San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 64, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 5, 1911 Page: 34 of 76
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SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS: SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 5, 1911.
r
NEGRI SEMBILAN IS GOVERNED
ALTOGETHER BY THE FEMI-
NINE ELEMENT.
A year ago my husband ond I were
skirting the coast of the Malay states in
the latter half of a run of five days from
Rangoon, Burma, to Singapore, says Mrs.
W. W. Boyd In the Globe-Democrat, and
as we were dlscusstaig the recent federa-
tion of these States and their new rela-
tions to Great Britain, one of the passen-
gers, an Australian engineer, who had been
doing professional work in the States, be-
gan telling us about one of them, Negri
Sembilan, where a peculiar form of gov-
ernment survives after 200 years' exist-
ence; a matriarchal government, in which
descent goc« not through men. but through
women. We were so interested in what
he said that he finally brought out u
printed report of one of the British offi-
cials. prepared for the information of the
British public, giving many of the funda-
mental laws of the community as they
stand upon its statute books, ami from
these my husband mad© the following
summary:
In Negri Sembilan a man is a member
of his another's tribe until he marries, lie
is prohibited from marrying a woman of
his o*wu tribe. So when he marries it
must be in another, and he Is then taken
Into bis wife's tribe. Women cannot travel.
They have no need for it, for they do not
seek trie men; the man comes from outside
to seek them. And so the husband settles
In his vlfe's village, not the wife in the
husband's. This system of exogamy Is
structly insisted upon, and makes the con-
stitution of I ho family very peculiar. Wom-
an, not man, is the bead of the house. Add-
ed to all this is still one other important
prohibition: AfJ land is owned by women
only; a man ca.nnot own a square foot of
the*soil or any Improvement thereupon.
These curious laws are the exact oppo-
site of what wo are accustomed to, and
the results that flow from them are pe-
culiar. llere, for example, is a small
company of men and women belonging
to the "one tribe that settles in a certain
village, to form a new community. Now,
the daughters of these original settlers
will belong to the same tribe, will own
all the land, an<l will continue to reside in
the same locality. But the sons of the
original settlers, by the law of exogamy
on which the settlement is founded, will
be compelled to leave their birthplace,
marry into other communities and dwell
in the houses of their wives. And this
process goes on from generation to gen-
eration.
WOMAN IS TI1B TOWER.
The result is obvious. The women of
the family group, in time, constitute a
rich, powerful and', united body, because
they are held together by a common de-
scent, share a common tradition, remain
In the same locality and own all the land.
Their husbands, on the other hand, the
men of the community, are a motley lot,
because they come from different outside
tribes and villages, are not united by ties
of blood and do not o>yn a single foot of
land or the house that shelters them.
The position of woman in such a settle-
ment is plainly an immensely strong one.
Is the husband idle or criminal? Tie at
once incurs the enmity of all "his wife's
reintions"—that Is, the whole clan—and is
practically forced to mend his ways. Is
ne an irreconcilable reprobate? He is
promptly divorced and expelled from the
community; in fact, he loses his liveli-
hood, for no other similar community will
receive him, no other woman marry or
support a man so faithless in his marital
duties. He becomes an outcast, branded
with a stigma worse than the mark of
Cain.
It is because of the powerful hold that
siiMi a community lias over its members
that the law makes the "family" respon-
sible for the deeds of those who belong to
It. Here is a literal translation;
"To settle disputes.
"To pay debts.
"To receive dues.
"These things are the business of the
wife's relations."
Thus runs'the law. And the code of
Negri Sembilan further reads:
"The married man shall be subservient
to his mother-in-law.
"If be is clever, she will try and cajole
him.
"If he is stupid, she will see that he
works.
"Like the buttresses of a big tree shall
he shelter her. Like the thick foliage he
shall shade her."
MOTH Kit-IN LAW IS SOVEREIGN.
The much-despised "mother-in-law, sub-
ject to quips and cranks and wanton
wiles" under Western civilization, Is a
queen in this Malay state. And one can
Imagine her satisfaction, when shout to
receive n son-in-law into the family, in
repeating the laws to her daughter and
saying: "Whether he is sharp or slow,
clever or stupid, either wny we are no
losers. Your house shall be built behind
mine. If your husband 1b clever, he will
earn enough money by easy menus to pay
for it. and you will own it; if he is stu-
pid we will so worry him that lie will be
glad to work as I direct. At any rate, we
cannot but be gainers by the contract."
How does this government by woman
work in practice? Well—exceedingly well.
The male Malays generally are a notori-
ously lazy lot. In other provinces they
will hard.v live on the land nt all, They
dislike farming, do as little of It as pos-
sible; like fishing artd gathering of coral
and sponges, which they sell nt the ports.
t]le natives of India and the coolies of
China have come in great numbers to do
tne larm work. But. strange to say. in
Negri Sembilan, under women's rule, the
people nre most industrious, Intelligent,
end even artistic. They owe these quali-
ties largely to the pressure put on them
for more than 200 years by "the wife's re-
lations " The women of a given coram-
nlty form a bond of relationship between
one man and another and give to the local
settlement something of the unity of a
family with the "mothers-in-law* at Its
head.
This condition of living aroused my com-
passion. Here are these poor men. de-
prived of their rights as citizens They
cannot Hve in the village of their boy-
hood. Thev cannot own land or wealth.
Thev nre tried by a prejudiced tribunal—
the "wife's relations." My sense of justice
was outraged. Of course. I realized thnt
the women had a plausible case against
the men; these men were not freeholders,
didn't pay taxes, were almost aliens, cer-
tainly so to the village Into which they
Biarried.
Thev couldn't, on account of their mas-
culine* limitations, give the costly service
to the stnte. involving hardship and an-
guish. which the women gave in bearing
children to replenish the population. Thev
probably didn't know the needs of the
children ss well as the mothers did and
thev. perhaps, lacked Judgment in finan-
cial affairs, as thev bad no ownership In
the community's wealth; but. after all.
thev did their share in producing wealth
bv their labors In the fields and when
outside tribes molested them they defend-
ed their country by hearing arms; and if
this occasional military service was not
commensnrate wlt»v the continuous service
of the women ^wurlng armies, still, to
my mind, it »^^ad l»e counted to their
CW<,,t MAN IN RBRVITt'DE.
Of mnm tlio expediency of rhancrln?
conditions. wblrh seem to l.e nlniont tli»
1de»] ones of modern clvlllrntlnn. wn« to
be welRhfM. In Negri Semhllnn the wom-
en nre all nested In the Tiomes with their
children and the men do tlie rough work
on the outside, bnt t felt thnt expediency
„nght not to (roven here at the e\t.eme
of the »elf-re*peet nnd full development of
these men themselves Justlie would elve
them larger powers and widen "their
npbere" nnd expediency ought not to
dtand in the way. Who eonlrt teH hut
that with power and responsibility shared
with the women tber might not develop
qualities whlrh in the end wonld work
toward raising the standards of the en-
tire community?
I b»gnn to ffcel the spirit of a ml««lonnry
within me These men should be aroused
to the fact tlist tbey are living In the
Twentieth Century nnf ought to keep
■tep VIth the march of progress. I blush
to state that what deterred me from atop-
v,L
a '../; x v ■; v ArV»
r v .NsSMBRl,.
•••
SSi
WOMEN'S
READY- TO - WEAR
DEPARTMENT
SECOND FLOOR
Direct Spccial Attention to Their Spring Showing of
TAILOR-MADE SUITS
In White Serges, Mannish Mixtures, New Fabrics in Silks and Satins
Rich Gowns and Dresses adapted to all occasions. Misses' and Children's Dresses and Frocks
in silk, linen and all the new cotton fabrics. Linen Tailor-made Suits and Dresses.
New Coats for Motoring and Street Wear in Pongee, Silk and Linen
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DRESS SPECIALS—MONDAY
$18.75 Foulard Dresses at $11.75
Important purchase of Women's and Misses' Dresses in figured and
striped foulards, in black and white, blue and white and light colors.
Several entirely new models never shown before. Regular $18.75
values Monday $11.75
$10.00 All-over Embroidery Dresses $5.95
Women's and Misses' all-over eyelet embroidery dresses, high and
Dutch neck—four new models—one of the prettiest lingerie dresses
of the season. $10.00 values are now $5.95
100 Gingham and Chambray
Dresses at $4.95
Morning Dresses—five new fetching styles in checked and striped
gingham and chambrays in light and dark effects—perfect fitting.
$8.00 values go at $4.95
None Sent C. O. D. on Approval or Reserved.
^New Waist Specials
FOR MONDAY
In silk, natural Shantung, cotton
voiles, marquisette, linen tailor-made
and
LINGERIE MODELS
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Women's Separate Skirts
Underpriced for This Sale
$10.75 White Serge Skirts $6.75
Ladies' white cheviot serge, separate Skirts, new spring
models; regularly sold for $10.75. Special, $6.75.
V.
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$3.50 Wash Skirts at $2.00
Several new models in rep. linen, in white and natural.
Latest and most approved models. Regular $3.50 value.
Sale price, $2.
$8.50 Linen Skirts at $4.95
Made of best quality Irish linen, in natural and white;
also imported English rep., made by men tailors; superior
finish. Regular $8.50 values, $4.95.
V.
$25.00 and $27.00 Tailor-made
Suits at $19.75
Women's tailor-made white serge and light gray English mixtures,
tailor-made coat suits, white serge dresses with silk combination
bodice and trimming—$19.75—reduced from $25 and $27.
$10.00 Tailor-made Linen Suits at $7.50
Women's natural color linen tailor-made coat suits, latest models.
Regular $10.00 values for $7.50
$1.50 Lingerie Waists at $1.00
Ladies' high and low-neck lingerie
Waists, elaborately trimmed with lace
and insertion—some with medallions.
Regular $1.50 values, at sale price of $1.
$4.50 Lingerie Waists at $3.00
Ten smart styles of ladies' lingerie
Waists in all the new cotton materials,
including voiles and marquisettes; low
and high neck, button down front and
back, tailor made.
Fine Needlework Effect
Regular $4.50 quality, on sale at $3.
Novelties in the New Bulgaria Embroideries
Models Arriving Daily
Women's & Misses' Middy Blouses
In sizes from 10 to 20 years.
95c. $1.45. $1.95.
EXCEPTIONAL VALVES
Princess Slips
With pure silk jersey top, satin
flounce; something entirely new.
Light, perfect fitting. Comes in
colors of pink, light blue and
white. $7.75.
Full assortment of silk and cot-
ton Princess Slips always in stock,
and at prices much lower than
asked for same quality of goods
elsewhere.
J
$11.75 Linen Motoring or Dust Coats at $8.50
Made of best quality natural color, steam shrunk linen, There are three new models. Reg-
ular $11.75 values at $8.50
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Do Av>f Fail u visit Our New Corset Department
Expert Corsetiere—Satisfaction Guaranteed
The Famous
Nemo Self-reducing Corsets
Health, Comfort and Style for Women
Millions of women, all over the world, have learned by experience that the Nemo
"Self-Reducing" Corset is the only corset that actually enables a stout woman to reduce
her figure with INCREASED COMFORT and absolute HYGIENIC SAFETY. There is
a model for every figure, including these very popular styles:
Nemo Self-Reducing Corset,
«PT'»""\vith the new Nemo Relief
Bands, which support the abdomen from
underneath; long skirt effect; No. 405,
for tall stout figures; sizes 20 to 36. No.
403, a model similar to No. 405, but for
short stout figures; sizes 20 to 36.
<J»0 AA Nemo Self-Reducing Corset
No. 320, for medium and tall
stout figures; has Nemo "Flatning-Back,"
long skirt effect; sizes 19 to 36. No. 318,
a model similar to No. 320, but with
lower bust and under arm, for short-
waisted stout figures; sizes 19 to 36.
jXjbM-R,} ^yO*R£ET§
^ "THE MOULQ QF fASH/ON*
The Improved Front Laced Corset
This Corset will do more to correct the physical defects of the figure—at the
same time insure comfort and produce a stylish, attractive figure. We carry this
in several models.
A142—12-clasp superior quality white batiste at $5.00
A443—13-clasp superior quality white batiste at $5.00
One of our newest and best models in Modart Corsets is style A443 In superior
quality white batiste—highest quality trimming—superior tailored—finest boned with
Modart, wonderful guaranteed boning. 12 and 13-clasp, $5.00.
Other models $6.00 and $8.00.
\
Off nnd giving them my "views" nnd
e W >uragement to action was my "better
linif'R" sentimental longlnir to pet bnck to
In,me nnil children, t" "Id St. I.oill* nnd
her nrnMems and perplexltlea. And so the
Negri Sembilan man is still In •errltmle,
probably unconscious of hl§ need. ami
saying.' "I prefer my privileges to my
rt&hts."
SECRETS THAT WRECK MARRIAGE
Wives Kept in Ignorance About In-
comes of Their Husbands.
How far nr« liusbands nnd wires Justi-
fied In keeping secrets from each other?
The question is a difficult one, and It Is,
of course. Impossible to lay down any
hard and fast rule. Rut. speaking gen-
erally. It is rarely, if ever, advisable for
married people to conceal mattem whlcfc
are in any way likely to affect their lives
together
Of course, there are exceptions Condi-
tions nnd temperament must ever l>e the
guide, but the fact remains that to have
a secret from your life partner Is a dan-
gerous expedient. There Is no doubt that
an enormous number of marriages which
end unhappily do so owing to such a
reason.
THE COMMONEST OF SECRETS.
Probably the commonest of these secrets
In marriage is the one indulged In by
the husband In regard to his financial
state. How many wives, as \ matter of
fact, truly know the condition of their
husband's purse? What a host of homes
might have been saved from wreckage if
they had.
Usually the Impulses wliich lend a man
to hide from his wife the details of his
Income are wholly generous ones. Ills
sole object in doing ao is to save her
worry. Even In this day of the blue-
storking and the unwomanly woman, the
averag© man retains that feeing of being
the protective partner, nnd the majority
of women demand such an attitude. He
feels thnt it is for him to straighten out
any difficulties into which they may get.
and it is such false heroics which so often
drive the domestic ship on to the rocks.
On the other hand. It rosy be his own ei-
travaganca, or a foolish pride, which
makes him refrain from telling her their
true position.
A young girl leaving a home of plenty
to become a wife, finds that her husband
Is able and willing to supply her with nil
the money she requires, even for luxuries.
Rut she at the same tluie realizes the dif-
ference between her father, who has made
his way in the world, and her husband,
who has his to make. For awhile she
worries her head about the amount she
Is spending each week. Her husband
never complains, however, or shows the
least surprise, and la consequence she
gradually arrives at the conclusion that
his incopie Is large enough to warrant
her expenditure, and she teases to either
worry or wonder.
Then, without the least warning for her,
the bolt drops from the blue. The crash
Is sudden and awful. Her husband tells
her for the first time that his money af-
fairs are in s bad way. and that they
have been "living up to the hilt."
In nefc a rise it Is a little difficult
perhaps to decide who is most to blame.
Roth have acted foolishly. Some mutual
understanding should have been insisted
upon.
Is ths majority of Instances It has
proved that It Is. to say the least, unwise
for a husband to have secrets from his
wife with regard to money matters. There
are. of course, exception* The wildly ex-
travagant wife, for instance, who would
fritter away an income however large, and,
with such nn incubus, secrecy on the part
of the husband is essential.
How often it is the case, however, that
such Information is withheld solely for
the purpose of hiding the husband's ex-
ti avagances. Every penny the woman
spends can be. and Is. accounted for. Most
husbands take care thnt such a state of
affairs does not exist on their side.—
Modern Society.
Dr. Rose T. Stern, Osteopath.
802 Gibbs Building. Old phone
Makes Gift to Hospital.
BAN MATEO. Cal.. March 4.—Mr*.
Whltelaw Held, wife of the American am-
bassador to Great Britain, yesterday made
an additional gift of $<>0,000 to the Red
Cross Guild Hospital, which shs established
here as a memorial to her parents, Mr.
•nd Mrs. D. O. Mills.
Home for British Women.
There is to be a home for aged British
women In the United States and it is ex-
pected that half a million dollars will be
subscribed for it by leading women of
this country. Mrs. Jamea Bryce, wife of
the British ambassador, is the honorary
vice president of the erganlxatlon that 19
planning the home, the Imperial Order,
Daughters of the Empire, for which in-
corporation papers were taken out in
New York last week.
Dr. F. A. Piper, Osteopath,
201-2 Gibbs Rulldlng. Old phone IMS-
Forty Years a Teacher.
Mrs. Ellen Richards, who was In 8t.
Louis recently as president of the Na-
tional Home Economics Association, has
just completed her fortieth year as a
teacher in the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. The women students gava
a luncheon to commemorate the event
and there were eulogies by the profes-
sors upon her work us a chemist, "as a
social seer and as an evangelist." Ovar
$1000 has been raised to be called tha
Kllen Hichards fund, and to used
as she desires. She was lately given tha
Ph. D. degree by Smith College.
* 7 /> f J Bad enough, to be sure. But
1\Bli) l^OlaS colds are worse. Better
stop your fresh cold at once.
Never hesitate to ask your doctor about Ayer*s Cherry
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San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 64, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 5, 1911, newspaper, March 5, 1911; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth431499/m1/34/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.