Page:Harvard Law Review Volume 8.djvu/66

50 walk in public whenever so disposed, and could even attend the theatres. In our eyes these seem very trivial privileges; but if we call to mind the absurd restrictions placed upon the movements of Greek and other women of antiquity, we must confess that these trifling concessions were a great stride towards that perfect equality of the sexes finally reached in Rome. As Becker truly says: "The Roman housewife always appears as the mistress of the household economy, and guardian of the honor of the house, equally esteemed with the paterfamilias in and out the house." The most important part of the Roman dwelling, the atrium, was given up to the matron. There she managed the household and ruled her female servants; and, in the houses of the upper classes, she performed no menial labor, for which work the wealthier Roman householder always provided slaves. To such a high respect for woman socially, together with the high conception of marriage, shown by the confarreate marriage, is due that continual progress of woman in historical times to a higher legal place, that progress which is the pleasure of every student of Roman law and custom to trace.

John Andrew Couch.