Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-02
ARE MEN AAD WOMEN FOND OF
EACH OTHER?

A French lady Of high literary and social
distinction is credited with the remark that
but one thing reconciled her to being wo-
man, and that was that she would not have
to marry a woman. Unmindful Of this bit
OF experience, the Pail Mall Gazette Lon-
dom has been greatly exercised over the
problem "whether men are more Interest
ing to men than women, and whether Wo-
men find more in women to interest them
than they do in men," The Gazette, after
having thoroughly sifted the matter, comes
to the conclusion that the pretended fond
ness of the two sexes for one another is the
great fundamental hypocrisy Of the race.
The Gazette says: "It would be unfair to
| dwell too much on the circumstance that
| thew can make one another uncomfortable
| in a way that men never make men nor
women women, taking that fact by itself.
This might be q mere result Of their being
different. But review Of the whole case
tends to establish general incompatibility
between the two. Things viii have to al
ter very much if men and women are to
get along well together. The pretence
that they are dying Of sheer liking for one
another is not only not proved, it is dis
proved. Not merely is that kind OF NOR
tally wholly absent from the returns, but
after all these centuries the two sexes
greatly keep sloof from one an
other.n That will strike many q
love-sick swain and maiden as curious
philosophy. Bnt We will let the Gazette
present its theory, and then the reader may
pass upon it as may suit his or her whin.
That paper says: 49,
| aWhenever you can get glimpse of their
true tendencies, it comes out clearly enough
that men and women are domestic crea-
tures under compulsion. All kinds Of
social contriyances have been tried, the
real PURPOSE of which, no matter how it
NAV be disguised, is to separate the sexes,
and to secure for each the pleasure Of be-
ing only in its own society. There is no
sacrifice men will not make to get this
luxury. They will support the costliest
clubs, they will smoke, they will pretend
. any sort of recreation from cards down to
billiards, sooner than not be apart from
women a portion OF their time, The like
thing holds Of the ladies in their own way.
The inability of the plen to stay at home
allows their wives go assemble mutual clubs
in their own drawing-rooms, and they do
so. For one club the men have, the wo-
men have hundreds-just as many as there
are houses. Fers
fFFbe truth is, the tastes of the sexes
radically differ. At home feminine likings
nrevsil. and there is no man who is not
moro or less aware that the minor arrange
| ments and wonderful and to him superflu-
ous figree-like ornamt n at on Of his house,
are not for him nor for his sex, but for the
other. Just as little can it be doubted that
men and women dress each for their own
sex: thatit is the admiration of their own
hind. not of the opposite one, they lay
themselves most out for. Men and women
3 are in a perpetual condition OF surprise,
and sc Fl ct each others styles, both alway
| selfcornplacent, and altogether emitting
| criticism OF their own.
, conversation equally betrays this natu-
= ral opposition. If the sexes had real re-
spect for one another, would they indulge
+ in these unbelievable compliments? Meth
q er does il to those of their own kindjwhon
!, they honestly like. The artificial style o
s talk which is the Evolutionary custom oftht
d ssxes is plainly that of creatures who dt
not understand each other and have mutua
10 suspicious. Being strange, they betak'
- themselves 10 compliments. '.
Is ga qualification in reference to the famil.
a relation has to be made. To a man, hi
D. mother lie not q wOman-she is divinity
70 The like partly holds in a girl to her father
and brothers and sisters are not of any sex
y But get outside of this Don-sexual circle
IN and the antipathy comes quickly into play
o Boys nearly hate girls, and the feeling
=, returned. Old men care nothing for wonne
u of any age, except as nurses; old womel
D. creep together. 1t is only during the cen
Id trail portion of life that the sexes can be sal
), to be civil TO one another. In fact, If natur
had not forced men and women to love eac
% other during that portion willy-nilly, az
es given them that incredible and perplexiD
- bribe of children, it is doubtful whether the
:. would have any mutual liking. Love is
AZ that exists between them.
P. alt is astonishing, considering what
complete, intricate, long association Il