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Title: A Short History of Women's Rights
From the Days of Augustus to the Present Time. With Special Reference
to England and the United States. Second Edition Revised, With
Additions.

Author: Eugene A. Hecker

Release Date: March 22, 2004 [EBook #11672]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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A Short History of Women's Rights

From the Days of Augustus to the Present Time. With Special Reference to
England and the United States

By Eugene A. Hecker

_SECOND EDITION REVISED, WITH ADDITIONS_

To

MY MOTHER

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

In this edition a chapter has been added, bringing down to date the
record of the contest for equal suffrage. The summary on pages 175-235
is now largely obsolete; but it has been retained as instructive
evidence of the rapid progress made during the last four years.

E.A.H.

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. _August, 1914_.

PREFACE

While making some researches in the evolution of women's rights, I was
impressed by the fact that no one had ever, as far as I could discover,
attempted to give a succinct account of the matter for English-speaking
nations. Indeed, I do not believe that any writer in any country has
essayed such a task except Laboulaye; and his _Recherches sur la
Condition Civile et Politique des Femmes_, published in 1843, leaves
much to be desired to one who is interested in the subject to-day.

I have, therefore, made an effort to fill a lack. This purpose has been
strengthened as I have reflected on the great amount of confused
information which is absorbed by those who have no time to make
investigations for themselves. Accordingly, in order to present an
accurate historical review, I have cited my authorities for all
statements regarding which any question could be raised. This is
particularly so in the chapters which deal with the condition of women
under Roman Law, under the early Christian Church,