The herald., 1895-08-04
B. & M. Sarsaparilla
For the Blood

demand the vote as with one voice, The
days of her seclueion from political activ-
ity would be numbered. For the present
obstacle to her obtaining it comes not 30
much from mans Discrimination to grant
it as from the passive antagonism OF
those women who do not want it.
Yet there never was a time when wo-
men were SO interested in their own sex
a now, though whether this interest is
due to an impulse of morbid curiosity or
to a genuine human pathy is open to
question. 1t is certain that an increasing
mum ber of women who are morally stain
less give evidence OF an extraordinary
ABSORPTION in the character and condition
of those whose lives are VIGOROUSLY and
avowedly vicious. Formerly the barrier
which separated the virtuous young
women from the fallen was absolutely
definite and impossible. On the princi-
pie that to touch pitch is to be inevitably
defiled. those within the fold held no
communication with the outcast, whose
very existence they were expected to ig-
more. Of late. however, the Pharisaical
passing by on the other side has been
replaced by an abnormal attraction to
ward the gutter. and virtues crown OF
virtue IS won by devising schemes for the
redemption of the fallen and the purifica-
ton OF the sinner through intercourse
with the saint. There are those who pro.
fess to see in this association the germ OF
u brave nuIudultdrlduiSElt tHc IhauB uIa-
tion of new and fervent charity that
presages an era of feminine fellowship
and amity. To my mind it has no such
significance, but is simply form OF hys-
terra based on morbid appetite for CO.
quoting with sin, so characteristic OF the
modern woman. The kind OF sill which
she has neither the opportunity nor the
desire to commit has fascination for
her perverse. faineant soul. She is like
the little betrothed bride in one of Marcel
Prevosts stories; and with charity's
patchwork quilt for cloak she satisfies
her curiosity by coming in contact with
those who have drunk the cup OF knowl-
habit of throwing dust in her own eyes
no doubt obscures the underlying motive
of her devotion to what is called rescue
work." A vague pity for the Paula Ten-
querays OF this world she is conscious of,
pity which can easily be made to sound
which hopeth all things. believeth all
things and endureth all things.
Take again. the friendship of one
woman for another when both stand upon
the same moral and social level. 1t is in
nine cases out of ten devoid of the Obli-
cations of loyalty and honor which are
inherent in the friendship between one
man and another. There is less reserve
in il and also less sincerity. for woman
will reveal her heart of hearts to a friend
and quarrel with her the next day be-
cause she has pirated her bonnet or alien
ated an admirer. Such relations never
become stable or sacred between women,
for tney are apt to begin by change. pro-
ceed with passion and die at a breath.
Even at fever heat woman never gives
as much to another as she gives to her
lightest lover. and at any moment she Is
ready to sacri ice her freind at the behest
of any man in whom she is momentarily
interested. For his entertainment she
will betray any confidence without scru-'
pie of regret, even if she refrains from
denouncing her feminine friend to the
first conner as soon as shadow OF mis-
understanding has arisen between them.
In the lives of most men there are only
one or two friendship bonds riveted by
years of intercourse, which nothing but
undreamed-of treaohery can sever.
Women on the other hano, make and
discard friends with equal facility. If
they are seldom true to men. their fdeli-
ty to their own sex is rarer far, for there
are no Davids and Jonathans among
women. no friendships founded ON mutual
faith and held in honor. Until woman
learns to conduct her relations with her
own sex on the same principle as that on
which men act, the sisterhood of woman
will never come within measurable dis
tance of the possible. She has learned
SO much from man in this decade that is
it not unreasonable to hope she may yet
learn the true character of friendship as
we'll as the policy OF combi inaton. When
woman stands shoulder to shoulder with
her sister in public and in private life.
she will stand in the very gates of her
kingdom, abreast of that brave vibra-
Day in London Saturday Review.