The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-14
THE "OTHER SEX"

Woman, If we regard her in chivalric
spirit, is the crowIing beauty Of ourlle. Her
gentle influence, graceful accomplishments,
and singular capability of dlfIusing happiness,
help us amazingly over the rugged road we
are all travelling. So, If we are gentlemen,
we give up our seaEs in the railway car, or
the pew to her, with earnest pleasure. We
knock down her insulter. We puff our
offensive cigar-smoke in contrary direction,
unless she positively asserts that she delights
In the aroma of the solacing weed.
We devote all our muscular energies and
our superior knowledge of men and things to
her delectation, glad enough to receive in
exchange her smile and gratitude. This is as
It should be. No matter how vehemently
certain viragos contend that they are quite
capable of taking care Of themselves, without
any dependence on the male species, they
cannot blusuer all true men out Of the old
faith in woman's weakness. We have an idea
that If FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE should
appear in one of those agitated assemblies of
infamed females who are determined to
believe that they are wolully wronged, the
trowsered and oratorical feminine would be
afraid OF her and shrink from her presence.
If you are a man with "a true heart, you
have often helped to celebrate "Dear
Woman" You have such respect for her that
you wish TO see her SO much better than
your poor self that you can worship her.
You went her TO be good and useful, and
very naturally; for you know that you will
be made better and a worthier man by her
bright example. If a pure and sincere
woman cannot illure man into the right
way, divines and noralizing philosophers
may try in vain. But we are afraid that the
young women of our great cities are not so
loveable as earnest men would wish to see
them.
We win not take that intensely utilitarian
view of the sex which condemns them as ut
terIy worthless, because they cannot bake
blCad or broil steak. This is the over.
bearing insolence of the "lord Of creation
and not the feeling Of the true knight, who Is
always willing TO work hard enough to ex-
emPt his lady from coarse labor. But, then
must not our fair friends themselves admit
that they are hardly fitted for useful lives
Are they not drumming too much on tht
piano, and dancing too many cotillions anC
waltzes, and spending too much time viii
mOdisteS and milliners2
IL there not plausibilityin in the suppositlor
that they read too many laeksdaisical 70
mances. and pay too much attention to thel
compilations. and too little to their intellects
Coquetry is very charming just now, whil
their faces are unfurrowed and their move
ments zephyr-llke. The delicious music dli
coursed nom pianos, or gushing from thei
rosy mouths, win do very well this year, an
next, and next. They may float through tn
waltz this summer and next winter, aud no
tire themselves nor the lookerA-on for seyera
successive seasons.
But what, after awhile, when they begin Z
encounter some OF the roughness OF LIES Jour
ney; when their little figures grow portly an
ahapeless; when their fingers refuse to Gid
over the keys with their old sprighliness, an
dancing becomes laborious and painful
When the brief day OF careless pleasure Ia
Aed, viii they have anything TO fall back uDo
which WIN make LIE not burdenS Do oU