacks in bulk and carries on
most active propaganda. BY the mouth OF its
chosen speakers and by pamphlets and circu-
lars IL challenges the interest and sympathy OF
women throughout the country, inviting them
20 Join ITS ranks and work Cor the cherished
Eoal political rights for the fair
The soul Of the movement is a group OF re-
rlarl1able women. These courageous pioneers
are supported 20 some extent by parliamen-
tary group. at the head of which must be placed
the new Labor Minister. II. Rene Niviani. NJ
ViViani Is more convinced champion of WON
ems rights than most of his party in the Cham
Der. On the burning question of the franchise
ne IS fundamentally with the women. and even
went so far on one occasion in the Chamber ot
Deputies TO declare that he saw no objection
20 either women electors or women elected.
But the strength Of the party lies IN its women
members. Very charming and picturesque ils-
ures are some OF them, as unlike as possible The
popular conception Of the advanced woman
Possessing every social and worldly advantage.
they are aevoting their time and energies I"
obtaining for their less fortunate sisters ane'-
forated conditions in life The role Of the maiden
aunt in France. as elsewhere. is played out As
only twelve out Of twenty-two women are mar
HIed in France to-day. il follows that there Is 2
large band of women who must adopt some
other vocation than the simple, primitive one Of
wife and mother. Higher education and the
modern thirst for Inquiries. combined with IN
disappearance Of the convent as dignihed re-
treat for spinsterhood. drive women in ever
greater numbers into the labor market. Thus
the conditions OF life in the twentieth century
for unnarrfsd women are wholly different from
what they were in the past.
SEVERE HANDICAPS.
s'Vyhat enrages me-" says Nine. Nelly-Roussel.
che leading orator OF the Fepnists lis TO hear
a happily married woman declare that in her
opinion the position of woman in France is
very satisfactory ONE Compared with those Of
come other countries, America and Scandinavia,
Cor example II must be admitted that the sex in
this country laboTs under some severe handicaps.
The Napoleonic Code bears heavily upon women.
Until quite reSently, woman could not ad-
minister even her own dowry; il became ahso-
lutely the property OF her husband. married
woman had no right even 10 her own earnings.
The husband os a female teacher in the Lycess
can draw his wife's salary and spend H. TOO,
without any reference TO her. There are curious
inequalities in the divorce court. too a wife
may not produce In evidence against her hus
band compromising letters written 20 him. of
which She may have obtained possession; hus
band, on the other hand may produce such evil
band, cannot sign a contract with her own pub
Usher. IL her marriage took place previous 10 the
Law Of Property I'm Marriage of 1899. These are
only few OF the disabilities Of which the
Feminists coT5Rslain.
OF course, the panacea for all civil and conVen-
tiOnal evils is. for the true Feminist the fran /
chise. Armed with the electoral vote. the sex (
Will quickly ENd itself in a position 10 sweep 4
away number of obstacles which now lie in the /
path OF the woman with a vocation other than (
that OF marriage. When all professions are open
to r-aaA han han fssar
in any walk of life REIMBURSEMENT of the exist !.
ing scale of wages as applied 20 male OF female /
labor viii be called for Equal work equal pay /
IS the cry Of these reformers.
Thus Feminsts do not want for arguments in /
their propaganda. one OF their most successful /
recruiting sergeants Is Nine. Nelly RousseL 4
quoted above. Her oratcrical talent causes her !
10 be in great demand for platform work. With !
her dark. classical face. her sympathetic GiStinc-
ton. dignifed bearing and clear musical voice. !
she possesses the secret OF inspiring and
lnlluicaring enthusiasm She handles a crowd !
with remarkable skill using-like Deiaosthe-
mes in petticoats as she is called at Montmartre-
all the weapons Of oratory by tuTns-cunning /
logic sparkling humor, pathos, keen satire; in |
the course or her ADDRESS she takes ner hearers /
through the gamut Of the emotions and arrives J
at her conclusion amid The frenzed applause OF 1
an audience Of both sexes.
In another way Nine. Marguerite Durand has ]
done good work for women. In 1900 she |
1oundea and successfully carried on news |
paper. every department Of which in female 1
hands She obtained from the Bourse for the
first time In the history Of that institution a
permit for one of her staff to attend daily and /
report the movements of stock and share: an
other was admitted into the sacred precincts OF |
the Chamber OF Deputies 10 report the sessions.
and thus every branch OF journalism was opened |
20 the sex. THE Frondt." as the paper was
called, died natural death after five years of |
very creditable work. but all the women en- |
ployed on ii have since distinguished themselves !
sn literature well in journalism. Another
woman, Nine. Kaufman. succeeded in getting
PIE hospital schools thrown open 10 the sex: and |
Nine. Isabelle Gatti de Gamond, in her monthly /
Usgan, Gathers Feministes," makes vigorous ap-
Ieals 10 the women OF France and Belgium 10 1
take their stand with the women reformers.
RESULTS OF FEW YEARS WORK
Il Is to the credit Of Feminlsts that. notwith-
standing the immense hold Of traditionalism as
regards fits women, France in all times.
the party has here in a few years accomplished
much in the way OF emancipation-rnore per-
haps than in any other country, the Scandi-
nayian states excepted. Nine. Curie sits in the
chair OF science at the Paris University and
lectures at the Sorbonne; the bar is open to the
sex, and I'VE women are now practising there; a |
woman occupies the government post OF medical |
attendant 10 the thousands OF female employees
in the French postal service; OF the six in
EpecfOrs OF the Assistance Publique. or Poor
Law Relief, two women; the commission
now sitting on the educational system of
France under the presidency OF the Minister OF
Education includes TWO women among its men,
bers. And, finally, in another and humber
drivers licenses in Paris The city has also
woman stockbroker in prosperous way Of |
business. and IL there is yet woman's
bank Il Is probably not far of.
Thus. considering its past triumDhs Feminism |
works and waits Let as create the citizeness"
cry the leaders, and the advantages which
would accrue with the vote painted in glow
ing cOlOrs. The latest postcard issued by the
party represents man and woman in classic !
Roman toga and flowing drapeTies. dropping
each vote into the electoral urn THE elected
81 the nation" says Nine. Ney-ROussel, care