WOMAN'S POSITION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3079, 9 April 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

WOMAN'S POSITION.

Dr Arabella Keneally's much-discussed article in the Westminster Review lod ma —says a representative of the Queen to seek out the writer, and to ask her to tell me something further of her views on ono of the leading questions of tho day — the position of woman. To-day women drift into professional and public life as formerly they drifted into marmgo without giving themselves any reason for the action, without realising what consequences to themselves aud others that actiou must involve, Dr Arabella, Keneally is one of tho few women who have been at pains to think of these problems, aud her thoughts, enforced by special practical experience as i medical woman, have induced her to form ccr-

tain conclusions. " I am quite convinced" said Dr Arabella, " that women mist make a choice between professional and married life. They should not attompt to carry on a profession after marriage-" '• But how would you arrange about working women ?" I enquired, as a vision arose before my eyes of tho thousands of laundresses at the wasb-tub, of dressmakers stooping over their stitches and mostof workingmen s wives—tho most toil riddeu of all. "Ah ! Well, I hardly know what to say abjut them'" she replied. " No doubt it would bo much better if they had le<s to do. But I was not thinking of them, but of the wouuii of tho upper and middle lower class, more particularly the latter. It is not necessary iu middlo class households tha" the women should be the bread-win-ners ; that duty should devolve upon her husband, and I am confident that tho rising generation would be hoilthier aud stronger in every way if the mothers exerted themselves less."

" But what are they to do, poor ladies ?" I ventured to remonstrate. " Domestic work is very much simplified and there is extremely little to occupy their time in the way of housekeeping. " I cannot say that is my experience," said the lady doctor. " Many of my patients are as much tried by domestic worries as others are by their profession"l duties. But you must agree with me that it is high time some steps were taken to improve the national physique. I look anxiously at every baby that comes under my notice in the hope that I shall find some improvement in the type, sojie increase of stamina ns compared with the generation that has preceded it ; but instead of this there is ouly steady deterioration observable. And chief!v I notice this deterioration among- the children of very active energetic mother. The cleverest and the most highly educated women the women who take the most active part in public affiirs, have tho most weakly and puny children. This is a rather startling statemeut, which for a moment I hesitated to accept but Dr Keneally added, " You must remember that this is not a hasty generalisation, but the result of several years' experience in practising amongst women, and children." "Do you advocate more physical exercise for women ?''

•« Exercise* of a gentle oharcter are certainly good for young pirls, but I am entirely opposed to any violent gymnastics, and wheD as not infrequently happens a young married woman tells me with prido that she is captain ofa football team, or a cricket team eleven, I only say that I am perfectly aghast. No ; womeu must plaoe before themselves the alternative t 0 earn their living, to exorei-e their facilities , and to gratify their ambitions is a proressioual career, or to become good wives and mothers ; and if they choose the domestic life they must recognise in so doing that they are called upon to make a sacriiice, and to merge their personal happiness iu the futuro happiness of their children."