THE NEW WOMAN.
Address Given by Mrs. Winona Branch Sawyer, Class of '71, at Reunion, June 5, 1895.
There is a prevailing impression that a new woman is abroad in the land. We no longer hear of the coming woman, for the new woman is here, and every one knows it. The questions at once arise, Who is she? What is she? Whence did she come? Why is she here?
The temptation is almost irresistible to draw on the imagination and lend some color to a picture which needs no exaggeration, so eagerly is that one listened to, who can tell something about her. Inquirers cannot go to the fountain head itself, for her essence is not centralized. There is no doubt however of her existence. She meets us on every page of literature. She peers at us out of the most grotesque caricatures. She is the target for every shaft of wit and sentiment. She is the spice of banquets and the text of sermons. In short she is the Alpha and Omega in the alphabet of human life. But though jeers and taunts and ridicule be done away with, the new woman is not thereby eliminated. Though distorted, misrepresented and antagonized in public, she is so absolute, so real, that whether desired or dreaded, she appears in as varied forms as a kaleidoscopic vision, an inciter to reform, a participant in municipal affairs, a factor in economics, as philanthropist, as daughter, sister, wife.
She is neither old nor young, she may be married or single, handsome or plain, wealthy or poor. She is independent in her choice of avocation, and punctilious in her thorough preparation for duty. She cares more for a preponderance of convolutions in her brain than embroidered ruffles on her garments or for the size of her sleeves. She arrogates to herself no supremacy, and desires to be rated only according to her merit. She does not look backward, gloating over her progress, but forward with courage for new acquisitions.
Masculine anxiety attributes many idiosyncrasies to the new woman without obtaining her endorsement as to facts. According to the testimony of one she is about to discard her time-honored draperies and adopt his ungraceful attire. Another harps upon her political aspirations, and her craving for the privilege of supplanting man in every sphere of life from a seat in Congress to the captaincy of a ball team. A third arraigns her for coveting contracts in public affairs, as the sale of bonds and cleaning streets, monopolizing the municipal housekeeping, and relegating men to home keeping and cradle king, and one even claims to have discovered in her possession a revised version of the pentateuch containing the declaration that Adam was the rib. Let humorists and caricaturists have their fun.
Let men jest and quibble as they may, this one fact remains, "Women are not as they used to be." A spirit like that which appeared at Runnymeade, which freed the slaves and manumitted serfs, which has overthrown despotisms and written constitutions, swept away class legislation and abolished caste, is abroad in the land. It is not a new force. Its essential element is the energy of individual life. Out of the widespread educational advantages offered to woman and accepted by her, has come the natural unrest and impatience of restraint, which is inseparable from a consciousness of power. It requires only a short mental review to appreciate how thoroughly and perfectly this country is organized for woman's work. Women are everywhere alert and active, aroused to every call and effort to help bring about an improved condition of affairs, intellectually, morally and politically. And the woman of this transition period, the leader in this revolt is the new woman.
A few months ago, a man sold his farm for $40,000. His wife refused to sign the deed, as her reason for the refusal she said, "I think I ought to be given something out of all this money." The attorney and her husband inquired how much she wanted. She replied, "I think I ought to have as much as $2." This pitiful sum was paid her, and she signed the deed. Her husband pocketed the $39,998 without a protest on her part.
It requires no word painting to emphasize the pathos of such an incident. There is much talk in these days about the "revolt of woman," and determined by incidents like this, it is time there were revolts. But revolt against whom? Rebellion against what authority? Insurrection against what power? What law gave this husband such authority over his wife, his equal in society and almost his equal as a citizen?
The unwritten law of her consent.
What power forged the shackles of her bondage?
That tyrant custom, which has "power to almost change the stamp of nature."
Who fixed the monetary value of her life's work at $2?
Woman herself.
Liberty must be preceded by a consciousness of injustice and an intelligent revolt against it. It is not sufficient that there exists a consciousness of something wrong, a sensation of discomfort, a conviction of unfairness, the consciousness and sensation, and conviction must contain the active principle of an internal force sufficient to counteract external ills. The suffering must be acute enough to cause some
