The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-24
Are Men Really the Rulers OF
Creation?
Or Does the Fair Sex Manage to Con-
duct All Affairs2
An Essay en- the Relations OF tho Sexes
to Matters Which Arise in
tho Every Day Battle
of Life.

centuries III Luo killluks Oho A"iciJ
knows its parentage or date of birth, yet
the founding refuses to die. 1t re-
sembles those animals of which zoolog-
lists tell us that, if chopped into mince-
meat, each particle starts stresh and be-
comes a new creature. When we think
we slay we make very much alive; as
we try to destroy we recreate. Truth is
fragile, shortlived, unobtrusive, easily
obscured, cold, naked, unpalatsble; but
"a lie is tough, perennial, bold. mex
tinguishable, fervent, well vestured and
sweet to the taste. Suppress it here
1t will rise there. It's elasticity pre-.
serves it under all circumstances. Its
vitality scoffs at time and death.
Hnt all forms OF fslsehood commend
us . popular delusions. Mr.. Harry
Fin 20 and his friends may dine Is to-
getn twice day. may rehearse snd
pract CO any number OF iarcical etfarts
to exercise these, and will only be
laughed at for their pains. Or they
may pefchance scotch weak delusion
now and then, but they will never an
initiate it.
Nevertheless, though we fail in the
endeavor, there 10 one we would attack.
1t has come down to us through the ages
from the miste Of antiquity. venerated
and universally believed. With savage
aud civilized, orthodox and heterodox,
wise and simple, it is a worldwide creed
in regard to the sexes that it is the man
who rules. Woman is the inferior, the
subordinate, the one to obey. Man is
her lord and master to whose behests
W.. aho,,ld hn
to produce rebellion in any we'll regu-
lated home, or to stir the meekest OF
wives to revolt, but from habit of look
ing popular frauds in the face and chal-
longing them to q searching inspection,
we ask, who rules? Who sways the rod
OF empire in the court, the camp, the
home, and society ?Man or woman?
Now we cheeriully admit that man 10
a very noble animal. He ia sagacious.
muscular, generous. ambitious, cour-
ageous, and, when spurred, is capable
of great effort. But he is deficient in
sensibility, in tact, penetration, and pa
thence. and is idle by nature. He dis
sembles badly. He does not know how
to wait. He regards the surface OF
things chiefly. lie is guided by appe-
tite, passion, self-interest, although an
excellent reasoner. But long ages OF
more or lees Disguised slavery have
sharpened woman's wits. She 10 subtle,
quick. observant. a good dissent bier. pa
tient, profoundly penetrative. She
scents motive as readily IS dog
scents hare. She is sensitive to every
mood and tense OF thought and feeling
in others. She is born diplomatist.
Her feelings are those Of subordinate
class-jeaiousy and vindictiveness. But
she has abundantly learned the two
great lessons which qualify for heroism
and comrnsnd-to endure and obey.
There is no self-sscri6ce of which she is
not capable when urged by love; no tor
turs too powerful, no patience too great,
for her passive and indomitable resist
ance. And when beauty is added to
ability and determination, she is per-
fectly irresistible.
Thus men by their own selfshness in
the past have unwittingly fashioned a
creature to rule over them. 10 subject
irg woman they taught her how to sub
ject themselves, but by eubtler and more
delicate methods. By long processes of
selection for their own qualification they
have rendered her soft, graceful, and of
winning charms of form and manner.
The greater their perception and power
OF appreciation, the greater is her do
minion over them. The noblest and
most heroic among them are those who
have been most notably subdued. Who
is there in the records OF history and
my theology who ever achieved distine-
ton and was not conquered by her
Samson, David and Solomon, Hercules
and Achilles, Cesar aud Antony, Alex
ander and Pericles, Napoleon and Nell
son, and numberless other heroes and
statesmen, with all the host OF painters
and poets and men OF mind. Even the
gods humbled themselves before her.
II these things were done in the
green days of womauhooi, what shall
be done when che will have attained
her iulness OF power. in the flush and
summer glory OF her intellectual de-
velopment? We are but at the be-
ginning of a new era in her history, the
era OF mental and social emancipation
1t is not long since ahe was denied @
liberal education, when learning was
opprobious and "scence" withheld,
The ignorance of thousands OF women
Of good position almoat equaled that o.
their sisters in eastern harems, where
they are still studiously debar-ed from
ail sources OF mental improvement
WOiHcA nuu0 PuOuluso WhiO tholi
hus ,ands made politics. and were MOI
expected to lift their eyes beyond
household cares and duties. When
they read and wrote by stealth, they
feared to display their greater knowl
edge, for few men could tolerate this
sort of superiority in a wife. But now
our girls walk jubilantly through the
whole curriculum of studies. The
strongest fortresses OF knowledge
deemed almost impregnable to men
fall before them. They have
become graduates of universities, doc
tors OF music and medicine, professors o
natural science and even first wranglers
In art and literature they have achieved
noteworthy distinction, and every day
witnesses sn increasing number in th(
ranks of the intellectual. Peeressei
rush into print, and society leaders eigt
for the laurel wreath. Within another
decade the educational supremacy o
men will be Lost, if it is not already 80
for 1t is admitted by competent judges
that our girls are more conscientious
students and better workers than oul
boys. The prospect ia most encourag
ing to our sex and race. Improve
mothers will produce improved daugh-
ters, and every generation see an accel
Grated advancement.
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