The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-04
Women. Interest in tho Harris Trial

women's Interest in tho Harris Trial.
Tho women who attended the HARRIS
trial. are denounced by the Ne,c York Times
as having been drawn merely by On un-
wholesome and indecent curiosity for the
details OF IN indecent case" tlikens them
10 the Roman women who called for the
,icnth OF the vanqushed fighters at the
gladintorial shows. and TO the Spanish
women who take delight In sangulnary
bull fights. 1t blames them. too. for the
sympathy which 1t assumes that they had
with the accused. and yet 1t speaks Of them
as excmplifying the truth Of the adage that
' q woman who Is not more pitiful is more
pitiless than a man."
This sort OF comment is made by some
newspaper on every criminal trial In which
women display their interest by attending
upon the proceedings OF the court. The men
who write the articles profess to be aston
ished and Mortified at what the Times calls
such Indecent curiosity" as II 1t were a
novel and extraordinary revelation OF the
feminine character: but no trial that bears
any resemblance to the case OF HARRIS oc-
ours in any part OF the civilized world with
feminine interest. Women are not stirred
at all by many Of the occurrences which
agitate men. but when case involving
life and death comes up. tragic case.
and more especially when 1t has about 1t a
mystery In which q woman Is concerned.
and a woman Of the more refined society.
they follow its course with an inten-
sity OF interest greater than men feel.
But 1t Is not an indecent curiosity. 1t is
rather akin to the fascination which fic-
titious tragedy on the stage has for women.
and for women more than men. They like
to follow tho development OF the plot. The
details Of medical testimony brought out in
q trial like HARRIss are interesting for
them as incidents In Its progress to which
1t might be indicate to refer to In ordi-
nary conversation. but which the formality
and solemnity Of the place and the pro-
ceedings serve to cleanse for their ears.
Nor Is 1t unnatural and discreditable that
their sympathies should go out to q young
man on trial for his life while his devoted
mother sits by his side overcome with
tender anxiety. No one Of sensibility could
even imagine such q scene without pain.
However pitiless the crime may have been.
the administration Of justice to the criminal
Is an awful duty. and the more terrible
because it must disregard the suffering of
the individual for the benefit Of the COM
munity. 1t Is sacrifice to righteous law. but
none the less is it sacrifice. a sacrifcial aud
tragic and heartrending proceeding.
1t may be said very truly that no one need
have looked on the ordeal except those to
whom the law committed the awful duty.
Whoever attended the trial voluntarily sat-
isfied curiosity at the expense of SENSIBLE
ity: and therefore. according to tho Times.
the presence OF women. SO emotional by ma
ture. betrayed unwholesome and indecent
curiosity on their part" But it Is luxury
for many good women to have their tender
est feelings Of sympathy aroused. They
enjoy going to funerals and wiping
away tears shed In unison with those
Of sorrowing relatives. The plays that
wiring the heart are more attractive for
them than the comedies which provoke
merriment. The disposition displayed by
Roman women at gladatorial shows
and Spanish women at bull fights can
not be described as unfcmiuine. They de-
lighted In having their feelings reused to
the highest pitch. and In their excitement
they we're pitiless. or rather they demanded
the most pitiful sights in order that they
might enjoy the more the luxury OF pity.
AS matter OF course. the trial OF HARRIS
attracted feminine interest peculiarly. The
proceeding was public. women have more
leisure than men. their opportunities for
obtaining excitement are usually much
fewer. and love. a secret marriage. mater
nifty. youth. murder. and mystery entered as
elements into the case. Yet. all told. the
number OF women who ventured into the
court was small. The observers were men
chiefly. and they had not SO much reason
for their curiosity. for tho case made no
such appeal to them as it did to women.
The Times disparages these few feminine
attendants by saying OF them that ut is to
be feared that they are representative OF a
larger class OF their country women than
any OF US would like to acknowledge"
So far as their interest in the crime
was concerned. they represented prob
ably every woman who had followed
the case. and In their desire to see
the trial with their own eyes they
represented the same feminine curiosity
which crowds the London divorce court
with women OF the highest social class
whenever particularly scandalous case in
aristocratic life Is under judicial investiga-
ton. At most. their presence was merely
a matter of taste. OF no grave moral siGnf-
canoe such as the Times writer gives it. 1t
was not unusual but is OF invariable occur
renee In trials OF the same general sort.
whether here or abroad
spiritism Spreading in Paris.