Evening star., 1926-04-18
Women of Latin America Are Beginning
To Emulate Northern Continent Sisters

ashamed of in that Most of them. however,
finding their vocations in the schools. Ihls
is particularly true of married women VINO heeo
added incomes in fact teaching Is about me
only vocation open to the young sonora. And
the state in Argentina, gives official approval
Of this tendency by providing that all teachers
who are to become mothers shall be given an
extended period of freedom at full pay. So
you see, the trend is toward your own
customs"
In Peru. this advance has been most marked.
according to Dr. Luis Miro Quesada. editor of
FL Comerco. of Lima. Already women have
been admitted to semi-political position,
he said. members of the board that directs
relief work for the sick and the poor. Where
this board was composed entirely of men only
a few years ago. It has two women as
fully recognized members. and there is a marked
tendency in Peru for the women there to take
a far more prominent part in public life.
In one direction. however. the bars of custom
have not oosened ioa. and IT is quite
apparent that any effort to let them down the
slightest fraction of an inch will meet the
united opposition Of the men. That Is the
custom that controls the conduct Of married
woman. Once senorita assumes the title
Of sonora, she is supposed to devote herself
entirely to her husband
1t is seldom that she comes In contact with
men outside the immediate family and when
she does, according to the unanimous opinion
Of those visitors who discussed the subject. she
Is very careful not to engage in conversation
with the visitor when her husband is not
present. In fact, some delegates to the Con
SfeSS went so Tar as TO say tnat In my
places a married woman would not consider
even dancing with friend Of her husband
should they chance to meet at ball.
As for smoking and drinking, those
habits that South America women have learned
practically nothing of. Occa sionally. II is said
a well bred and well recognized woman may
smoke cigarette, but the consensus of opinion
among the Latin newspaper men who
here was that it Is only the female adventurers
who smoke and drink in the southern, republics
those OF extremely low caste. northern
moving pictures to the contrary and not
withstanding.
The Latin countries know little Of drinking.
apply the terms anyhow. II is said
Wine is accepted there as food, just coffee
is food here. One delegate who asked
what he thought Of prohibition and whether
he believed South America would ever go
dry" replied follows:
, II can hardly answer that question because
I, having lived in Brazil all my life do not
understand why there should need be any
prohibition, If you to in Rio and
said, I have two hours to kill, let's go out
and drink lot of wine, 1t would be equivalent
TO my inviting you out to devour half dozen
loaves of bread. Wine is as much Of food
to bread is, and consequently do not
stuff ourselves
Thus the pendulum is swaying. Whatever
the standpatters Of this part of the world may
think of his new freedom. this feminist move
ment, 1t seems destined to cover the world. and
Just it ripped the veil of ancient prejudice
from the face of the Mohammedan women Of
Turkey. il will bring the cloistered women
of Latin America into the estate of full equality
with their male companions. The modern
women does seem, in all truth. to he showing
man the way in the matter of common
ground for all nations