The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-12-20
WOman'S Movement
In Celestial Empire.
Their Splendid Energy After Cen.
turtles of Repression-Girls Now
Attending Schools.


The position of Chinese women
was the same 5000 years ago that 1t
is to-day, says writer in the
Queen. But there is woman's
movement in the Celestial Empire
now just as there is. in every other
country, and it has clever and cap
able leaders.
Instead of remaining home with
crippled feet the modern Chinese
girl attends one of the schools that
are being started everywhere for her
instruction and which are crowded
with young women, in fact they have
been found too small to accommo-
date all the applicants.
The course of study generally in
cludes mathematics, English, various
sciences, music, calisthenics, Chinese
writing and reading. The teachers
are almost entirely women, though
occasionally an old man teaches
Chinese classics. A Japanese woman
usually takes mathematics, calisthen-
les and music.
The ladies of the royal family
have been among the first to en-
courage the new learning. Imperial
princesses established schools at Pc
kin and took the lead in Mongolia,
while it is through their influence
that schools have been opened in
most of the provinces throughout
the empire.
Chinese ladies are also leaving
their own country to finish their
education in Europe, America and
Japan. Three years ago the Berlin
University received as student the
daughter of a Shanghai gentleman,
while in America the Chinese wom-
en- students are taking their place by
the side of their male compatriots in
any movement or meeting dealing
with Chinese questions which takes
place in the country on terms of per-
feet equality.
Women's medical schools are
springing up in China stated by Eng
lish and America ladies, and the
good they are doing is incalculable.
The Margaret Williamson Hospital
at Shanghai is an entirely American
institution, where no men are en-
ployed except coolies for the rough
est work. The doctors and head
nurses are white women, and many
of the assistants are Chinese who
have been trained in the hospital.
The. Government Hospital and
Medical School for Women at Tient-
sin is also doing splendid work for
women in the country. The Gov
ernment does not raise difficulties
with regard to the higher education
of women, and many men are anxi-
Gus for their daughters to be trained
on Western lines, and are encourag-
ing them in every possible way.
Modern literature and journalism
oil 10 racnnncih1n for tho
awakening of Chinese women. Two
books published within the last few
years in the Germs of Feminism"
and THE Right of the Chinese Wom-
an in the Choice of Husband" voice
the modern ideas which are taking
root in the country.
Several papers edited by Chinese
women with women as contributors,
have lately been started. Mrs.
Chang, the widow of a Chinese Off
cial, has edited the Pekin Woman's
Paper, devoted entirely to women's
interests, the suffrage movement in
England being favorite topic.
This gifted lady was trained and edu-
Gated by her father as if she had
been boy, and she thus obtained
power of observing the conditions
of women's life which would have
been impossible for any ordinary
Chinese lady. 1t has been stated
that in Pekin there are nine journals
edited, composed, printed and sold
by women; Canton produces four,
Shanghai six and Foochow three.
The Government has recently laid
down rules regarding the manage
ment of native papers. Publishers,
printers and editors must be over 21
years of age, "sound of BRAIN" and
have never been in prison. They
must also deposit security to the
amount of &15 per paper, unless it is
devoted to education, art or statis-
tics, and a copy of each issue must
be sent to the local magistrate and
to the Board of Civil Affairs in Pc
kin.
The legal position of the Chinese
woman is deplorable, and is one of
the reasons why the movement for
her greater freedom is making such
rapid growth. She is subject to the
''three obedience" to her father in
her childhood, to her husband after
marriage and to her son in her wild
owhood, and this position naturally
cripples her powers and has disas-
trous effect upon her character.
When a Chinaman has only daugh-
ters he says he has no children, in
fact, a girl ought to consider herself
lucky to be alive at all, for in many
parts of the country it is the custom
to drown female babies. Her parents
dispose of her in marriage as they
please-it is the only career open to
her-and she then becomes the prop
erty of her husband.
Though the women of the better
classes rarely meet men outside their
own immediate circle, they still ex-
ercise a great influence, and in one of
the Chinese encyclopedias 376 books
out of 1923 are devoted to famous
women, and eleven chapters deal
with their knowledge and literary
works. When we consider how re-
stricted are their lives and how few
opportunities they have for enlarg-
ing their minds we can but admire
the use they have made of their OPP
portunities.
The women of the lower classes
work hard. They spin, make clothes,
shoes and most articles for home
needs. They serve in almost every
department of industry, and are to be
I. I. a..