The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30
THE WOMAN OF TO-DAY.
WRITINGS or OUIDA AND MARGARET
FULLER on THAT SUBJECT.
An Able Boview by Miss y. II. Winston
IRE, t. Think. FREQ to Act, With
More Room In which 10 Grow.

per written by Ouida, expressing her
views concerning the woman of to-day.
a creature whom this bold and positive
writer classified as The New Woman.
The spirit la which Ouida approached
her subject was indicated at the very
outset. where she announced that Gin
the English language there are cOuspic-
uous at the present moment two words
which designate two unmltgatcd bOres.
The Workngmau and The Woman"
This very prcJudiccd and unfair attitude
assumed, The daunticss novelist proceed
cd 20 unfold her distinct and peculiar
Views concerning the Modern Woman,
and all the movements created by her en-
crgy. ana continued in her interests. OF
course 10 was a foregOne conclusion 20
the reader that Cuida would prove her
self Incorporating through the entire
discussion OF her subject. Fortified by
tradition and popular prejudice. she plac-
Cd herself squarcly against the modern
tendency in woman TO reach out ana
claim as her own. whatever her ability is
equal 90. a great many people welded
10 those idols which have proven the
ruin Of The Ol1 Order. were very mucn
impressed with the sOundncss and
strength of Ouida's views on The Woman
Question. II cannot be- denied that she
had many seemingly strong and logical
arguments ON her side and she handled
them with an that clcvorucss and sub
tlcty or which she has such perfect COM
Misunderstanding her statements by the
use OF severe invcctiyo. wherever she
saw 10 would avail her purpose The
weakness. however. of the position taken
by Ouida. in regard 90 the Woman Ques-
ton. lay iu the fact that she cited in
support Of her anti-mOdcrn theories the
woman reformcr OF extreme views and OK
tremo methods. characterized by all the
fOllics and Inconsistencies of her class.
90. dor
alton the serious-minded. high-purp0sed
woman. aiming only al needed and use
ful reforms She could never have made
out the case as she has done. Viewing
the matter as Ouida viewed a., 10 is not
surprising 20 hnd her bored and dis
gusted over 80. and concluding. that
others would follow what she, no doubt
considered her very clever lead. The
mistake Ehich she made is double one.
III placing herself where She has. the pres
cnt generation Of earnest thoughtful WO-
men feel that they have passed her in
the race. and so leave her 10 her mclau-
choly reflections concerning the future
of her sex. Her theories are not likely,
either. 20 Dee much accepted. The WO-
man Question has become too important
and encrossigg. too distinctly one Of the
great questions of modern civilization.
for any man or woman Of sound intel
lcct and sincere motive to allow himself
or herself 20 be bored by 1t. Too much
IS involved in the settlement Of this ques-
ton for It's discussion 10 Doe characterized
d. nppaUcy or sarcastic invectivc. If it
does not deserve sympathetic considcra-
ton. 10 none the less demands impartial
investigation. The verdict of conventions
al society is often very damning 10 her
who Is known as tho advanced woman,
yet the question of her further develop
mcnt and of her true relation 10 practi-
cal m rtrunfrr I. Ices
mendous issue in modern affairs. 10 is
sad 20 be forced 20 admit that many
good. earnest souls are cDnscicntiously &.
unable 10 bring anything bat a hostile.
hiascd judgment 20 the consideration OF
this question. and anything like a de-
bate OF the subject stirs 10 its deepest
depths the wrath OF people COOl-hcaded
and clear-siphtod regarding most Of the
experiences of life. such social condi-
ton can 500 no degree lessen the gravity
OF the case. or retard the steady advance
Of its determined advocates. Hddicule
does not dispcl the conviction that 10 is
something which needs 90 Dee faced hon
estly. with the less OF prejudice and the
mere Of wisdom. the better As The re-
suit OF the woman movement great
changes are imminent. Just what they
will Doe cannot now be determined. but
that they viii come, there can be no
doubt Whether the thinking public VIII
OF no. IIIIr fNt|AlNI must If NlrNNErfI
and settled. Therefore. whatever sincere
thought and earnest purpose can be
brought TO IT'S consideration. is that much
gained for all interested.
HER DEMANDS.
To many. the present great efforts in
behalf Of various reforms regarding wo-
mans life. seems almost precipitate.
Without warning. Ike a clap of thunder
from a clear sly. the demands of the
modern woman have seemed 10 burst
upon tho ears of am unsuspocting world.
To many. indeed. the thing has only been
revealed siLce Sarah Grand startled so
clety by her bold explorations in the field
of moral science. To others, supposed TO
be Initiated. the names Of few ardent
workers in ENGLAND and America repre-
sent the whole movement. The move
mcnt itself is so cngrosslng. it's present
situation is so ffaught with difficulties.
its leaders are so beset and harassed.
and often. So may bc added. misiudgcd.
that few have the time or the compOsurc
TO look back a little. fifty years aso. and
recall the incidents of a life which was
the first pulse-beat IN America of this
present great reform-rr0wth.
In the ycth 1913. Horace Greeley, IN
whom the discriminating. critical sense
was always clear and strong, was deeply
impressed by the style and thought OK
hibited I'm an article entitled "The Great
Law Suit" which appeared I'm the BOs-
ton "Dial" that short-livcd and unique
quarterly Of which Emerson and his
friends entertained such nigh hopes.
Upon investigation the writer Of this ar
tlcle proved 10 be one Margaret Fuller.
a friend of Emcrson's. and al that time
the editor Of "rhc Dial" a year later.
through the suggestion OF AIRS Greeley.
who. I'm the interim. had made the per-
sonal acquaintance OF Miss Fuller IN
f..I,
OF her ability and character. as well as
a warm attachment for her as a friend
Miss Fuller became associated with the
New York Tribune. working with marked
success in its literary department "The
Great Law Suit-Man versus Man: ~ o.
man versus Woman afterwards matur-
"a into q volume moro COMPREHENSIVE
entitled Woman in tho Nineteenth Cen
fury" book Of which AIR. Greeley said
80 can hardly have failed 10 make
deem impression on the mind Of every
thoughtful reader as the production Of
an original vigorous. and earnest mind"
considering the fact that modern writ
ers and lecturers on the Woman CUES
ZION seem 90 claim much distinction for
the rev light. the broader range Of vis-
ion. which they are bringing TO bear
upon their subject. IL cannot be unn-
tcrestiug or uninstructivc TO review
s,lahtly the thoughts expressed upon the
same subject by Margaret Fuller In "No-
man IN The Nineteenth Century"
NOT or oNR PLANK.