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" affairs. Never did any barbarous nation treat their 

 '• women as these females treat their husbands. They, 

 " poor creatures, are in such a state of durance, that they 

 " do not dare to put on any garment, to speak, or do any- 

 " thing without first obtaining permission from their wives. 

 " The women remain seated, while the men wait upon them, 

 " they sleep, whilst the men keep watch — they scold and 

 " inflict blows, while the men call for mercy. A lucky day 

 " that, on which the husbands come off with a whole skin. 

 " If any woman be found to exercise a milder regimen 

 " towards her husband, she is forthwith earned before the 

 " Senate as guilty of High Treason. She is sentenced to 

 " change clothes with her husband, and then to stand with 

 " her head shaven all day on an elevated place in the Forum, 

 •' and exposed to the jeers and abuse of the spectators. 

 " Nor does the man, who has received such kindness from his 

 "wife come off any better. When the woman arrives at 

 " her own home, after being covered with mud and ordure, 

 " she is not permitted to resume her own garments, until 

 " she has exhibited the bloody cudgel with which she has 

 " broken her husband's skull. If any man survive his wife, 

 " he it bound either to marry the maid-servant (entering 

 " always into the prescribed covenants as to obedience), or 

 " else the next female housekeeper, no male person being 

 " ever permitted to preside over his own domestic affairs. 

 " Whenever the woman goes from home to fight, or upon 

 " business, or even on pleasure, she delivers to her maid 

 " or her daughter the keys, and with them the government 

 " of the house. * * * Contrary to our practice the 

 " women crop their hair, and let their nails grow long. 

 " Some there are among them who are professors of the 

 " gymnastic art, and give lessons on the most approved 

 " methods of using the teeth, nails, and heels, teaching by 

 " example as well as precept, how in the neatest way to 

 ■• scratch the face, pluck out the eyes, bite and punch the 



