The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-30

Is wONAS's LOVE CHASGIN6f
The extraordinary craze for novels cf
passion, reflected. too. In the orama- mas
been one Of the mos. conspicuous features
in the literature OF the present half cen.
fury. The .dyilic, che chiva,r.c and ms
sentimentafIy romantic love stories are
things OF the past The present fiction
OF erotomanIa Is as much the product OF
female as OF male writers. and the de-
mard for II is greater among women
than among male readers. II may wei
suggest the question: rs woman's love
changing"
New conditions are arising: conditions
which are making woman moro indie
pendent. bringing her at an earlier age
into contact with the other sex. and
stimulating her mentally. But all this
should rather be a check alike upon over
confidence and innocent submissiveness.
Tho great argument in favor OF mixed
schools was that they prevented false no.
tons of sexual differences and dispelled
romantic illusions. II was expected that
familiarity with the characteristics OF
each other would tend 20 prevent unwisc
love attachments and imprudent mar
riages. II that should be the effect in
tender years. the daily compan,onstnp OF
moro mature experience would seem to
produce even more decided results IN the
same direction
1t should promote a more careful eelec-
ton OF companions for life and more
robust conception of the duties. difficult
ries. affections and responsibilities OF mar
riage. We might have expected an era
Of intellectual affinity and te-nperamental
sympathy. II the novelists are to be be-
lieved. however. passion dominates the
gentler sex to a degree unknown TO the
ancient writer's and has larger share in
shaping its destiny. We are not prepared
to believe it: we cherish the conviction
that the lily. the oid-fashioned hearts
ease. the violet and tho enowdrop are
still the fittest emblens OF woman's love
and not 1.-THE red. red rose" or the var.e-
gated heliotrope.
There are sweet advantages to both
sexes In the fridescetit dream of unreas-
oning love. and, it is TO rob youth of one
Of its most innocent and delicious fanta-
sizes to create the idea that the modest
blush on the cheek and the gentle pres
sure of the hand are the warm flush OF
the blood and the promptings OF passion.
1t Is not true: maidenhood has not lost
its day dreams nor woman her instinct
of fidelity. A hot wind has blown up
from tho burning sands of the desert
which has always existed far from the
sweet meadows of Arcadia, but It will
pass away. just as tho Byronic fever
died out The rich odor OF tho magnolia
and the luxurious tints OF the gladiolus
quickly pail, and so the soul turns from
the fervid ruby glow OF passion to tho
gentler emotions which have IN ell ages
pulsated the human heart.
1t Is the fashion to assert that woman's
love Is changing! that 1t IS to her now a
luxury with some romance but no senti-
ment; that while It lacks neither SUBJ
tlety nor intensity It has not a shred OF
tllusiou.
'.But sweeter s,ill than this. than these,
than all.
II first and passionate Iove-it stands
alone,
Like Adams recollection of his fall;
The tree OF knowledge has been plucked
--all's known
And Life yields nothing further to recall"
The modern exponent of love does not
stop at 1.-The frst." It does not stop at
matrimony, or even with matrimony.
According to that doctrine the old fem-
nine faith in the permanence of sexual
affection has vanished. and as wonan's
nature blossoms 1t hungers for new ex-
periences and Graves fresh sensations.
We can afford to scout all such ephem-
eral notions. Pathological phenomena
may be less rare. but woman IS unchan--
ed The same innocence OF purpose
wealth OF tenderness. and fidelity OF ma
ture characterizes the sweetheart and the
wife now as ever. The desire of compan-
tonship. OF being loved and OF loving. IS
the handspring OF her life, and the
promptings Of the flesh form but a very
Insignificant and !mpresslonless incident
Of her affections. A very intelligent
critic has said that scnsuality plays an
important but not dominant part in life
and while the broad Influences of passion
are OF interest. the mere details of sexual
psychology, known to all thinking men
and women. have no more attractions for
the average reader than the process OF
digestion.
WHIP all faith. however. IN the purity
OF woman. a good. healthy public opinion
should set It's face against the sanctlouing
OF the torrent OF more or less vicious
erotic literature. We may find fun IN
her harmless vanities. make allowances
for her Inconsistencies. marvel at the
eternal mystery OF her sex: but no rood
can come OF lowering the ideal man has
set w. and consenttng that Inconsistency
and frailty shall be regarded as pecadllIoes
to be lightly submitted TO as the necessary
result of disagreeabIe but inevitable ad-
vance In civilization.
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THE ADVANCE IN WAGES.