New-York tribune., 1897-01-11
NEw.YoAk DAILY TRIBUNE, MONDAY JANUARY II. 1897
LITERARY TASTE IN WOMEN.
COUNTESS DE MONTAIGU, JOURNALIST.
SAYS THE SCOTCH PROFESSOR is
FIFTY YEARS BEHIND TIME
THE READING PUBILc-MEN Buy BOOKS
Rf-T rtrt- v-our>. ,pL, rtt1- o<rc

WOMAN NOW CONSTITUTES ALMOST ENTIRELY
THE READING PuBLIc-MEN Buy BOOKS.
BIT THE WOMEN ARE THE ONES
WHO READ THEM"
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Fifty years ago the reoroach OF lack OF
literary taste lately launched against women In a
popular English magazine might have had foun-
dation In fact.
Prior to that period. and later women
kept in what was denominated their proper
place. They were popilarly supposed TO have no
mission earth save marriage and child bearing
and as the interiors of man. reegated to the
nursery and the kitchen
To-day woman's sphere is as broad as the m-
table universe She has finally found a place for
herself in the intellectual world and her finer in
stincts have fitted her peculiarly for the enjoyment
Of what Is best in literature, music and art. The
reading room. the literary circle and the woman's
club have done much 10 foster her inborn yearning
for what Is good in literature. and she now consti-
tutes. almost entirely. the reading public
It would be folly. of course. to make the sweep
ing assertion that she always possesses discrmi-
mating sense Of what is good but at least she Is
generally fired with laudable ambition to educate
herself m TO high standards Of thought 10y the
pcrusal of the works of the best authors
Publishers say that while men make by far the
most extensive purchases of books women are 10y
furnish the libraries and women read the books
American men seldom belong to the dettanti
class. and are too much absorbed in the pursuit.
of the almighty dollar to find time for either
study recreation in Literature. The daily news
paper Is much they digest while the
few books that they read are suggested by their
wives. daughters or sisters. The women have
ample leisure for the improvement OF their minds
while the only peruse the few works
that they recommend.
1t is manlfestly absurd therefore to women
OF brains with hlindly following I'm the lead Of
others and reading certain works merely because
they the fashion it Is they who So, the fashion.
Such books "Trby." THE Bonnie Brer Bush
and others OF like popularity would nsver have
been widely read by people in general had not
the seal of appreciation been stamped upon them
by who read and discussed them in their
homes and clubs.
There Is undoubtedly fashion in literature jus,
as there il in Donnets and gowns. This + due TO
the existence OF certain thought with which
the atmosphere il impregnated Not only women.
but all humanity. are swept onward by the tide.
and the success of book is assured. one scarcely
Some of the finest literary critics are conceded
10 be women. They do not always regard work
from the same point Of view as man but their
subtler instincts caus" them 10 feel and under
stand some Of the finer points overlooked by the
1t is mistake to suppose that w)men Of wealth
and fashion are lacking In the appreciation OF
literature IN" ld'' MTS rope" ol bIpohlNH "hS
the possessor OF orc Of the finest Libraries In the
country. and although the credit Of making the
collection accorded her husband. II IL she
who really deserves II.
The Misses Duer. whose dainty little volume OF
poetry called forth such favorable comment. are
both fine critics and real book-lovers. Mrs Seward
Webb owns a large and valuable library, ana ma
a keen appreciation OF her treasures The TWO
charming daughters of ex-Mayor Hewitt Miss
Helen Ripley Benedict the daughter OF +. {.
Benedict and MANY others Of the fashionable set
are cultured. intelligent women. who make point
of reading all that is best In literature Miss g
of IyrooL Ia al
SAINT with the same subject
II wonanl<ind wiped from off the face OF
the earth and only remained 1t would be a
sorry outlook for the makers of books. IL Is highF
probable that there would soon appear over the
portals Of many publishing house this melan-
choy legend ''In the hands Of 4 receiver
Libraries. newspapers magazines and publishing
houses depend for their support upon women, i ne
Tribune itself has greatly increased It's circua ton
since the annexation Of a womans page and while
speaking for the women OF America the writer be
lieves that the author OF the article in the English
periodical IS in no wise justified In making the
sweeping assertions contained In 1t.
II is only the women or Great
Britain but womankind in general
COUNTESS ANNIE DE MONTAlGC.
New-York City Jan. :. 1897.