THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN. 433 



shorten the two voltaic arcs. The cousequence is, that the second 

 lamp will have its proper working interfered with, while the first alone 

 ehould have been regulated. In other words, the solidarity of the two 

 apparatuses will tend to produce in each unnecessary changes of regu- 

 lation that will constantly result in causing the system of lamps to 

 work badly. But with the candle there is nothing of this kind, and, 

 provided that the source of electricity possesses sufl&cient tension 

 to produce the voltaic arcs, many may stand in the same circuit. In 

 the Magasins du Louvre we have seen in some instances four lights, 

 in others three, produced by a single machine. The sequel will show 

 whether we can reasonably expect to see "even a greater division of 

 the electric light, and whether this invention may not have still fur- 

 ther applications. La Nature. 



< 



THE STATUS OF WOME^ Al^D CHILDREN. 



Br HERBEET SPENCER. 



I. 



PERHAPS in no way is the moral progress of mankind more 

 clearly shown than by contrasting the position of women 

 among savages with their position among the most advanced of the 

 civilized: at the one extreme a treatment of them cruel to the ut- 

 most degree bearable ; and at the other extreme a treatment which, 

 in certain directions, gives them precedence over men. 



The only limit to the brutality women are subjected to by men 

 of the lowest races is the inability to live and propagate under 

 greater. Clearly, ill-usage, under-feeding, and overworking, may be 

 pushed to an extent which, if not immediately fatal to the women, in- 

 capacitates them for rearing children enough to maintain the jjopu- 

 lation ; and disappearance of the society follows. Both directly and 

 indirectly such excess of harshness disables a tribe from holding its 

 own against other tribes ; since, besides greatly augmenting the mor- 

 tality of children, it causes inadequate nutrition, and therefore imper- 

 fect development, of those which suiwive. But, short of this, there is 

 at first no check to the tyranny which the stronger sex exercises over 

 the weaker. Stolen from another tribe, and perhaps made insensible 

 by a blow that she may not resist ; not simply beaten, but speared 

 about the limbs, when she displeases her savage owner ; forced to do 

 all the drudgery and bear all the burdens, while she has to care for 

 and carry about her children ; and feeding on what is left after the 

 man has done : the woman's sufferings are carried as far as consists 

 with survival of herself and her offspring. 



It seems not improbable that, by its actions and reactions, this 

 VOL. XI. 28 



