The morning call., 1890-12-19
THE WOMAN'S COLUMN
Oscar Fay Adams Opinion About
Woman Criticized.
American Girls Described by an American
Parents Concern of Their Daughters-EI-
planning Reasons for Acts.
"THE MANNERLEss SEX"

THE MANNERLES6 SEX"
&. 8. Criticizes the Opinions of Oscar
Fay Adams About Women.
Editor WOman's Column, Morning Call:
Oscar Fay Adams in the North American
Review thus disrourses upon the " manner
less sex" which, by the way. is the angelic
sex. those creatures SO fair. SO fragile, so
heavenly minded that in tile opinion Of
many they should be set UP in a sacred
niche near the hearthstone, and worshiped
as was the lass of the Romans. Those Sc
raphic creatures. too good for common uses,
too fine to mingle in business or politics, too
other-worldish to protect themselves in the
dirty environment called public life, are
actually called manEerless" by Mr.. Oscar
Fay Adams, and being Of the reasonably
mannerly" sex he gives his reasons:
First proof-"The Indifference with which
woman contemplates the fact that the in
convenience of others has been sacrificed to
her comfort"
Second-"The needless delay which
woman often causes IN making her appear
ance when visitors call. More common to
women, not girls"
wait for another to finish speaking before
beginning to speak herself"
ALL WOMEN.
Four,h-'Women's failure to recognize the
importance OF an engagement. Noticeable
among women who have the fewest social
duties"
There is deal of truth in the Indictment.
but we think that the impartial investigator
might md that the SONS Of women are not
exempt from the same vices, and that had
MIR. Adams labeled his article properly ne
would have written the "Mannerless Sexes"
Woman is often thoughtless and selfish. and
many times 1t is from ignorance. not realiz-
ing that the favors asked NAY be irksome.
If she is protected size receives services
without realizing their cost; if, as is oftener
the case, she is q drudge, she gives far more
than she receives, and is conscious of it.
In public matters gentlemen often sacrifice
their comfort for women, and often bolt out
without giving the receiver q chance to eX-
press thanks. As long, however. as men
arrange all public matters it is just that
they should stand in the oyercrowded car;
should battle danger in the crowded high
way, for most Of our public dangers and
discomforts need not be. Men allow them
and should take the consequences, though
that is no reason why woman should not be
grateful to her individual benefactor. A
strong woman ssi.z.
SHOULD GIVE HER PLACE
To weak man, but the weak or tired man
often viii not permit it, aud quiet accept
ance Is better than public scene, which the
man himself would probably not under
stand. ! would like TO have Mr.. Adams
tell which sex drives so carelesSly that pc.
licemen must guard our streets? Which sex
fills the air with tobacco so that pure breath
ing material is not obtainable in large
places; which sex defiles streets cars, all
public places and many homes with liquid
nastineSs, enough to upset the noses ard
pain the eyes Of all right-ninded people;
which sex ScatterS his belongings regardless
of the comfort Of others, SO indifferent usu-
ally, that he does not know what lie has
done. Fer every accusation of selishness
woman can bring coGnter-charge.
l. As to the second charge, there are women
and women. Some will appear at once, no
matter at hatinconvenience; but woman's
work is multifefous. The bell rings; Johuny
is IN the yard, and baby is loose in the
kitchen; cake in the oven is in n critical
stage, and the vegetable man is just OPEN
ing the back gate. No wonder that the
woman is Little behind time, and that the
girl, with few responsibilities. Is prompt.
More0 yer, the Hurried housekeeper often
finds that her caller is woman
BOUND TO SELL
Her Excerpts From the Poets" or a man
with new-fansled furniture polish, who
ner will be delayed. If the woman is rich,
she has business cares, social duties, and
often is compelled to delay Women are
constantly interrupted by what men would
not tolerate moment. The time Of busy
man is respected-not that of busy woman
How many husbands AID sons delay every
meal by tai diness, forget TO send the needed
provisions, and constantly add, by sheer in
difference to time. to the labor and annoy
ance of the housewife?
Third" Tie UnwllingneSs of woman
to let another finish Speaking" Interruption
OF others is too common, but often the others
would run on, forever on" like the brook,
where there is no interruption. There is a
class OF takers who lay down the law, ex-
calhedra, fashion false premises, and when
rpmonStratRs oil lat
plain They talk ard talk; give no chance
for reply. then declare that time is up-no
more can be sald-and go away to tell how
they out-aJgued little Mrs. a. We have
known men, as well as women, endowed
with the gift of gab," and fond of their
own voice and of laughing at their own
jokes. SO long as men insist on doing about
all the
PUBLIC TALKING,
Padlocking women i'll PULPIT and forum,
they. cannot decently say much about wo-
mans monopoly of I, ngue or her disposition
TO use it.
The last charge is won.an's failure to
recognize the importance of an engage
ment," and says lit is noticeable among
those with the fewest social duties" or
course, because those accustomed to en-
gagementS are most likely to remember
them-the infrequtnt thing is the one most
likely 10 be forgotten. But are women sim
ners above all others? Is woman the
plumber who Is going to come for weeks and
weeks? Is woman the carpenter who
promises tile house at Thanksgiving and
keeps The owner in expectancy until Feb
ruary? Is woman the debtor who promises
to nay in May, but whom September finds
still pro missing? Is woman the Spectator
who promises great things to ignorance and
defrauds the widow and the orphan2 Is
woman less likely to meet her engagements
than man? There are several hundreds in
San Quentin who failed to meet their en-
gageipents and they are not women. Our
courts are busy with men who fail to meet
engagements. Why should woman be
singled out for judgment by Mr.. Adams?
1t Is good to take criticism with intro
verted gaze and profit by it; so let the
mannerless sexes" instead of recrimina-
ton. seek to make themselves maDnerly."
GiirOy, December 1880. s. S.