The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-09-24

"AV EM indeed particular
AM ly if unmarried
N pretend to be very
~ VI much afraid of
men. They may think this fear specially
feminine, becoming, attractive, mas
much as it invites protection. They con-
tinually speak of ''some horrid man"
or of dreadful men," meaning, if they
mean anything, some abstract ogre or
ogres that never exist save to an inflamed
fancy. They might be thought, by their
own accounts, to live, from IA to so, i'll
perpetual dread of men. When they
meet men, when they are thrown into
their society, they show no signs of
trepidation in their presence. Quite the
contrary, i'll fact. They appear drawn
to them, to like them, specially, to de-
light in their companionship. If this
were mentioned to them, they would be
apt to say that those men are gentle
men, not the ruffians, desperadoes, bar
barians that would do them harm.
The simple truth is that there are not
and never have been, in this country at
least, any such men as women like to
conjure up, to stimulate their imagi-
nation and picture ideal horrors with.
The simple truth is, too, that women's
fear of man is for the most part mere
sham, make believe, transparent
bugbear 1t is a baseless tradition, a
shallow imposture, handed down from
mother to daughter to produce senti-
mental effect, romantic delusion.
CIV f.F
man than they are of a beetle, toad or
worm, though they often try to make
themselves think they are so and have
kept up the pretense for numberless gem
erations. Certain insects, reptiles, may
be disagreeable, even repulsive-they
frequently are, doubtless-but women
are not, in any strict sense, afraid of
them. They are far too intelligent, and,
moreover, they are nothing like SO tim
orous as they profess and are generally
presumed to be. They make, as is well
known, a vast ado about trifles, but
when they are put to the severest test,
when they are confronted with veritable
horrors, with immediate death, they
display degree of coolness and courage
that no man can surpass. The finer the
woman, the better bred, the more sensi-
tive, the more delicately nurtured, the
grander heroine she often proves. She
seldom trembles before man she knows
him too well.
We have all read how Una was follow
ed by a (onoe) ferocious lion, tanned By her
purity and gentleness. True, she appears
in famous poem, but it is symbolic; it
represents the subduing power of her sex
on the most savage animals, quadrupeds
no less than bipeds. All civilized peo-
pies know how the sex overcome man
| frequently III his widest state, how
they will vanquish him at the acme OF
his raving by her soft, seductive arts.
He has everything to dread from them,
and no one is more conscious of it than
they. We talk of men as women tanners.
What arc they to women as men tanners
Very few women-these are the rare
exceptions-need tanning. Most men dc
need 1.-THE bulk of them are barbara
ans in spirit-and they are readily tanned
by sisters, wives, sweethearts without
ever suspecting it. They fondly imagine
that they are forming women by theil
strong will and force of character (they
believe they can see the process going
ON under their eyes, while they them
selves are unconsciously being nodded
by the wiles and arts of the shrewd, as
tute women.
Women afraid Of men, forsoothl Why
should they be when they can manage
wheedle, hoodwink, dazzle the big
hulking fellows by glance of the eye
by motion of the hand, by phrase o
the tongue? Men very soon understand
the strange, mysterious power tina
woman exercises over them and begil
to feel in awe of her. They are awar
that she is dangerous to them in man.
ways, dangerous TO their peace, danger
Gus to their purse, dangerous TO thei
freedom, dangerous to their self control
Very young men clone hurl defiance a
woman. Men of experience comprehen
. what formidable foe she may becom
and do not rashly invite combat. The
are aware that she always carries con
cealed weapons; that when she look
most innocent she may explode, meta
phorically, and blow to atoms all thei
best purposes, all their wisest resolu
tons Undeniably fear exists betwee
man and woman, but of recent years
has been and still is ON his side.
In the old days, when man was reall
savage-he yet continues to be t
some extent-he wooed her with a club
!, as William the Conqueror is said t
have wooed. He was then great brute
a wild beast, mere corporal monster
He was wholly physical. He would bea
l women. would kill them, if they angere
him, without conjunction, without n
ncryo, without shame Then they feare
aed, for he was stronger, rougl
>. finn fhau They cnnld ON