Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-07
The IsnpOIiteness OF Women.

1NMDOt1t0MGSS
From the Denver Tribune
If there is anything characteristic of Ameri.
cans of which they are more proud than any
other, it is the courtesy which the men who
are natives of this country exhibit towards
women, and the respect which the gentler sex
receives in public. This is a trait of the Ameri-
can character of which Americans are justly
people of any other country. But while this Is
true OF the men, 1t Is a matter to be deeply re-
gretted that as much cannot be said Of the
women OF this country.
American women are justly renowned for
their beauty, their vivacity and the many
charms of manner and conversation which
make them attractive to men Of all nations.
Too much cannot be said for their high moral
character, for 1t can be more truly said of the
women OF America than of those of any other
nation that the "hearts of their husbands do
safely trust in them" 1t is true also that in
their department to men OF their acquaintance
American women are, as a rule, most courteous
and polite. But after all this is said in their
favor an observing person cannot fail to admit
that it is true that American women seem
very generally to be prompted in their conduct
in public by spirit of selfishness which very
often finds expression in acts OF positive rude
ness.
This deplorable defect may not be more pro-
nounced in American women than 1t is in
women of other nationalities, but we believe it
is. We believe also that it is very largely due
to the fact that in this country women are SO
generally treated with marked courtesy by
men. American women have learned to look
upon this courteous treatment as a matter of
course. They look for it as a thing which is
their due, and have thus lost sight Of their re-
ciprOcal obligations with reference to it. If
any man fails to show them this respect, which
all American gentlemen freely admit Is their
due, they resent it as wrong. 1t is a compli-
ment to the men of America that the women
OF this country do consider that they
wronged when there is any neglect to show
them courtesy, but it is disgrace to American
women that tor this courtesy there is SO fire.
Quently nothing given in return.
The truth of this is seen every day upon the
streets of Denver, as we'll as of other American
cities. 1t is seen in street cars, upon railway
trains and in places of public resort. In ugly
weather, when the streets are muddy, it is no
uncommon thing to see two women, walking
whom they meet to make way for them by
stepping out into the mud. Neither of the
under any obligation whatever to step behind
her Ompanion SO as to let the man have one Of
the. walks. Possibly the women have not seen
that the man has stepped off of the crossing
into the mud, or if they have they do not care
They think that it was nothing more than he
al SO Pass on ID
less of the fact that they have been very rude.
This is but an illustration of the truth in
lean women. 1t is also frequently illustrated
in such place as the post Office. Men often
stand patiently at the letter or stamp window,
waiting until women are served who have
come into the office long after them. It is ex-
ceedingly rare that women ever think of wait
strangers to them. The impoliteness shown by
women to men in street cars is almost proven.
bal. This is a great discredit to our American
women, and their rudeuess to strangers of their
own sex is probably more marked than
their lack of politeness to men. Better that it
should be so than that there should ever de-
velop in American men failure to show the
utmost respect to women. Any American gem
tieman would unite with us in saying that the
utmost courtesy should be shown to women on
all occasions, whether they show q proper ap-
probation of it or not. But, nevertheless
American women have in this matter q lesson
to learn.