The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-04-30
A WOMAN'S THOUGHTS UPON HEROES
AND HEROINES.
EMPORIA. Apr. 22d, 1869.


concerning the changes, that to me seem
desirable in order that this class of read
ing may be of some value beyond mere
past-time, instead of decidedly hurtfGl,
far over and above the waste of time.
We are becoming tired of the old hero
ines, who like the ladies' fashions allfo
low after the same pattern; and heroes,
too, who are SO different from man as
he as, that if a woman were to wait I'M
til she found a shook model" she would
live in ''single blessedness" forever, or
worse, would marry some scoundrel,
who in the glossy locks, shining eyes,
and magnificent mustache, resembleda
novel hero, yet whose brains were as bar
rem as his hair was luxuriant. The reason
why these books bring on such slliances,
is that young unreasoning girl gener-
ally believes that call is what it seems"
and from reading of these human i'm
possibilities-goodne beauty, wisdom
and riches combined-iearns to think
of such a man as her hero, the one she
Will love and marry. And when her
hand is solicited in marriage by an hon
orable and worthy young man, he Is re-
jected, because, fOrsOooth, he is not like
the one of whom she has read, dreamed
and believed. Yet when another. q
stranger comes, speaking high wrought
sentimental language, talking ofhis pos
sessions as 'fcastles aud Estates" (and
perhaps claiming a title) she straightway
believes, accepts and falls into his arms
according to the most approved style Of
modern romantic ideas, and in many
cases it proves that she has fallen 9 vic
tim to her trusting belief in life as it is
painted, not as it is. Yes! Perhaps the
girls should know better, out you phil
anthropists, who talk of working re-
forms, believe in beginning at the root
of the matter, of taking hold of one evil
where it begins, instead of blaming the
victims. Therefore it would seem more
wise to endeavor to change the charac-
ter of the literature of the present day,
than to blame people for reading it. As
to all the change necessary to work
revolution in this branch, wiser head
than mine is needed to decide. Yet l
would suggest that neither the hero nor
heroine should be possessed of an I'M
told amount of wisdom, goodness or
beauty. Because they are usually youth
full, and it seems incompatible with
youth to to be possessed of great
amount of knowledge of science, liter
allure andart. 1t discourages the young
who read. Again, beauty and good
ness are the two attributes which sell
dom unite in one person. 1t is sad for
young man who has made selection
from the pretty, believing that his wife
will be as good as she is beautifully to
find that he has "piece which fades"
with no other recommendation.
Am not exactly certain, but think
that a book to be at all like real life,
should have an extremely homely hero
and heroine, whose eourtship should be
somewhat uneventful. That the lady
should never be rescued from robbers,
railroad disaster, nor any imminent
danger by her lover. In short, that the
greatest Eindrance to courtship should
be that the actors have too much labor
to perform, to allow them much time
for the business; the old people having
no objection other than the fear that
they may lose some time. There would
be nothing tragic in that kind of a court
ship. Young people would begin to
think themselves rational beings, and
act accordingly. And when they are
finally married 1 believe they should
have any quantity of petty trials, and
not always bear them in a meek spirit.
Dear me, mol 1 do not mean that !
would counsel rebellious spirit, but
am trying to impress upon your mind
the thought that we need something
written in accordance with the real wor-
risome lives of human beings. It is an
injustice to the One Perfect Model to
represent in every. book beings possess
ed of as meek spirits, and living as per-
feet lives as He lived.
Fhen 1 want them to Hive in a real
shabby old house and insist upon it; that
there must be no rich old relative to die
and bestow legacy upon them, but
that they must work along the best way
they can, all through life, and if they be
blest with children that they shall feed
and clothe them in the pIaihest manner,
not attractive! Many girl reading
such book would say t'that seems some
as 10. and have been compelled to do
in our courtship. / never foHnd that
| any other pair had so much disagreeable
work, nor so easy time to gain the
consent of their parents, and thought it
wouldn't be like story If married
him."
"'Some youth to fortune and to fame
unknown" not I'M possession of ''coal
black steed )" not faultless in face, form
or motion; not highly educated in any
of the professions, in fact, not anything
that surpasses all that might be expect
ed in every day life, but plain, honest
boy, who if properly encouraged has
intelligence enough to attain all that his
abilities will allow, might read it and
say: E'The person Of whom have read
is no better than I can become If prop
erIy improve my time, and Twill" A
mother reading it will be encouraged
by thinking that she is not living hard
er life than all the rest Of the world, end
that there is another woman iaboring,
saving, and perchance suffering as she
does, who has been written of, and
thought worthy to be dignified with the
title of Heroine"
Mr.. Editor, have given few OF my
thoughts upon this subject, and shall be
glad when other and ADLER pens take
up the theme and do itjustice.