New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-07
IBSEN IND SUDERMANN.
MISS AMY LIONEL'S INTERESTING ESSAY
READ BEFORE THE p. w. L.

READ BEFORE THE p. w. l..
The Professional Woman's League held its regu-
la dramatic meeting Thursday afternoon at the
League House. No. 1909 Broadway. and though the
rain KEEP: all but about a dozen away the occasion
was perhaps even the more enjoyable on tina, ac-
count The paper of the day was on Ibsen and
Sudermann and was read by Miss Amy Lionel.
Miss Lionel prefaced her essay with a short ac-
count Of Ibsen as a man. and then proceeded TO
discussion Of his plays. with special reference to
their treatment Of the woman question.
This feature Of his work attracts more attention
In Norway and Germany" she said. than 1t does
here for the women of those countries are much
less free than those Of England and America. They
are therefore particularly afraid of Ibsen's inhu-
cree women and have accused him OF lbscniz-
ing them whereas all he has done has been TO
recognize\a social condition and hold 1t up for
study He has only unveiled to the Scandinavian
women existing grievance and cannot be held
responsible for the feeling OF revolt that has long
ranked in the minds OF thinking women all tho
world over. The Views on this subject can
not be set aside. and In emphasizing some aspects
OF It Ibsen has laid all womankind under a great
debt Of gratitude.
"Mr. Bernard Shaw who has written ceverly
on Ibsen.am Is particularly clever In reference TO
this point Mr. Stead remarked Of Marie Bash
kirtsen' says Mr.. Shaw. that she was artist.
musician wit, philosopher student-anything you
like. but no, a natural woman. with heart to love-
and to find its supreme satisfaction In sacrifice for
lover child
Now continues Mr.. Shaw. of ali the idealist
abomina lions that make society pestferous doubt
II there be any mean that OF forcing selfsac-
rifce on woman under the pretence tina. she likes
1t. and Of declaring her true woman II she vent
to contradict this pretence In India they car
ried this piece OF ideaism TO the length Of declaring
that wife could not bear to survive her husband.
but would be prompted by her own faithful loving.
beautiful nature offer up her life on the pyre
which consumed his dead body British Philis-
tinism put down widow ideaizing with strong
hand, but the English form OF IT still remains. Our
society. being directly dominated by man. comes
to regard woman not end In herself. but solely
as a means Of ministering to his pleasure. The
ideal wife Ia who does everything that the ideal
husband likes. and nothing else.
Also the idealist Illusion has arisen that a vo-
cation for domestic management and the care OF
children Is natural TO women. and that women who
lack II women at all. but members OF the
third, Bashkirtsen sex Even II this were true.
IL Is obvious that, II the Bashkirtsefs 10 be
allowed to live they have a right to suitable insti-
tutions Just as much as men and women. But IL
is not true The domestic career IL no more natural
TO all than Is the military career to all men
1t Is Of course, quite true that the majority OF
women kind to children. and prefer their own
to other peoples but exactly the same thing Is true
OF the majority OF men. who nevertheless do not
consider that their proper sphere Is the nursery. "
At the conclusion OF the paper vote OF thanks
onded by Aunt Louisa" and the meeting adj
iourned without much discussion. though there was
considerable Informal talking afterward. Aunt
Louisa" said she had never read 1bsen. and had
never felt interested in him. but now that she knew
he dealt with the woman question she thought she
would be obliged to investigate him.