Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-11-28
WOMEN OF PORTUGAL.
The Change in Government Probably
Will Wake Them Up.

The revolution in Portgual Will
greatly affect the women. though this
point seems to be generally overlook
ed in the prophecies regarding the
country's future which are being
made on all sides.
There is indeed room for improve
ment, for the Portuguese women share
with their Spanish sisters the distinc-
ton of being the most backward, lg-
norant and downtrodden in Europe.
Among other nations the racial in
dividuality even is unrecognized. for
they are generally classed with their
ncighbors in Spain. and as persons
they have no status at all. The wo-
men of the upper classes lead the in
dolent, vacant lives of most of the
aristocracies of Southern Europe
They are not educated as we under
stand the word and take not the
smallest interest in the political life of
their country or in the world outside
their narrow ken, while their menfolk
look upon them as inferior creatures
intellectually. This idea is instilled
into their minds from their earliest
childhood and they accept it compla
Gently.
The rich women discard the native
dress and wear gowns from Paris and
London. and the social life of Lisbon.
Oporto and other large towns is gay
and frivolous. They take no exer-
else, but lounge away their time in
idleness and amusements mixed with
religion and they soon lose their
youthful appearance and good looks.
The idea of woman undertaking
professional work Is received with
much disfavor by the Portuguese both
men and women. They consider that
IA lady loses her social position at
once if she does work for which she
receives payment. and INDECENT wild
ows and spinsters think it far more
dignfied to pass their lives existing
on the charity of friends and relatives
than to carve out a career for them
selves
1t is true that there are few OPEN
ings for them to enter, and the wo-
men OF the middle classes who must
earn their own living generally take
up teaching as profession. but the
majority are so badly educated them
selves that it is often a matter of the
blind leading the blind. Efforts have
ben made to remedy this state of
Things, and the work that Queen
Maria Pia did toward helping for
ward the education of girls is little
known and never recognized in this
country. ~
me women of the peasant class are
actiVe vigorous and sensible creatures
ana they redeem their sex from the
general charge of sloth and helpless
ness. They work quite as hard and in
many places harder than the men.
and by their labor they contribute
greatly to the national revenues. The
weight that they carry on their heads
is almost incredible. They will go off
sayly bearing a basket of fruit and
vegetables which it takes two people
TO lift. and in the wine districts the
baskets of grapes are heavier still.
me costumes of the women vary
IN different districts and they are pic-
turesque and convenient. They rare
~ wear shoes or stockings and their
heavy skirts are pulled up under a
siroie below the waist, which enables
them to walk with greater ease. Their
neadgear mostly consists Of a bright
colored handkerchief under a quaint
nat, soft black hat, which is unbe-
coming but comfortable when carry
ing heaVy loads on the head. Some