The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-22
THOSE OTHER WOMEN.
Further Discussion Concerning Them.

A few days since, in conversation with
a number Of women regarding an article
which appeared on the Womans sheet Of
this paper, last Sunday, over the signature
"A Lodge" and Of which the writer is
a woman we were not a little surprised
to fad our fair friends greatly exercised
over the fact that the article in question
had, as they phrased IT, taken the mans
part" and had made the woman in the
case the tempter, not the tempted, In
the form of sin to which It refers. They
Ola not stop at manifestations OF surprise,
however, but went 80 far as 10 attribute
TO the writer a spirit OF disloyalty TO her
sex and an entire absence Of that ex-
Quisite virtue OF charity which is often
est upon the lips Of those who possess it
least
The writer OF the article is, as stated,
woman, and a woman not bred in
those sylvan hamlets Of the poets, where
the only audible signs are those of Gods
wind through mute forests. and where
the great heart Of nature beat itself out
sunnily or darkly, quietly or stormily,
In the solitude.
She has seen something Of those phases
OF life which only present themselves in
a metropolis, where signs stronger than
those OF Gods wind, In that they are the
signs Of Gods children, disturb the quiet
ude Of the selfish who viii not hear, and
where the great heart that beats it's life
out sunnily or darkly, calmly or stormi-
ly, IL that mighty human heart with its
divine capacity for loving or hating,
being happy and suffering
Life far from the maddening crowd may
be poetical; life in a city is real. The one
may educate the mind; the latter certainly
educates the heart.
The woman who can run the social
gamut, and step from the drawing room
OF the upper ten 20 the poverty, ignorance
and squalor OF the lower ten million and
can fail 20 have her mental vision enlarg-
ed and her noblest sympathies broadened,
is either fool or wretch. There is no in
termediate vantage ground. II she possess
common intelligence and the usual amount
OF kindness, she must be conscious OF
an increasing tendency 10 lenient Judg-
ment OF the sins of her brothers and sis
tiers. She finds herself making allowance
for the sinners temptationsi separating
the sin from the sinner, the perfection Of
which is the perfection OF that culture
which Is called Christian.
The woman who can, after ever so cur
sorry glance at the vivid panorama OF
life in metropolis, receive. with anything
save tenderest pity and gentlest rebuke,
the girl who, through dire poverty love,
confidence. admiration for superior edu-
cation and cultivation, dread of the ccndi-
tons of her own lot, often that OF a fac
tory drudge, has yielded her physical
beauty (often great in these classes) and
her honor into the arms of man whose
gifts and advantages accentuate his vii
lalny-is creature unworthy 10 have
had breathed into her the breath OF life
by God whose synonym is love- Her
pity for the girl as well as her contempt
and scorn for the man, should be the ne
cessities OF her nature and character, and
II she fail In either she is unwomanly.
But the article last Sunday had nothing
TO do with that type. IL referred TO the
strong. cold. designing. fashionable wo-
man: to the woman whose life has been |
blessed with many advantages-bsrth, cul- |
tivation, q true, trusting. admring hus- |
band. but whose moral courage il not |
equal to the sacrifice of certain hat, a /
certain bonnet. the pony phaeton. etc; 10
the man whose seLses are more suscepti- /
bic than his mind Is acute. who is keenly
alive 20 all those sensuous Influences
which a bad woman and a clever can
bring TO his ensnaring. He feels the pow
or OF the tender smile scarcely deepening
the dimple az the corner Of the pretty
mouth, al his approach OF the grieying
ucJecuoh TAIL aHecteO al his departure:
OF the delicate perfume emanating from
the intricacies OF exquisite gowns which
seems part Of her lovely personality:
TO the dainty touches. Scarcely as heavy.
certainly not so pure, as a snow nake) OF
a white hand; 10 all the subtle elegance
N manners and carriage In which he.
pig. tender, loving block head that he Is,
reels himself so deficient For the man
~ these cates Is nearly always as big,
physically, as he Is weak, morally, and he
TAILS through weakness and not wicked
ness, and Is the Sir Frederick Yensopht.
OF society, as his tempter is the Rebecca
Sharpe.
Her charm for him ties IN her entire
contrast to him. Her dellcacy. her rcse
eat refinement. appeal TO his massive
,h3fical masculinity much as Vetty's
roand outlines end soft curves appealed
10 biz Adam Bede. but alasi he Possesses
none OF Adams moral stamina.
THESE women. We repeat, are as cold
ma cruel as any scoundrcl who eyer
betrayed confidence and ruined youth
and there are good men who waste big
hearts. fuli q tenderness, upon them.
A LODGE.