The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-27
Il QUEER CONCLUSION.
Are Men and Women Fond OF Each
Other?

The Pail Mall Gazette is exercised over the
question whether "men are more Interesting
| to men than women are, and whether women
| find more in women 10 Interest them than
they do In men," The Gazette comes to the
| unwelcome conclusion that the pretended
tondne3s of the two sexes for one another Is
the great fundamental hypocrisy OF the race.
It would be unfair to dwell too much on the
circumstance that they make one another un-
| comfortable 10 way that men never axe
men nor women women, taking that fact by
Itself This might be a mere result Of their
beine different. But review of the whole
case tends TO establish a general incompat!-
b,l,tv between the two. Things will have 10
alter very much II men aud women are to get
along we'll together. The pretence that they
ara diving of sheer liking for one another ls
not only not proved, 1t is dlsproved. Not
merely ia chat kind OF mortality wholly absent
from the returns. but alter all these centuries
the Two sexes greatly keep aloot from one
another.
Whenever you can get q glimpse OF their true
tendencies, 1t comes out clearly enough that
men and women are domestic creatures under
commission. All kinds OF social contrlVances
have been tried, the real purpose OF which,
no matter how 1t may be disguised, Is to sepa
rnle the sexes aud so secure for each The
Measure of being only In its own society.
There is no sacrifice men will not make to gel
lhls luxury, They will support the co5tliesL
clubs, they will smoke, they will pretend any
sort OF recreation from cards down to BILL
llards, sooner than not be apart from women
a portion Of their time. The like thiDg holds
of the ladies' 10 their own way. The inaoility
| of the men to stay at home allows their wives
| to assent ble mutual clubs In their own draw
| ins-rooms, and they do 80. For one clno tne
men have, the women have huhdreds-just as
/ many az there are honses.
| The truth Is, the tastes OF the sexes raol-
caliy differ. At home feminine likings pre-
vail anu there ia no man who s not more or
| less aware that the minor arrangements and
wonderful and 10 him superhnous iligre-llke
ornamentatlon OF his housr, are not lor him
nor for his sex, bnt for the other. Just as
| little can it be doubted that men and women
dress each for lhpir own sex; that 1t ls lhe ad-
mirallon oil their own kind, not OF tile oppo-
| site onr they lay themselves most out l0r.
Men and women are In perpetual condition
| of surprise. and scof at each others lJles,
/ both slways spif-compacent, and altogether
om!ttpg criticism OF their own.
Conversation equally betrays thig natural
opposition. II the sexes had real respect for
one another, would they indulge In those un
beliryable compliments! Neither does 1t to
those of their own kind whom they honestly
like. The artificial sly OF talk which is the
tradI,iopary custom of The sexes Is plainly
| tbut of creatures who do not understand each
other and have mutual suspicious. Being
strange, they betake themselves 10 compll'
ments.
qualification In reference 10 the family re-
/ l>, mnfhPr
is not woman-she is q divinity. The like
partly holds In girl OF her father, and broth.
ers and sisters are not OF any sex. But get
1 outside CT this non.spxual circle, and the an
tlpalhy comes quickly into play Boys nearly
| hale girls. ana the ieeling Is returned. Oo
men care nothing for women ol any aye, ex-
cent as nurses; OLD women creep togrlhrr. IL
is OILY during the central r''rtlon Oh ille Inat
the sexes can be said TO oe civil 10 one an
other. 10 fact. II nature had not forced men
and women to love each other during that por-
| linn willy-nilIy, and given them tnat lncred-
| IDLE aud perprxny brbe OF children, IL is
doubtful whether they would have any mu-
tual liking. Love Ia all that exists between
| them.
1t is astonishing, considering what COM
pletP, Intricate, long association Tue orlhsihS
brcome more really Intimate than they DO
| even In the best cases. Doubt may Well be
felt that there are few husbands and wives
wto. in spite of all the trials they have shared,
have not ut the bottom OF their hearls sense
OF grievance one against the other.
II is all very sad; but lt cannot De nelpeu.
The sexes are partial failure, and somehow
has arisen an enormous exaggeraton OF their
liking for one another. Looked at calmly.
the interest which each has for the other is
woIully lacking In versatility; II Is alike
monotOnous and ema-mere love, IN fact.