Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-06-28
WHAT WILL THE "NEW WOMAN" DO
WITH THE OLD MAN

The old man objects to their being any new
woman. The old woman is good enough for
him. Of course she is. And the new is too
good. Here is just where the puzzle comes in.
The new woman does not want man who OBJ
iects to her. Neither does she want man who
is not as good as she is. The old woman has
had to put up with enough of that sort of in
harmony and deficiency. The new woman
wants-as either brother or husband-a man
who can comprehend her aspirations; can SYM
pathize with her. and be a help-meet to her in
their attainment. In short, a man who is am
bilious and enthusiastic both for his own pro-
gress in higher lines of purity, morality, and
culture, and for hers also: a man who sees pro-
gress for the race only in unity OF action OF
both man and woman.
There are great many progressive women,
now-a-days--so many, in fact, that conserva-
tive man-who comprises the bulk of the mas
culine hunanity--is quite alarmed about it. 1t is
a hopeful sign to the progressive woman how
ever, that there are some few aspiring men who
are advancing steadily into higher manhood,
and at the same time are in sympathy with the
development of women into higher woman
hood The subject of the ''new woman" does
not trouble these men. They feel satisfied that
she will still be comprehensive and desirable
to those worthy of her, and their own aspir-
atoms lead them up to the same plane. But
comparatively few men approve of woman eX-
ercising equal rights with themselves, and still
fewer approve Of her setting up higher stand
ard of purity for herself than she now has.
The standard for man now is not so high as Tor
woman, and if the new woman adopts still
higher standard, and demands man to follow it,
there is open rebellion Immediately with the
majority.
Yes, it is quite puzzling question to know
what to do with the old man He can hardly
be dispensed with, especially when the evolv-
ing new man is so scarce. There is nothing
left the new woman to do but to renovate and
repair the old man,-convert him, if possible,
into the new man. There are many ways and
sorts of conversion. Reason, persuasion, STRAIT
egy, or even compulsion, will have the desired
effect on all who are able to be converted.
Those who are too welded to conservatism to
change will have to be left to drift with their
retrogressive sisters and they will find quite
enough of the latte- to keep them company, for
not every woman is going to become new wo-
man, in this embodiment. The lines OF pro-
gression and retrogression must be eternally
kept up in humanity for the sake of its perpe-
fifty. Only women in the line Of progression
can advance to the state of development to be
ultimately reached iii the new womanhood. vi
eourse the same is true Of man, in his develop
ment. But man seems to be rather behindhand
in his efforts He inclines to pull back, like
the 1nule, and needs considerable urging, of one
kind and another. What more natural than
that woman should, therefore, urge2 1t is
very trying thing to do but if it is necessary,
the evolving woman is equal to the effort and
will accomplish her mission with honor and
glory to both.
We do not wish to underestimate the value of
the few noble and progressive men. The only
lamentable thing is,--they are so presious few
But when the new nioman Organizes her ranks
and sets out OH her crusade Of conversion, there
will be numerous additions to the procession.
Does this seem incredible Study, then, the
impulse that is urging woman forward. When