The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-09
Is the New Womsn Danger to the Home?
By JEAN FINOT
Editor of the French 'Revfew Of Reviews"

Woman a. bygone days knew her
act, as well as those who rejoice,
re unable to change this impia.Ab BILE
nd inevitable phenomenon.
Time, the greatest r,N olutionizer Of
imam affairs and cAiditions, has
aused woman to lose her old quail
es and has endowed her with new
irtues. Tradition has, as always,
cen forced TO give way to economical
nd historical changes.
Having entered the precincts Of the
fe of man. woman has acquired new
Jays Of thinking and new habits.
me has put aside her previous state
inactivity and has taken up In an
mira BILE way the same work which
occupies the minds and hands Of
an. Resulting from an unavoidable
economic necessity this invasion OF
oman into the domain of the world o
work is constantly increasing and
srowing stronger. When we talk of
he new changes In the life Of wo-
nan, we generally think of the still
estricted number OF woman lawyers
nd doctors and we find consolation
the thought that the woman law
rars will probably get only very few
asses and that the woman doctors
ave only supplanted the midwiyes
We somewhat resemble the strange
pectator In the fable who entered a
irge museum of natural history, and
otfced only the flies and other in
ects, but overlooked that there were
$50 elephants. lions and tigers In the
election. For behind the liberal
DECISIONS there Is the vast indus
ial and commercial life which alto
7ther escapes our notice.
Let US merely take France as an
Sample. According to the census
{ 1908, made public last year.
~ench commerce, which in 1866 gave
1ployment to only $4,000 women,
inpioyed $4,000 In 1895, and 49,
in 1905. In agricultural emf
'oyment there were 1878, 900 women
1866. 2,76o.000 in 1896, and 3D.
1900 in 1903.
When you study the same census by
cupations you are stupefed by the
pidity of this invasion Of women
"a effective force of women Is eight
mss larger than that Of men in the
tile industries.
Woman today takes active part In all
ms of national production. Nothing
res her, nothing discourages her.
dustries that are considered too I'M
s. have never ceased to attract wo-
en-. They have refused to consider
moment the danger to their
alth. We see them employed in tn,
Aaving mills and chemical factories
the metal factories, in the foundries
chain works, the Paper mills. the
KIT hiding works. even In the fac
ries where explosive materials are
ade. They help to produce every
Ing We use, even glass bottles, an
>a--44 fsat4fff4 80 HSfdeTed the most un-
althy of all.
The figures quoted In France are SO
1ueh more significant as our popu-
ton has remained almost station
y during this period. the loss OF
SAGE Lorraine having been counter
danced by Immigration and an in
jynificant increase by births, But the
ldustries of France are not to be COM
AIRED to those OF the United States
Germany. The facts which have
cen shown In France are far more
riking In other countries.
Now here is fact which silences all
rgument: While the female Industrial
opuiation OF France has increased
early leo per cent the male has only
increased 5s per cent.
An Irresistible force Ia evidently
irving woman onward into compett-
ion with man and every hope of
heeking this tendency is absolutely
utilize We are witnessing a new
ahase OF the evolution of woman.
'reated like a domestic animal, then
mere slave or servant, she has
risen towards the end of the XVIII cen
ury to the position of a minor. tender
Y loved. or outrageously despised and
aegiected.
Another century passes and she is
recognized as being of age because
{ her matured thought and centuries
sf endless suffering. She Is consider
al an equal in the field of work and
then she claims her rights and
privileges as being of age. in every
competition where she comes in con-
tact with men. that Is to say, in do
nestle, social and political life,
Femin,sm has reached its proper
position in life 1t is no longer de-
pendent on any regime, any political
or social dogma.
After having obtained the right 10
receive the same education. after hav-
ing shouIdered the duty of working
at the side of man in all branches of
his activity. after having given up all
the pleasant idleness and inferiority
of former days. after having forced
through her individual and social
emancipation, woman now demands
with irresistible logic absolute equality
in politics. This lis like the roof of
new building she has erected with,
but very often without. the consent
OF man.
When she shall have accomplished
this work of many centuries, woma n
will undoubtedly refuse TO shrink
from the dehnitive browning of her
| efforts. II 1t not to be her house ?
| And may she be expected to stop be-
| fore the Inevitable effect Of 80 many
united causes. which will soon prove
| far stronger than her own possible
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