WOMAN'S WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 46, 23 February 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

WOMAN'S WORLD.

(By HAJBBY KIEBY.)

I. WOMAN'S DISADVANTAGES.

A long-, and in some respects, an important letter, which appeared in thu "Star,"' lias caused me to put into a definite shape some ideas which have been persistently claiming attention for a number of years past. The writer of the letter, a Mormon elder, imagines that he has found in polygamy a cure for "the pitiable condition of the world today, steeped in scenes of immorality of the most shocking nature." In some countries women may be willing to accept his solution for some of their difficulties, but not in this one; woman is built on another pattern, and educated in a different school with us, to admit of such a cure. A colonial woman has been heard to say that Sarah, of Bible story, was one of the most wonderful women that ever lived in the license which she gave to Abraham in the matter of Hagar. It is questionable whether such a Sarah could be found to-day throughout the length and breadth of Australasia. The spell of the franchise is upon the woman of the Southern Cross, ami she is beginning to ask why she may not have the same liberty allowed to her in all important matters affecting her life, which are freely allowed to the opposite sex. By slow tleg-rees the eligibility of woman for different positions in the activities of life is being allowed; almost every step of the way has been contested; and when nothing more could be said, it was urged that woman would make it impossible for men to earn their livelihood. There might " be some force in this objection if every man were resolved to secure a place in the busy world so that he might share the fruit of his labours with a wife, a companion, a helper; but the tendency is not that way. Men frequently complain of the competition of women, not that they may have more to secure, and support honourable marriage, but that they may be in a better position to indulge their own selfishness. Plainly speaking, this is the position of the average woman of to-day, who strives to shape her life according to the teach-, ings of social reformers, the customs of society, and the instructions of religion. She must perform her work in a home where probably she is already crowded out by her sisters, without any thought of financial recompense; and without the exhilaration which comes to those who spend much time in the open air, and in change of circumstances and company. If without brothers, and she desires to have male acquaintances (which is natural enough), then she must wait until she is sought out; she must make no advances, or else she runs the risk of being considered "bold." When acquaintances are made, should there be attractive qualities of person, mind or heart in any one of them to excite a maiden's love, she must keep that fact closely locked up in her own breast; she must guard her secret carefully and not betray it by word or deed, or look; she is even told that she ought to affect an indifference. A lady may have all the training which goes towards making a woman competent to manage creditably a home; yet she is irrevocably doomed by society to wciit until some man comes, along who is willing to woo and win her after the established plan. Hundreds of true women, unmarried, some of them unloved by the sex, will readily recognise the position in which they are placed, and wonder why. 11. ADVANTAGES. A lady was recently asked if she would name some of the advantages of a woman's life, and she candidly confessed that she knew not of any. The probability is that this is not an isolated case. It is a common thing to hear a woman exclaim, "Oh, I wish I were a man." It is uncommon to hear a man say, "I wish I were a woman." So many things are taken for granted now in our ordinary life that the improvement in the status of woman is apt to be overlooked. The modern woman frequently ignores the „ fact that many of her advantages of to-day are the outcome of centuries of slow evolutionary processes. Think of the respect which is today paid to every true woman. It is true that there are, unfortunately, * some men who have but little respect for woman; they regard her as a being still to be bought and sold, an in« strument for their selfish indulgence and pleasure. But these do not represent the majority. Every modern man who is worthy of the name has an unqualified respect . for a true woman. It is marvellous how a* mob of roughs will make way for one whom they recognise as a lady. It is well known that a nurse may and does go about at night with perfect confidence, and without the slightest fear of molestation. Such respect is within the power of every true woman, not only to enjoy, but to command. In view of this modern respect it seems difficult to believe that there was ever a time when our forefathers sold their stepmothers, and even their own mothers; that there was a scale of charges for the ravishment of a girl, for the slaying of a girl under the years of child-bearing and over; for the putting away of a wife; for indecent familiarities, and for the seduction of another man's wife. The shelter afforded a modern woman is also noteworthy. Women demand that all the avocations of life should be open to them; this practically is already the case; but both by the choice of the woman, and by, modern sentiment, those employments are selected which make tha smallest demand upon woman's physical strength, or courage. So far, women do not seem anxious to invade the profession of the sailor, or of the wharfinger, or of the fireman, or of the soldier. In these directions women very properly show no inclination to enter the open door. But in this direction what a change. To suggest to one of our early ancestors that he should go and till the ground, or mind the sheep and cattle, or carry the water and leave the wife and daughters free for domestic duties would be to excite his most derisive laughter; in those days the wife, the woman, was the beast of burden. But now? In matrimonial proposals the chief place is now assigned to the woman; it is her privilege to accept or to reject; her full consent is indispensable. But there was a time when her fate •was decided by a present of a hatchet, a canoe, some few cows, some food or clothing, and when without her consent she became the property of a