The record-union., 1897-01-19
A QUESTION OF EMANCIPATION.

The noisy almost riotous demonstra-
tlon in a Chicago theater the other night
against the big hat nuisance, as report
ed in our telegraphic dispatches Mon
day morning, was not at all creditable TO
the men in the audience because it in
dicated a decay of that chivalry which
men in these days have manifested
towards women in higher, greater and
nobler degree than ever distinguished
belted knights, or the heroes who fought
for fair ladyes"
The Indignation of the men In the the
alter was perfectly natural; we can un-
derstand that, and also that 1t was al
most irresistible But these facts do
not excuse it, nor mitigate the regret for
what the manifestation clearly points
to, namely rapid decline of that respect
for and self sacrifice on behalf of
woman by the American man that
gives to women here higher and safer
place In the scheme of civilization than
she occupies anywhere else On the globe,
and we except no nation.
When it comes to pass that in an
American audience of fairly representa-
tive character, in the second city of the
Natton, men can be led to guy. hoot and
dertde decent women because they are
perverse and the slaves of a silly con-
vention, 1t Is bad for both women and
men. and hence bad for society gener-
ally. If our respect for and galla.ntry
towards women declines, her influ-
ence in our social system will decline
also, and with 1t many Of the saving
graces of American manhood.
It is the more deplorable that such
retrogreSsion as Is indicated should
have It's genesis In so silly cause, so
trining and mean a source. Yet If we
read history Alright some of the most
momentous changes that have been
wrought In the social structure have
grown out Of as small beginnings as
this. Shl we are inclined to look upon
the Chicago cause, this big hat nuis-
self social disease. But symptoms are
as much to be feared, If no check is ap-
piled, as the plague itself.
The Chicago manifestation indeed in
dicaites more than appeared on its sur
face. 1t means that the undue asser-
ton by woman of herself in this
day Is becoming her worst enemy. 1t
means that her unwarranted push into
business walks where she has no need to
SO. and from which she displaces the
natural bread-w1nner and home
maker; her steady underwriting of
the wage that makes prosperous homes
by wage-earners possible; her declara-
tons and assertions along the line OF
the so-called new; her demand for
political smirch, and her insistence that
she shall be reckoned the political COM
petttor OF her brethren-these things, We
hold, are the greater moving causes of
a retrogression of which the protest
against the big hat Is but symptom
The hope is that when the wave has
topped to crest and broken there Will
be sensible recession. return TO the
better levels where woman is the
queen of a realm that man respects and
to which he pays joyful tribute because
of its refining and softening influence
upon him; because it Is to him both
stimulus and power; because il means
for him something to struggle for and
live for.
AIT the risk of giving offense and invit-
ing the reproaches OF some who are
unauestionably sincere in their advo-
cacy OF the rightfulness of woman's new
assertiveness, we are disposed to say
that the greater part Of the new
woman" movement Of the day IS a fad,
and Is plunged into by women largely, a
good deal as they take baths in the
surf, because 1t is fashionable. Out OF
this ''fadism' we are convinced springs
q grsat part of the hundred or more