The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1895-10-09
THE NEW WOMAN" DISCUSSED

The meaning Of the latter-day gospel
of woman's emancipation is the repudia-
ton of the ways that men and women
have hitherto trod together, and it sug-
gests departure, on the part Of our sis
teIs, along independent lines. The sig
niicance of the amelioration of the condi-
ton, as pronounced in a larger liberty
for woman, has a motive that lies back of
the common appreciation of the crusade.
1t is the protest Of the unmarried wo
men who have never had any WAYS to
depart from, and who seek to show that
those who have traversed a common way
are altogether mistaken. These man.
led women are in error, according to this
intelligent authority, because they have
followed man-led ways BY this same
respectful authority, a woman blazed-
way would be a better thing for society
and the race. More particularly it would
be better thing for the women who do
not get married. 1t may be observed,
in passing, that the ladies who don't get
married are the most earnest advocates
Of this parting OF the ways.
Theoretically, they are right. They
have never been initiated into the mys-
teries of the marital relation, where
the imperfections of men are transmitted
by love into PROJECTIONS. They do moi
know OF that mutual concession, and con-
sideration of weakness, that abide in the
ct onOmy of people who get married.
They do not know what sort of alchemist
love may be, drawing from the common
est ore, the purest gold. These most es-
Unable ladies are without a client save
the unmarried or loveless married. The
first OF these wants parting OF the ways
in behalf of the sex; the second in her
Own behalf.
And why? Because the first has no
man to lead and the second has a man
that is repudiated Let us give fair
picture of these two conditions, that
dominate the revolt of women. Unmar-
ried and the discounted married one. The
first does not know what she is talking
about, the second has given a pledge
without any adequate return. The first
wants to dominate things because she
has nothing else to do, the second wants
to rule because she finds, in her married
life, no compensation for the renuncia-
ton of the woman led way.
But there is another factor which en-
tiers into the analysis and determination
of this parting of the ways. There comes
here the testimony of the happy wife
and another who lifts her eyes as she
lifts her voice and questions, Why
That wife and mother disputes the
parting of the ways; she insists upon &
united way, whatever the argument to
the contrary She thinks that she i,
competent to decide, when she pronoun-
ces, after experience, for the marital, and
the man-Ied away, which is, first and
last, the way of social direction.
Suppose, tor moment, that we should
renounce those doctrines of sweet WON
anly domination in orr homes, anC
turn things over to the advocate o
Woman's Rights What would becom,
of us? We would meet the parting o
the ways with more women than men il
sack cloth and ashes.
The ways must no. be parted. Ma
ture and common sense forbid the de
parture. Unmarried and unhappily mar
ried women may protest against the con
junction OF ways, but, in the prOvidenc,
of God, these ways live on, and max,
for the advancement and benefence o
the race.-Meridian News