The sun., 1896-09-13
ENGLISH WOMEN In A RAGE
THEY DENY HOTLr ANY INFERIOR
ITY TO AMERICAN WOMEN.

IuSpoN Sept. 2.-The American woman
whose attempt to gain notorlety In this country
by traducing her countrymen was recently de-
,crIbed In this correspondence is now trying
another short cut to fame. The English public
.wRllowed her tribute to tho godllke qualities
NJ Englshmen as n baby takes soothing syrup
hut they didn't trouble to thank her for admin
i.terlng the mixture. She lad merely told them
vhat they were already convinced was tho
fact that no other race earth ever
AID or ever could compare fRvorably
with the modern male Briton, and while
they liked the compliment from such source
they did not proceed to crown the givsr OF 1t Us
,he wisns. and most discriminating of women.
This lid not please the American woman. Her
discovery of the inferiority Of American men
or tho superiority of English men--failed to be-
come the burning topic OF the hour. But she
knew what would. Her stock OF ingenuity was
not exhausted, and she made another large
draft upon 1t. She coolly announced to her
English sisters that they were much inferior
20 American women as-well, there was no
comparison.
Then the fat was in the fire and II has been
blazing away ever since furiously enough to sat
isty even the reckless mischie.-maker who
started the miniature confngration. 1t Is not
worth while to do more than indicate the points
women to own London" In the language OF
this modest champion Of their charms. They
aro "prettier. cleverer. more vivacous. moro
natural, dress better. have born and acute un-
derstunIn ng OF men. less religion. above all more
money" But "the one manifest point upon
which tho American woman is sui CcnerfS Is her
paturalness, her habit Of thinking out loud her
lack OF self.consciousness. OF mannerism. All
English women talk ms IL they had studied elo-
cution An American voice even when trdindntc
has the effect of spontaneity. And SO with the
manner. the habit OF thought, the quick. fresh
way OF looking at life"
This delightful quality. however. Is only a
passing charm in tho estimation OF this erudite
.ef.searcher. and she continues her introspec-
ton to find the " Fundamental and psychological
reason" ior the fascination of Englishmen for
American women" Zone is puzzled to know
what construction TO put upon that awkward
phrase She speedily discovers that English
men recognize in American women something
that they most waut-something that the wo-
men OF their own country cannot give them"
II follows. OF course that while Eng
l!shmen have gone forward, have kept
pace with their century. the English wo-
man has stood still" In many instances
che has degenerated. with some very
few exceptions no English woman to-day 10
writing either intellectual or wholesome fc-
tion. The enormous success OF the neurotic.
morbid. and decadent effusion denotes
general deGeneracy among English women.
''' Englishmen. taking them generally. are
the most wholesome. healthy minded men in
the world They live clean outdoor life. love
sport better than women, and mako history
along the natural lines OF evolution. In them
Is no taint OF NOR rbidity, and 1t is easy to imag-
Inc how little attraction the quality has for
them in womankind."
1t is plain enough. when It Is thus pointed out
toyou. that this 10 the secret OF the affinity
between American women and English men,"
The Intellectual and moral insignifcance OF
American men completes the explanation of
this am nifty" The statements in the sum-
ming up Of this diatribe may possibly be news
toyol on your side Of the Atlantic, so quote
them:
The vast majority of American mon are
composed Of two elements only-money greed
and sensuAity. They are. at the very begin
nings OF their own development. the most ele-
mental race Of men in all civilization to-day.
American women have so far flashed past them
that they stand on tho plane which English
women would occupy II they had kept pace with
their men. They are alive to their fin-
ger tips: they have cast off the yoke
Of eonventionality. cut-and-dried religion.
and all the old forms and traditions
which sho1ld be and must become obso-
kte a. the higher civilization develops; they
premise all that seems to be moribund or stunt
ed In the older race of women; in short, they
are at point in their evolution whore. mental
ly. spiritually, and se1ually. they are the nat
ural companions OF Englishmen: and English
men. with or without analysis. have recognized
the fact"
lam happy to be able TO say that amid the
storm Of protest which this attack upon Amer
lean mon and English women has provoked, not
one OF the creatures composed of money
creed and sensuality" In these islands has
troubled to raise his voice. The pity Is as
pointed out in previous letter. that q woman
who writes such stuff should be taken seriously
In this country. 1t seems that she Is, however.
Tor the very hrst reply to her venomous libel
contained this:
81 must protest against this sweeping and
nonstrous libel upon American men. Money
greed and sensuaity' can DO found In other
races, even those who are not the most ole
mental race OF men, fully recognize that It 10
unnecessary to defend the character of Ameri-
can men in your columns, and think many
American women will not be sorry that this
protest comes, and comes instantly, from an
Englshman."
There are many who have resented. and that
bitterly the cruel assault upon English woman
hood. The bgutally reckless assertions OF tho
oecadence OF character and tastes among the
women Of England have mado 1t clear that the
ADVENT OF American brides 10 becoming sore
subject In this country. The scorn and con-
Tempt heaped upon the traducer Of English
WomankInd are too intense to have been of only
recent development. She is controverted at
Nory point. First, ms TO her facts She asserted
That the American woman's foothold In Eng
nAd is growing firm as the years go by" One of
the earliest replies contained this:
This Is not borne out by facts. Her influence
was strongest in the late seventies and early
eighties, since when, the novelty having worn
oH, 1t has steadily declined. Especially Is this
70 IN the highest circles of society. There are
1oday eight American peeresses. AS ten years
sgo the number was seven. the increase has not
Deeh phenomenal. or these ladies' four are the
second and third wives OF peers with families.
therefore II can readily be seen how infn-
"esihal Is the American element in the peer
age There are in round numbers 10000 titled
persons SIxfu