Smyrna times., 1873-03-05
Are Men and Women Fond Of Each
0ther2

The Pail Mall Gdzette is exercised over the
question whether "men are more interesting to I
men than women are, and whether women Ind
more in women to interest them than they do a
in men," The Gazette comes to the unwelcome
conclusion that the pretended tondness OF the
two sexes for one another is the great tunda- I
mental hypocrisy of the race. ltwOUld be Unfair
to dwell too much on the circumstance that they S
make one another uncomfortable IN way that
men never make men nor women women,
taking that fact by ITSELF This might be a
mere result of their being different. But re-
view of the whole case tends to establish gen.
eral incOmpatabiity between the two. Things
will have to alter very much if men and women
are ever to get along well together. The pre-.
tence 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 mortality
wholly absent from the returns, but after all
these centuries the two sexes greatly keep aloof
from one another.
Whenever you can get a glimpse of their |
true tendencies, it comes out clearly enough |
that men and women are domestic creatures
under cOmpulsOn. All kinds of social contliv
ances have been tried, the real purpose of
which, no matter how it may be disguised, is
to separate the sexes, and SO secure for each
the pleasure of being 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,
J sooner than not be apart from women for
: portion OF their time The like thing holds of
!! the ladies in their own way. The inability OF
y y the men to stay at home allows their wives to
Z assemble mutual clubs in their own drawing
rooms and they do so. For one club the men
;, have, women have hundreds-just as many as
u there are houses.
II The truth is, the tastes of the sexes radically
c differ. At home feminine likings prevail, and
: there is no man who is not more or less aware
~ ~ that the minor arrangements and the wonderful
y and to him supcrhuous filigre like ornamental
. ton of his house, are not for him nor for his
. sex, but for the other. just as little 1t be
l0 doubted that men and women dress each fol
their own sex; that it is the admiration o.
M 'i0 their own kind, not of the opposite one, they
10 lay themselves most out for. Men and womel
are in a perpetual condition of surprise, ant
~ scoff at each others styles, both always self
~ cOmplacent, and altogether emitting criticisr
w ~ of their own.
nc nc Conversation equally betrays this natural oY
i5 position. If the sexes had real respect for on
uy another, would they indulge in those unbt
nu hevable compliments? Neither does it to the
m ane own kind whom they honestly like The art
"n 1 fetal style of talk which is the traditional
cCs custom of the sexes is plainly that of creatur
ule u! who do not understand each other and ha1
-. mutual suspicious Being strange, they betal
ltS' themselves to compliments.
ing Iot;on has ~ ho made To man his moth
u is not woman-she is divinity. The Ii
'eI1' partly holds in girl of her father, and brot
'au' ers and sisters are not of any sex. But G
pon outside of this non sexual circle, and the a
'hat tipathy comes quickly into play. Boys neal
ol hate girls and the feeling is returned.
oW" 1 men care nothing for women of any age, {
oau' cept as nurses; old women creep together.
at is - oa oSoj - ho o;,y;I 70 ono anoth
anu W In fact, if nature had not forced men a
mN inc women to leave each other during that port
el's' willy -nilly and given them that incredible a
"ays perplexing bribe of children, it is doubt
Oou' whether they would have any mutual liki
= Love is all that exists between them
i !, an 1t is astonishing, considering what &C
L orK pete intricate, long association the bringing
nOng a family ties a connie To- that they really
neon not become more really intimate than they
was even in the best cases. Doubt may well
mIty felt that there are few husbands and wives W
men in spite of all the trials they have shared
more not at the bottom of their hearts a sens
an 10 grievance one against the other.
from 1t is all very sad but it cannot be helI
as The sexes are partial failure and sOme
e. OF has arisen an enormous exagEeration OF {
sight Ttine for one another. Looked at calmly.
glng interest which each has for the other is wOf
agln- lacking in versatility it is alike munOtoI
uown and small-mere love, in fact.-I'htta. N
Z uo american.