Women’s Rights in the New Library
image 1
image 2
image 3
image 4
cropped image 1
WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN THE LIBRARY.
The speakers at the Atheneum meeting on Thursday night put in pretty strong for the equal rights of women (working-women, we suppose of course, side by side with the rest), in the new Mercantile Library. The sentiment was received with great applause.
Yes, women too must have a chance at study, mental improvement—not forgetting physical development. In the first points, either a large room should be appropriated to them—or, what would be better yet, they should come and go, in the general room, reading, writing, taking out books, indiscriminately with the men. At first it might look strange, but it would soon settle down to feel all right; and would probably have a salutary effect all round.
Is this one of the indications that the “woman’s rights” feeling is spreading and becoming popular through the community—even in those quarters where the term has had no small odium attached to it? For it is certain that in society, in law, in literature, you may now meet with a sufficient number of men who advocate the “rights” aforesaid, to such an extent that it is no longer the uncommon and ridiculous position it formerly was.
A whole course of lectures has been delivered, the current spring, in New York city, boldly advocating the most novel innovations in government and social customs, with reference to women, and their position; and these theories have been allowed to pass without the usual sarcastic comments of the press.
If our own opinion be wanted about such things, we have to say that, as for us, as to denying a woman her “rights,” or indeed anything she might silently or actively show any anxiety for, we own up not to have it in our nature to deny. No, no; we hope we are more of a man.