The sun., 1919-06-09
PERUVIAN WOMEN
RULE BY ADVICE
Have Much Say in Government
Although They Are Not
Allowed to Vote.
By NINA DE FLORES.


Specially ,orttten for the Latin American
Section Of THE SUN.
Society in Peru is so constituted that
women have until now not been able to
throw of completely the customs I'M
posed by the Spanish Cortes IN the time
of the viceroys. which have kept them
subject to a poetical mysticism. 1t
would seem as II they were born to the
lullaby of the good fairies. who pre-
sented them with the sweet gift OF
spirituality. Are they doves cooling TO
themselves In the shelter of the home
and having no other aspiration than to
be the happiness OF their husbands and
their children? When they are in an
emergency they langulsh and wither
slowly, but preserve, in spite of all. their
faith in the love for which they have
sacrificed themselves,
The laws do not protect them femin-
ism finds no fertile field in Peru for ex-
tension, It's sympathizers being less than
a dozen persons. Sra. Maria Alvarado
Rivera is the one who has fought the
most for the rights of women. Her
book entitled The Evolution of Women"
traces the latest sociological movements
of the world. Her labor has been intel
ligently seconded by Sra. Elvira Garcia
y Garcia and a few others of authority
because OF their study.
Is II logical and humane to deprive
women of the divinity which nature
gives them? There is here no pretense
of making a campaign against feminism
or OF discussing disguisedly the good In
some of its principles related to the evo-
luton TO which humanity is subject. but
this evolution is rational when united to
1t is the desire OF perfection in relation
to the natural laws of life.
Without any doubt women should be
so educated as TO be able to support
themselves, guaranteeing them more
fully freedom OF action and permitting
them to evolve in society according TO
their merits and conditions without him
dering their true mission; TO be always
the moral and spiritual companions of
men in order to furnish that which the
other half Of humanity needs and which
rightly corresponds to women-the
the basis of society.
The Peruvian women have not the
right to vote in the elections, but their
counsel Is often sought-even on the In
ternal politics OF the country.
They have the right to give their
opinion on social questions know how to
debate on different topics; like to study,
although unfortunately they are re-
stricted In their desire TO better them
selves. But this Is now only a question
of religious order. and on realizing the
enormous weight which is depressing
them they will struggle for their right
full liberty They await with resignation
the reward of their sacrifices in the full
dlment Of their duties as mothers and
wives-the latter In greater number long
for beneficial divorce law. while the
former hope for reward in the Hereafter.
The necessity will appear in Peru to
pass laws like those Of the United States
to make the women OF Peru capable OF
supporting themselves In any eventuality
but not with the absurd idea OF fitting
them to usurp the political rights OF
men, which would necessarily bring upon
them new duties in addition TO disillu-
sioning and miserable ambitions which
would impoverish their psychological
condition.