The Merry Past 



matrimonial existence, a husband dies, his wife is not 

 Hable to pay for the funeral expenses, even if she 

 have a separate estate. When, however, a married 

 woman dies, whether she is living with her husband 

 or apart from him (save, of course, by her own fault), 

 her husband is liable to give her a funeral in all 

 respects suitable and becoming to his own position in 

 life, and to pay the entire cost of it. 



The vast majority of Englishwomen realise that 

 they suffer under no oppression, and, quite content in 

 the complete exercise of their mental and bodily facul- 

 ties, are performing their full share of the duties of 

 life, and doing their best to contribute towards the 

 natural, healthy condition of society. There is, indeed, 

 about many modern women a freedom of action, 

 and reliance on their own powers, which denote 

 that they have attained to the highest pitch of per- 

 fection compatible with their sex. Unfortunately 

 their virtues open fairest in the shade and a false 

 and undignified impression of the character and 

 aspirations of Englishwomen is conveyed by a small 

 but noxious minority of discontented sisters 



Who with themselves or others from their birth 

 Find all their life one warfare upon earth. 



With regard to the physical attractions of woman 

 in the past as compared with to-day, it is generally 

 agreed that she is now better-looking or, at any rate, 

 presents a more agreeable appearance than at any time 

 in the course of history. The beauties of other days 

 had not the resources at their command which even a 

 modest purse can now easily procure — they had little 



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