Book Notices.

White Ribbon, Volume 1, Issue 7, 1 January 1896, Page 5

Book Notices.

By L. M. S.

A BOOK FOR TO DAY.

“ Britisli Freewomen: Their Historical Privilege.” By Charlotte Carmichael Stopes, Diplomee Edin. University. “ The proper sphere of all human biings is the largest and the highest they can attain to,' remarks Miss Stopes towards the close of her valuable little work. And surely no one will for a moment dispute the soundness of such a statement. Still, we all possess in a greater or lesser degree a lurking desire to quote a precedent for our actions. And women who are convinced (and act up to their convictions) that they have social and national duties every whit as truly as that they have home claims, will, as a rule, find their path considerably smoothed by the knowledge that they are but following in the footsteps of dames of olden times. In the book before me there lies, therefore, solid comfort for the woman whj, while taking such share as is allowed in the government of the nation, yet shrinks from the appellation “ new woman,” with the disagreeable qualities therein implied.

Beginning with the earliest times of which we have anv record our author says, “ Nothing impressed the Romans more than the equality of the sexes among the Northern nations \ the man s reverence tor womanhood, the woman s sympathy with manhood, and the high code ot morality t! 1 it was the natural outcome of this well-balanced society. The Celts made it their practice to take women into consultation about peace or \\ar. “ British women were made use of in court, in council, and in c imp, and n > distinction of sex was made in placesof command or government (Caesar). “ Though, of course, the royal rank increased the woman s power, the law and custom tor Queens was but the reflex of the common law and custom of the time for all women. Coining to Saxon England, Selden says, “ Ladies of birth and Quality sat in the Saxon \\ itenagei mot.” Numerous Quotations from various authors . are given showing that “queens and abbesses signed decisions along with kings and aboots, that charters, etc., were not only consented to and signed by the reigning monarch, but also by bis wifej or mother. We are reminded, too, of Ethelfieda, daughter of Alfred the Great, who ruled Mercia after the death of father and husband, and, completed the work her father bad begun in finally defeating and subjugating the Danes. Ecclesiastical power, too, was possessed in no small degree by those noble dames of olden England. Our modern Churches refuse to admit women to their councils. Miss Stopes brings to our memory the Abbess Hilda presiding over the monastery at Whitby, “ where was a man's wing and a woman’s wing.” Among her discip»es were educated many learned bishops. “An ecclesiastical Synod met at her abbey (664), at which she presided, that the calm of her presence and the influence of her control might soothe excitement on th vexed questions of the day.” I here are several paragraphs referring to women in matters ecclesiastical ; to these I specially invite the 1 attention of the brethren who fear the deterioration of either women or Churches should any but lt the holy men ” presume to make their voices heard in Synod or Assembly. This is by the way. Chapter 11. is devoted to the consideration of “ The Modern Bases of Privilege.” “ The relation between property and privilege has been the determining principle in constitutional evoln ion, and the distinction between the sexes in the matter of property has been the radical cause of the distinction between them in regard to privilege.” “On the extinction of the Feudal System and the tianslation of service payments into money payments women lost the definite place assigned to them.” In Saxon times the children of both sexes inherited equally. Norman influence tended to favour the

inheritance by the eldest son, to the detriment 0! his younger brothers, though an eldest daughter had no privilege over tier younger sisters. “ Through the different principles of inheritance there have always been fewer heiresses than heirs. ’ ihe chapter closes as follows 1 -“ In the light of the modern doctrine of heredity we see that our far-away ancestois held opinions to winch our successors may yet revert, and Iroin ancient history we find that a recognition ot the existence of worn n in the State, far from being novel or revolutionary, would only be the fulfilling of the fundamental principles ot the English Constitution. In the chapter on “ Royal Women ” space will only permit us to note that Queens Consort exercised considerably more power in the State than we realise to-day. “ They sat in the councils, even in the presence of the Kings, and gave their •consent to measures along with Kings and nobles. Also that Mary and Elizabeth “at their coronations were girt with the sword of State, and invested with the spurs of Knighthood, to show that they were military as well as civil rulers.” Coming to noble women, we learn that, uccoiding to Selden, some feminine titles were immediately created in women - e.g ., Margaret, Countess of Norfolk, and Mary, Countess of Buckingham. We also see that women paid homage, women received homage, women could hold courts baron, women held (estates, &c ) by military service. “It is true a substitute might be sent by anyone, male ot female, with reasonable excuse.’ Women could also be knights. 1 hey also inherited public office, associated with the title or property. Numerous instances are given where women tilled the office of high sheriff, marshall, high constable, high steward, high chamberlain, Governor of Koyal Castle, &c. We also find that women not only held these offices by right of inheritance, but also by appointment e.g. } Lady Maigaret, Countess ot Richmond, made justice ot the peace in the reign of Henry VII. Women could also be peeresses in their own right, and “liable to summons to Parliament in person." The position of county women is next discussed. 44 They owed their military service either to their over-lord or to the king directly. If an heiress married a man of an inferior family, or a smaller property, she could, if she chose, raise him to her rank, or make him take her name. And as regards electoral rights and privileges, we find women on an equal footing with men. Coming to the rank and file of women, we read of freewomen as well as freemen. “ Under certain conditions married women could be tree. 44 A wife trading alone had her duties and penalties as well as her privileges, could be imprisoned for debt, &c.” Women could be members ot

CiuiMs and the various Trades’ Companies. They could also have Guilds of their own. “ Various Acts for their protection are passed down to the reign of Henry VII.” Women could be on the Corporation. “ They could vote for members of Parliament. (Henry III.).” Miss Stopes next treats of the Long Ebb. Space forbids our more than mentioning it. Sir Ivhvard Coke —“ the legal Coke ” —is credited with having first pronounced an opinion on the disability of women this opinion not being backed up by authority, but nevertheless, unfortunately, accepted by his followers. Truly “ the evil that men do lives alter them.” Women were thus traditionally disfranchised, but the legal disfranchisement was not accomplished until 1832, when, in the Reform Bill, the word “male” was interpolated before “ persons ” in the charters of the newiy-created Boroughs.

The last two chapters acquaint 11s with “ The Turn of the Tide” and 44 Other Women,” and must be read to be appreciated.