"SPIRITUAL" SUFFRAGETTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1719, 9 April 1913, Page 6

"SPIRITUAL" SUFFRAGETTES.

A- cablegram published in yesterday's issue announces the arrival of a new battalion of suffragettes upon the sceno of battle in the form of the AVomen's Spiritual Militancy League, whoso business it is to get the marriage service reconstructed in accordance with tho' newest ideas of tho new woman. All "humiliations" must be removed. These include the hateful word "obey," the "giving away" ceremony, and the exhortation to wives to "submit" themselves; to their husbands. What is going to happen-if these changes are not made has not yet been disclosed, but judging by recent developments in the campaign of the gentle suffragette, one would not be surprised to hear in tho near future of members of the "spiritual" detachment raising pandemonium at weddings, throwing prayer books at preachers, breaking church windows, and indulging in other similar, pleasantries: The spiritual campaign may also include an attack on Lambeth Palace and the battering of clerical hats with militant umbrellas. To the mere man the plain remedy for those who object to the marriage service is not to get married at all, or to ask the registrar to perform the ceremony. That useful official does not care whether (he woman "obeys" or "submits herself," provided always that she is to be someone else's wife. ■ It is no part of his business to ask questions about these matters or to give advice. The , spiritual ladies, however, probably recognise that a marriage strike would be futile, as women who arc so determined to rule the roost arc in danger of losing the opportunity of haying a roost t;o rule; and the morii womanly woman who is not very' troubled about the "humiliations" of the marriage scrvicc would bo a . very effective strike-breaker. Of course the unexpected often happens, but the militaufc suffragette docs not seem toljo the most likely person in the wofld to make tho ideal wife and mother of a family. And it is, therefore, i;ot impossible that this type of woman may cease to exist in a generation or two. But unfortunately there ire other possibilities. The story of ancient Sparta lull a very instructive bearing on the modcm suffragette movement. -It js told vory brielly and simply bv Jilt. Whetham in his book on Heredity and' Society. The Spartan Republic was a primitively organised State of matriarchal form in which it was easier for the female element to secure control of the country's destinies than in Rome, where the father of the family was all-powerful. ! In the prim© of her national life the constant absence of large bodies of lighting men left the Government of Spann largely in tlio ineffective hands of ild men and boys. So at a cerlain periodjof her history the women, being probably greatly in 'nmnorie.tl excess, secured fli'c right to assist at the public nicaU. wh'.cli Wiis equivalent to a participation ion equal lenns in Ihe political life of |he country. There is no complaint as,li, their mct'licd* of administration: no dojbl they were most efficient and self-sacrific-ing governors. Hut the net result sittos to have been lliut the cradles were left empty and tho -lircsides wero deserted,

until in a hundred years tho Spartan nation hud virtually ccnsed to exist, and its admirable qualities of vigour and simplicity, which under other auspices might iiavo regenerated tho Hellenic world, had been-wiped out. This lesson from Ancient Sparta is surely well worth pondering over at the present day. It is admitted on all sides that the greatest international struggle for existence in the world's history is not far off, and if Britain is to come through it successfully everything possible must be ;«one to increase and strengthen the masculine virility of the people.