The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-15

People are always talking about this Age.
1t is a Bicycle Age" "Woman's Age" an
Electric Age" an age of luxury" an
Age of Unbelief." Straight Bangs Age
a Corrupt Age" an Age of Purity"-all
sorts and conditions of things are hailed rs
eharacterzng this age, by their separate
apostles demunciator5. Perhaps in the
matter of bicycles and electricity there
is the right to speak of them as character
istic of this age because they have actually
been invented and discovered and worked out
in time, bat women. skepticistn, luxury,
purity are not recent creations and do not so
pointedly mark our immediate history as some
would like to imagine.
.#m
Someone has called it an "Age of Nerves"
People may have been as nervous, or more So.
in past centuries. There may have been II
regular Saint Vtus' period in previous history.
Above all things let US not claim any more
doubtful eccentricities. Therefore in remark.
ing that people, mostly women, arc noticeably
nervous, let it not be understood to be a de-
NAL of nerves in the past but simple c.
ord of facts. In a clever society play pro-
duced by standard company it was very
noticeable that the young girl heroine was
restless and idgety, uncomfortably so. She
danced her hands and feet while she was gay
shivefed and trembled when she was afraid,
walked rapidly when she was indignant and
1uttered when the hero made love to her.
She was never quiet. There was some
question as to whether the actress had
made careful study of her part. Girls
were observed. There were girls exactly
like the heroine-sensitive, high-strung,
restless. Among the girls at the matinee,
on the street cars, at Dances at home, always
you could see them rocking. nodding, wink
ing, twtchiDg their mouths, raising their
eyebrows, tapping their feet, patting their
hair, twisting a chain or ribbon, signing gig
Cling, coughing-forever fdgeting. girl at
church shufiied her prayer-book and hymnal
during tie lessons, though she seemed alb
sorbed in the service. Now, this was not a
beautiful condition. Placidity may seem the
stupid, tantalizing opposite. Between them
comes the desirable mean, combining repose
and vivacty in more equal proportion. 1t is
matter worth the thought of women.
$50
Then It is claimed this is "Woman's Age"
One would fancy woman later discovery OF in
vention than electricity to hear us talk Women
are writing books. Sappho wrote books of burn
ing verse for the Greeks centuries ago, aud it
is recorded she was the center of group of
girls with passion for poetry. Women are
studying politics and law. Elizabeth was
master hand at these studies, and governed
her kindom with wisdom that was not over
whelmed by the masculine influence of her adj
fbo pfot If ct
woman takes highest Mathematical honors at
an English college over masculine competitors.
Very good. Let her be praised. 1t is tr-
umph of intellect, but why BIO so surprised
that women did it? When Alexandria was
the worlds center of learning there was a
woman, Hypatia, who was renowned scholar
in mathematics and mechanics also. She was
a public lecturer. Students focked to study
her philosophy. Her Judgment was sought by
the statesmen of her time. In the early his |
tory of England Queens led their armies and |
fought as bravely as mor. Catherine of Rus |
STA able TO carry the progress of her |
Empire as far as Peter the Great ever did. |
Joan of Arc put on manly clothing and fought |
men, thing that seems outside of woman's |
domain nowadays even for the most pro. !
gressive adherents of equality for the sexes. |
Shaksperes sweetest heroines jumped into |
garments, and girded swords !
whenever they got into fix and had to
make their own living, and we think /
them sweet and womanly Beatrice was as
rear an approach to a bachelor girl in |
theory as one can Imagine our much scolded |
girls to-day. Women hunting are |
not entirely new. There was Diana who |
proved that she could indulge in this sport, |
and set them the example also come time ago. |
1t is easily proved that woman existed before |
1894 that she had will OF her own before 1894, !
that she thought of wearing bifurcated gar |
ments before 1894. that she exercised her in |
studied law mathematics astron- /
omy, war, was beautiful, brave and individual |
before this blessed year. So, though every year |
has seen her growing to more perfect proper |
lions, as il has seen man. and as learning art,
goodness have grown, let US not be so surprised |
If woman iuvents a machine, kills bear,
or writes newspaper article. Men and women
ire very much alike after all, and their inter
ssts very much intertangled, SO it is the |
progress of tho whole race that must be worked
'or and admired. 1t is not complimentary to
DC so surprised at woman's ability.
s.
,MSa