The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-11-08
A writer in the Contributors Club in the

A writer in the Contributors Club in the
November Atlantic, says
CHANGING, let us say, over perhaps doz-
en- or a score of novels, of both older and
more modern times it would seem to be
natural conclusion that history does indeed
repeat itself; that all the minds of human
interests ambitions, and passions have been
so well worked as to be almost exhausted,
all possible combinations of character and
plot worn so threadbare that scarcely any
new design in the great tapestry of life can
now be discovered or invented.
But it seems to me there is one kind of
character, and The unhappy entanolements
almost sure to be brought about by its full
manifestations, that has never yet received
it's due share of attention from writers OF
fiction: | mean the masculine counterpart
of the very often depictep woman cOquette
that still more cOntemptible creature, the
male flirt. Understand that L do not here
have in mind the cOarSer types, such as the
regular Lovelace and Don JuanS. whose
dOipgs have been abundantly chrOnicled for
us in dozen fashions, but refer to that spe-
cies which [ believe is exceedingly common
in what is called ''sOciety."-the man who
his satisfaction in more subtitle ways, and
and, fitting literally like butterfly from
flower to flower, makes it the chief business
and interest of his life to win and dlssa-
point the hearts of women VINO cross MS
path, provided they are attractlveenough to
by little of delicate t1attery here, an inn
pulsive show of something that seems like
marked preference there-he wins his steal
thy way into those hearts, and induces
them to reveal more AMI more OF their own
emotions. Yet the spiritual Don Jman-
may as well nave that name is always
most careful on his guard never to convey
anything save subtle, if sometimes very
strong impression, often by look or tone or
manner alone, never to say anything POSITIVE
enough to commit him to anythign, never
to use language save such as is vague and
ambiguous enough to be twisted afterwards
into anything and everything that may suit
him, if the woman should happen to mis-
take his meaning. The arts, indeed, that
he may practice are countless. and the
mischief he may do is incalculable, and OF
the kind against which there seems no pro-
lection and for which there is no redress.
Often, of course, IN most cases, perhaps
he fortunately meets his match, succeeds
in deceivlng no one, and gets as good as ne
gives. And yet now and then IL does
happen that really noble womans life Is
made miserable in that way, especially IL
the charmer is man of praise, which,.
strange to say, does happen, land endowed
besides with that most mysterious or all
qualities, which no one seems able to define
satisfactorily, personal magnetism, as ne
needs to be, to prove successful IN MS ca
reer. Indeed, is of the victims" rather
than of the ''slayers" that | wish to speak.
1t has occurred to me that it would be very
fine, as well as anything but hackneyed, TO
depict a woman and necessarily she would
have t, be very deep-hearted and whole
SOuled, as well as of very strong character)
who really loved a man of this kind. though
tully knowing what he was, and conscious
also that he could hardly be unaware tine
Don Juans are not apt to be- Of the true ne
ture of her feeling for him,-lOved him sui,
though he had made plain to her beyond
the possibility of doubt that while, IN
measure her devotion was accepted (ldolS
bit rarely refuse the incense offered at their
shrlnes), she too had at times only served
for his amusement, had not been held too
good to be tOyed and played with. as ne
ad-played with dozens of other women
and who yet, through the unutterable pain
of it all, not only found it in her heart not
to turn from hun. but truly forgive him,
and determined cheerfuly to stand by him,
his devoted, loyal friend to stand by him
his DAYS, if it should appear that he had any
need of her in his life!
THIS is a very different matter from the
constancy of lovers to each other through
all trials and separations; from the devtlOn
of wife; faithful still through all cOldness
and perhaps i'll treatment. Here is a wo-
man who, perhaps half unconSclOuSly, has
been won not only to give of her deepest
and richest and sweetest and best, without
any adequate return, but even at times 10
have that best made sport of, AMI VINO yet
forgives not only, but never falters IN loyal
devotion. Truly, | think that human mag.
nanimity and il takes large nature, and
one devoid of shallow and petty Yanltles, 10
be magnanimOns and womanly herlosm
could 90 no further. The pride and fortl-
tude of the Spartan boy bitten by wolf,
who laughed. covered up his wound, and
dropped dead. and sinks into insi9nihcance
reside it, We have all heard of examples,
i'm both ancient and modern history, where
women who had revealed their love, and
found it rejected, turned into furies of de
spairing hatred and vengeance, and either
themselves wreaked it upon their oughtto-
be lovers. or hired assassins to do the work
for them, but never, think, of Just this eff
feet upon the eternal feminine"
Perhaps there may be those to whom II
would seem that true womanly pride and
dignity would imperatively demand With
drawal from any such unequal relations
that. but do not agree with them; so Tar
from it, indeed. that it rather appears to me
true pride and dignity would counsel the
very course this woman purused; and could
easily show the reasOl whv. For L have
in mind some facts from real life that sug-
pested this whole train of thought to me.
rue. the drawing of such woman of
two such character, and of the scenes and
situations that would necessarily grow out
of the circumstances-wOuld be difficult
task. which would require a very delicate
as well as very firm hand; one touch OF the
mcneil little too black, one cut of the en-
graver's tool little too deep, might easily
Spoil the whole picture. Yet on that very
account il seems to me all the more worth
offer the suggestion gratis,-
and will not some one take it upP