The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-05
WOMAN'S WEAKNESS.
When She Acquires the Courage Of
Her Honest Convictions She
Will Overcome 1t.

greatest fault, / would answer lack of
independence. BY that | do not in
any way refer to her dependence
upon man-the sexes are mutually de-
pendent upon each other; ought to
be, and always will be so. | would be
sorry to see any man independent OF
women in all things, or vice versa.
Their mutual dependence is the main
spring of society.
The independence | speak of is per-
maps better courage of convictions,
and it is a rare thing to be found In
the world anyway, but men possess 1t
to amuch greater degree than
To illustrate my meaning, l will re-
fer to an accident which occurred TO a
woman friend of mine recently, writes
a well-known woman writer in the
Baltimore Herald. She vas struck on
the head by a long iron rod which
protruded from the back OF a wagon.
The scene was upper Broadway, New
York; the hour near noon. NO II
was in the immediate proximity as she
received the blow. The cart rattled
away, and the reckless driver was
wholly unconscious OF the result OF
his carelessness. The lady was
knocked down but she did not lose On
seriousness. She scrambled to her feet
and found herself covered with blood
badly disheveled, her hat knocked OUT
of shape. and she was obliged to cling
to an iron lamp post to collect her ideas
and prevent herself from swooning
with pain. AS she stood there, faint.
blood-stained and dusty, severalladies
passed by her. None of them had
seen the accident, but all could see
that she was a well-dressed and pretty
Young woman who vas in some way
wounded and suffering and alone, but
not one of these ladies had the moral
courage t o pause and offer her their
assistance. She might be drunk and
disorderly, perhaps, and they hurried
bv with curious glances. The suffer
ing young woman hailed a passing
cab and was able to get into it alone,
Just as the first male pedestrian was
about to approach and offer his SER
vices.
This is but one instance in scores
which have come under my observa-
ton. 1t is always men, never women,
who rush to the rescue OF a sister
woman in any public place in the
time of an accident. 1t is no that
women lack sympathy, but because
they lack independence OF action.
They have an overwhelming horror
of doing ANYTHING unusual which will
attract attention in public places; and
they permit this deeply ground idea
of good conduct to crowd out svm-
pathy. kindness and humanity in nine
cases out OF ten.
1t often seems to me that the aver
age wolnan wears a mental straight
Jacket, which renders it impossible
for her ideas to move from a certain
orbit.
In matters of dress this is particu-
larly noticeable. l was once visiting
at a house into which came a lady
who possessed some exquisite art
gowns. They were graceful and be-
coming, and classic in design. The
hostess and her friends admired these
gowns when they were displayed one
by one, but when their possessor spoke
OF wearing one OF them at an after
noon reception, which was to be given
in her honor that afternoon, they
cried out:-"Oh! | would not think of
it we're / in your place. You see, no
one will be dressed like that, and it
would not be understood" The lady
insisted, however, and wore a Greek
gown which all the men raved over
and admired to such an extent that
the mind of the hostess was relieved.
Yet the distress, excitement and fear
which this slight departure from a
conventional idea had caused this
good woman and her friends prior to
the reception was both amusing and
pathetic to hear.
| think a mother ought to teach her
| daughter not to make her chief aim
in life to be exactly like all other
women of her acquaintance. but to
follow her own ideas of right conduct,
and kind action and graceful dress
ing.
The dreadful wall of conventionality
which is built about seems to
shut out the sunlight of kindness and
humanity from their hearts.
/ saw a young girl covered with
| confusion in a public conveyance one
| day by the bursting of a wrapping
paper, which allowed half-a-dozen
| small parcels to roll about under the
feet of her fellow passengers. Not
one woman stirred an inch TO aid her
in gathering them together. but two
men, al some considerable distance,
came to her assistance finally. And
every woman in the vehicle regarded
her with that pitiless curiosity which
adds tenfold to the modification of
such a situation.
1t was not selfishness that caused
| these women to act in this way. 1t was
| their dread of becoming conspicuous
in q public place. They did not pos
sess enough independence of thought
to act on the impulse of helpfulness,
which | have no doubt was i'll their
hearts.
When we do find the exception she
is adorable.
Asweet-faced woman touched my
elbow the other day as l chung to a
strap in a Fifth avenue stage and en-
deavored to keep hold of parasol,
portemonnaie and a parcel.
LET met hold your parasol and
parcel" she said with a bright smile,
until you can get a seat" | could
have Rugged her, not for her kindness
to me personally, but for her indie
pendent thought. Every other
woman in the stage stared at her and
then at me, as if we were curiosities,
when | handed her my two annoying
membranes, They all seemed to
think she had done a queer thing in
Offering her aid, and / in accepting it.
Women's minds are SO conventional
in such matters. They seem unable