Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 265, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 November 1910 — Woman the First Slave. [ARTICLE]

Woman the First Slave.

A special piquancy is lent to the spectacle of the lady as mistress oi slaves by a knowledge of her history, S' review of which might be fitly entitled “Up from Slavery.” Herr Bebel, in his striking way, declares that woman was the first slave, “she was a slave before slaye existed.” The gradual idleness began to make a lady oi her. When she was given control over other slaves, and when she was considered her master’s wife in some special sense which differentiated her from the other women who bore him children, the process was complete. Her idleness consisted in release from useful manual labor, and was an evidence of her husband’s wealth. As such it was valuable to him, and she preserved at his command. Not only was she excused from labor—she was forbidden it. The Chinese, a logical and direct people, cripple the little girls of the gentle class so that they may bear the outward visible sign oi incapacity to labor. The hampering dress of the European lady has the same purpose.—Emily James Putnam, in Atlantic.