The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-27
Women Of the East.

Some recent books about the posi-
ton 81 women in oriental countries
have maintained that IL is changing in
the direction Of European modernism.
but in The Hdrim and the pUrdnh
Century ELIZABETH COOPER declares
that the creed ~ woman is to-day
what it has always been, and that ii,
Is a question whether the oriental
woman with all her intellectual and
social advance which is already begin
ming. will eve he able to free herself
from those traditional and inherent;
influences which have been wrought
into the warp and woof OF Eastern
humanity" Mrs. Cooper il a disrrimi-
mating observer. She has studied
woman's life In Egypt and India.
China and Japan. and while agreeing
with the repor.s of other observers
on the advance Of women in respect of
education and property rights in those
ancient lands. she does not follow
them into the territory Of speculation
upon an eInanc.pated future that shall
pace woma on an equal footing
with man AS a unit Of society.
II we correctly recall Longfellow's
lines in "Hiawatha," they run so:
A. un;o the bow the cord IL.
- unto the man Is woman;
Though she bends him. she oheys him.
Though she draws him. vet she follow
Useless each without the other,
Present day femlnism would not ac-
cep: those pungent phrases as COM
plete!y expressive Of the truth: hut
they are an advance upon those others
with which Mrs. Cooper introduces
her Introduction:
VIII. thou hlldoV
rnargusd | obcv 50 God o'dain.:
God IL thy lao. thou mine; to know no
l.. Nonan's happl.st knowledge. and her
praise.
II il To le supposed that the ladie.
OF Borrioboola-Gha are "a much adj
yarcpd. in a way ~ their own. since
Mrs. .Iellyhy's day, as our ladies since
IN time NJ the LYDIA L.anguishes and
IL Flora McFlimsies.
The Eastern woinan is more closely
bound by tradition than is her sister
Of the West: zone of her outstanding
characteristics has lain for Years in
her dependence and passive reliance
'hi'ih wv AsAhil ~ W 'll''IIlAA sup
port and protection Her very scclu-
sion means to her not that which the
word would oounoto To the Westcrucr.
slavery or Imprisonment. To- her it IS
rather the mantle OF protective arc
and Interest thrown over her ny hcr
lord and master. 1t has helped to
make her feminine. as 1t has naturally
added to her ineflciency as far as any
work is concerned that hears a simili-
tude of masculine activity" outside
the home she has no power Of gain
ing a liveliho1l. she Ia therefore
wholly a domestic creature. Western
women are apt Ia hc sorry for her,
but II is not n pitiab.c inanltiun that
keeps her content in her existence N
"A separate world. her peaceful seclu-
sion is not that of "A prisoner in a cell.
1t is not fair 10 Judge the life of one
rae of men by the standards OF
another.
The SNUG criticism ~ The Orient in
which bccidcntals frequently indulge
particularly those who have the
most superficial knowledge Of Oriental
institutions and the slightest acauain-
lance with Oriental daily life-are, In
relation Ia woman's interests. reduced
In "A compete %absurdity in the light of
such facts as are incomplctely indi-
Gated in this statement: Elm such
countries ~ h Orient as Burma and
Japan, where are solving the
problem of se%lf-support. they nave also
been able not only to have greater
freedom but also, To n certain extent.
they have demanded the right To
choose their own mates twhere is
leap year NOVEL and regulate the
laws concerning their home life. In
each Of these countries tho wife has
the right of divorcinG her husband,
right denied tho Women of other
Oriental lands. The property rights Of
M in these lands. where women
are Just beginning In Lee wage %carncrs
are also clearly set forth IN their ci,il
codes. giving Justice to the Women ="
win an essay in Economic %indepcnd-
encc Of woman conduce Ia the happi-
moss and prosperity Of these u ricss
Avoiding speculation. which cannot
be profitable, let Mrs. Cooper rcIsnr;
her objective observations; with al