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THE HISTORY OF THE 1 SUFFRAGETTE.

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THE HISTORY OF THE 1 SUFFRAGETTE. 9 (By OSBORNE ALDIS, M.A.) I Since tho question of Votes for Women oon- tinues to occupy general attention, it may not be uninteresting to liave the history of the suffragette. The popular clamour of to-day is in reaiity a demand for the restoration of those social rights whioh in the past were always ceded to woman-kind—not, indeed; by mero c-ourtcisy, but as being essentially their own by divine right. Women were admitted to the public debates by the Gauls and Britone, and the historian Plutarch assures us that in all momentous questions touching peace or war, th j final decision was left to tho women, if unanimity was want- ing among' the men. The same custom prevailed in still earlier timea among the Athenians, Dut (according to Varro) their social privileges were for ever lost upon the vexed question aa to the choice of the tutelary deity of Athena. The women gave their preference to Minerva, whose emblem of the olive repre- sented peace and plenty, while the men were eager in their choice of Neptune, whose emblem, the war-horse, meant long wars and devastation. It may be here interesting to note that the moet remote Antiquity has ever held as fcacred the social rights of women and upon the same equality ao those of men; for in Heaven, sea and earth, together with Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto (who were the gods who shared the sway of the world), there governed also Juno, Salacia, Proserpina, and in Varro's Threefold Divinity, there were more goddesses than gods. Moreover, it was a maxim with the "Jivinc" Plato that government should be shared by women as their own peculiar right, and he clcses his remarks thus—"no good government can exist without. the presence of Virtue, and that Virtue shute no door against the sex." Aristotle, whose treatise upon the ethics of life has ever been found a standard work upon the subject of government, fully agrees with Plato. In later days, however, the lawo of Pliaramond condemned these views and held that they were contrary to the laws of Nature, who had bestowed upon men discretion, strength and courage, with the power of rule. Hence came about the salique law on tho Continent, while England still rejoices in the admission of the Rights of Sovereignty to women. It is not difficult to cite instances of heroines In past days of many battles, so that we are not surprised to find that their victorious actions have gained for them perpetual renown. For instance, the war song of Deborah over Sisera is publicly read by our clergy at least twice annually on the appointed days in our cathedrals and churches, and it is interesting to note that the deeds of Deborah are handed down with the commenda- tion of Holy Writ. In the early days of our country, the "Iceni" or men boasted of the brave deeds of Boadicea, who has been immortalised by poets of her own times, while thc' "Brigaartes" or Yorkshire men ever recorded the noble acts of their own Chartitsmandua, in whose praise and grateful memory poems were for ages recited. Later, the Barons made an ineffectual attempt to ex- clude women from the Throne, for it appeared to them to be a shame to bo subject to the Government swayed by a woman. That later history has disproved such ideas we all know. Queen Elizabeth, whose reign witnessed so many important events. which determined the future greatness of England, might be cited as a sufficient answer to their false but specious logic. She not only had a great spirit to rule her kingdom, to levy great armies and exercise all those sovereign rights becoming her high position far superior to many Sovereigns, and with no differ- ence but her 6CX!" writes a contemporary his- torian, and the chronicler remarks in defenoo of the f-oyereingty of a Queen, "Wllat did the Germans, our They juAly thought Germans, our ancestors'. that there was in that sex something of sanctity and divine foresight—nor were their counsels ever alighted nor were their answers neglected, so much so that in their estimation of the vulgar they were superstitiously regarded as gor11,e&"1ee. (Jt iatc yo-Eirsi uno inoivi^ VI nu been a favourite study, due greatly to the British interests and influence. Egypt has enjoyed a great past, and from the days of the Pharoahs has played a chief part in the history of the world. What was the social sphere of Egyptian women? It may bo a matter of surprise, but it is no less true, that tho profession of the law was chiefly represented by them, and that they held the judgeships and undertook the general man- agement of the courts, and it would be no great difficulty to mention the names of highly gifted intellects such as Zenobia and Semiramis. Shakespeare was doubtless aware of the fact, and exercised a keen sense of humour when lie selected the metrical ballad upon which he framed the play of "The Merchant of Venice" and introduced Portia disguised as a learned judge from Padua. How ia it with us in the present day? Tho past half-century has witnessed a slow but sure change in favour of the restora- tion of the lost rights of women. How few men would care to face the ordeal of a medical training which is compulsory for nurses—fewer would have the courage not only to witness but to take t>n active part in the surgical operation aa daily witnessed in tho theatre of a hospital or the equally subsequent careful treatment re- quired by the patient, whose life depends so largely upon their devotion. and self-possession. This victory has been gained by great self- sacrifice and much bitter persecution in earlier days at the hands of the medical profession, who looked upon them aa their possible rivals. Nor can we be surprised at their jealousy, since tho presence of the trained nurse has absolutely revolutionised the management of our hospitals and tho tr3itment of disease. But what was her position for some yearN? It was this—permission to act the drudgery of a nurse of the stamp so ably exposed by Charles Dickens, and there was no effort on the part of the profession to raise that standard. The effort was to oonio from some of her own fellow-nurses. The present innovation—apart from tho glorioua career of Florence Nightingale at the time of the Crimean war-Was suddenly effected by a young lady, who presented herself as a candidate for the ordinary examination of the Apothecaries' Com- pany, but her endeavours were met with an absolute refusal. Admission being denied, her goUcitors wow Instructed to i&,ue a "manda- mu.s." Upon the peruaa! of the Charter by the judge, tho Latin word "homo" was found io designate a candidate, and, consequently, a vordiot was given in her favour with costs. The lady candidate passed among the first six. This success was immediately followed by a similar suit against the College of Physicians, whose Charter, however, contained the word "vir," upon Which the members and Fellows were jubi- lant, as to the supposed pre-scientce of their Founder. Their t-aotics were, however, soon altered by the advice of their President, who warned them that if thev continued to disre- gard the claims of women candidates they might live to 6100 a special Charter granted in their favour. The lady who undertook this work as a champion of her sex graduated as the first lady doctor, and was frequently in consultation with the leading physicians of the day. Of all these facts I have a personal knowledge, as my late father wa3 the only Fellow of t he College who gave any support to her claims. This in- deed at the time was a great victory, for it gave courage to the training of nurses, mostly all ladies by birth, who found courage to adopt so arduous a life. With no prospect of a home a.t the closo of the journey of-life, no living or income such as is in store for a curate, say, of ten ye ire' standing in the Church, it ia still left 10 tho nurse to know that she has stepped near to tho teaching of the Sermon on the Mount. Owing to the incalulable difficulties which surrounded these attempts and the false views of Society, which were held in the early part of the Victorian reign, many of which at this distance of timo can hardly be realised it is not improbable that the present opposition to the admission to the sister professions may at no late date disappear. We have already made refer- enco to t.m social position of educated women in the glorious past of Egypt, as judges and lawyers, and we must remember their presence as tho Priestess of the Temple. Among the Romans, also, this custom prevailed, so much so that a Roman Temple service was not con- sidered complete without the presence of a Grecian Priestess. Wo have noticed that the memory of women of the past lias been handed down by poets and, in modem daya pur own poat, Tennyson, may be singled out as tho champion for recording in verso and by personal mfluenoo the unfairness under which the women of this country suffered. If his idea of a university lor the training of woman's mind was not (an it was not) original, as we seo from the past. he, at leaist, must be ac- corded all the praise for the fact that our uni- versities reluctantly opened the "class lists" to lady candidates, who proved that they possessed an intellect equal to obtaining the highest places in i.liose 'class list". I In most, I may say, in nearly all these instances, the effort was not made for the show of an unmeaning rivalry, but with full determination to gain a fair posi- tion and earn a fair income in the new path of life open to hem. Necessarily, a 'Degree' was as welcome and aa im- portant to them as to the bishop or lawyer. What has been, however, the f;tot ? The universities, whilo taking fees for the examinations, have to this day refused to grant the well earned degree. Trinity College, Dublin, has been chivalrous enough to take the initiative, and so the ladies have paid extra fees for what is called an Ad Euendem' degree at Dublin. No less a sum than £ 16,000 has been paid for this unnecessary imposition and in- justice. B'lt (his rule is now altered, so that ladies desiring to hold a University Degree must pass the examinations themselves at Dublin. In the presence of so many boards of Educa- tion, such a condition of things, in every way so highly unfair, could hardly be supposed to exist. As regards the profession of the Church, the Society of Friends as a Christian body, has always admit tod the rights of the "presbyter'to the sisters of their fraternity as regards the power to preaih, for they do not consider the remark of St. Paul in any way binding in the Christian community. His views were neces- sarily true of the Jewish persuasion as regards custom, the great predilection far which he frequently avows. As regards the profession of the law, the lady typist may be found in the back room of the office, and at a small pittance must be con- tent not to exercise her intellect beyond the drudg?iy of an ordinary copy-writer. Thus far, the medical profession, which pre- sents the greatasit difficulties, has seen the greatest change. It is quite, possible that the time is not so far off when in order to carry out the scheme of mobilisation for the actual defence of our shores in a future generation, the three leading professions may be repre- sented c-hhny, ?:17, not altogether, by women sc,jtt,e,d c?h :?fltyh various walks of life. If such tr.a i n,c- d foc a remark should raise a smile, let us re- member the truth that "history repeats it- self." It has beer clearly shewn that it is not by reason of any cletcrioration of women's In- tellect, rha.t the present barriers should not be forthwith removed. The question of vote, now agitated in the country, needs but little argu- ment. The misfortune in our history has been and still is conspicuous by a stern opposition to the "inevitable," however much to the bene- fit of England. No changes of any importance havo taken plaoe without strenuous opposition. It is possible by force to keep people in the position of serfs, or as 'tenantes glebae," but it is impossible to ohain beyond a certain limit the intellect without serious social evils. What battles were fought over the Reform Bill, and how insignificant at the present day appear the demands of the Chartists, all of which could have been wisely conoeded for the benefit" of the land Our universities in refus- illg the degrees to women candidates, shew no greater itnpro einent to welcome a great demand an I new era in women's career. It would be tedious to revive the remembrance of so many drawbacks to modern requirements. It would aeem as though suoh a system formed part and parcel of our National Constitution. In conclusion, should ihe mobilisation scheme be found necessary, then England in her ethics may adopt those of Egypt, so renowned for her learning, when all civil duties were fulfilled by her women, and the only position worthy of the man, however polished as a soholar, waa that of the. soldier and the war- rior. In another decade or so, when the priest- hood is ruffling its wings in the face of Dises- tablishment, the views of Plato and Aristotle -11 <05.L ch Aw rtf government and social rights of women and men, may be again acknowledged as in the days of the mighty past. And what is History hub the Revolution of Thought with an Evolution, let us hope for betterment and the victory of purer ethics of social life over prejudices and those biassed views which tend to crush National Life and National Intelligence.

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DEATH OF LORD LINLITHGOW.…

IMR. MOLD'S ADVENTURE.I

ITHE CHURCHES. +

FREE CHURCHES.I

DISTRICT NURSING ASSOCIATION…

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I TIDE TABLE.I - _..&-

!CONNAH'S QUAY SHIPPING.

ICHESTER INFIRMARY. J -o——

ILIGHTING-UP TABLE. --11

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