Cylchgronau Cymru

. * . - PROGRESS OF WOMEN TN WALES. Edited by Mrs. WYNFORD PHILTPPS and Miss ELSBETH PHILIPPS. ÍHE work of women in Wales has re- ceived a fresh impetus since the Press has opened its columns to the questions that especially affeet thém, and has chronicled their doings in the many spheres of political and social work in which they have been in- creasingly. active. Some newspapers have always heen ready té champion the woman's cause, even when to do so meant to stand alone and brave ridiculé if not contempt, and it has been well for womanhood that the pen indeed is "migtitier than the sword," and that, in their.aîduous crusadè that keen but bloodless weapon has. been so often and so ably wielded on their behalf. Like a winged arrow, the pen, —the "plume" of feathery origin,—has given power to every thinker to send a quiverful of his best thoughts.to_hiteven.the most distant mark. ;.* Youx# Wales has recognísed from the íirst that the welfare. of ;a rising nation depends upön ttie.cómbined efforts of men and women, and when the Editor proposed to devote some portion of his magaziner every other month, to the opiniohs, ẃork ànd history of Wolsh women-workers, . those who were invited to take part felt that they must not forego an opportunity thatt offered such scope for useful service. V , •; ■..,. .; .;It iŵ ýery jmportant that the world should know what, women have done: in the past, for wpmen's.-rights; are constantly refüsed them on the ground that they have not hitherto accom- pliöhed; great things,, and are therefore not likely to dó so in the future. Not only is it an unwarrantáble assumptión tliat what human beings have not dohe Under bad conditions they could not do under better, but, as a matter of facti considering the disabilities and dis- advantages that bave hampered and restricted all feminine efforts for many centuries, it is remarkable what abilities have nevertheless been shown. We cannot wonder at the general ignorance concerning the wonderful aehievements of women, for a great many classic histories have been written, which, except for the fact that princesses and pedigrees are occasionally men- tioned, and thus the existence of a few females is indicated, would lead one to suppose that the world had been peopled by men only. The result of this has been, that one of the most inspiring sources of human energy, that of example, has been lacking to women. But the historian of the future will find, when she makes caref ul investigation of old records with a view of ascertaining the part that woman has played in the world's history, that there are numerous proofs of her physical, mental and political endowments, which will justify the highest ideals of the most liberal-minded advocates of her freedom. History has proved to us that man achieved great heights in art, literature and politics, and that then dark ages followed when much he. had accomplished was apparentty swept away; yet every succeeding age reaches a higher step, and the intervening periods of so-called retro- gression are but the shadows on a continuous advance. Women in the past have been permitted to take part in the government of the country, and though for some centuries that right has been almost entirely lost, there is no doubt that when regained it will be more widespread, more effective, and more enduring than before. Their physique at the beginning of this century compared unfavourably with that in preced- ing ages. An excessive admiration for the graces of woman, her gentleness and softness led to ttie emphasizing of these qualities, till gentleness became weakness, and softness degenerated into flabbiness; yet the new move- ment for the development of the mental, moral and physical fibres of women, is producing, and will continue to produce, a magnificent type of womanhood, worthy descendants of their most heroic ancestresses. It is interesting to note thát the Celtic and kindred British race were remarkable for the energy and courage of their women, who showed, not only vigour in war, but what at all times is really a greater strength, an aptitude for promoting peacc.