New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-13
LITERARY TASTE IN WOHEN.
CHRISTINE HERRECK. JOURNALIST HMM
EVERYTHING DEPENDS UPON
THE WOMAN
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Cir. The question as I understand 1t. Is as 10
ubo.ber women show any originality or any re"'
.o,e IN the choice Of literature. or whether
,bev select their books Just as they wouiu 'ien
oaroorts-from the latest fashions think TINS
.as worry much upon the women. Tbere are
t women who have any originality, ana take any
t.shion that comes but one must reiheHipei ''"'
oil choice of literature is more or less an iihi'a'oi
of the choice OF otners.
We road a book because we nave hearu So''ie o'
,,. -, g.. because we have read notice Of It.
TO-, &c We on 10 visit or to picture. or 10 meet
n Derson of whom we have heard favoraoie reports
49,, l., en- far as this is done think women foilo"
.ha t,sbions that are set by those who know more
of literature than the average woman mas tiihe 10
learn But there are women VINO sho" as mum
oriainatv in their selection Of the books they reau
ne any man would show. If you VIII take the same
o,oss of women and men l think you will find that
the women who read only the books that are most
talked Of and who read those books because 'hey
orc ,alpod Of correspond TO the class of men VINO
read only newspapers.
The women who think for themselves ana WIN
choose for themselves are those who have the ao-
vantage Of a large training and larger cuituie'
They select books that are In the line oi 'heii
tbongbts and take them entirely irrespective Of the
passing fashions Then there are sensational
women who read books because they are the latest
fad very sensational and very pretty; but these
are the women who have no originality In any
thing and never think for themselves.
7 can name dozens Of women who read biography,
who read what is known solid reading from
choice altogether, who have no more time to be-
stow upon trashy literature than the most earnest
man student gives.
know my mother, for instance. IS an extremely
busy woman; she IS occupied in a variety OF ways
all the time she Is extremely fond of fiction: she
keeps up with the current fiction. but there is no
no, cl of the day she would find as enhancing a
good biography. Know, SO laI a. myself am
concerned l am fond Of novels; like short stories.
and vet there times when the very thought OF
book or essays books of criticism, Il volume Of
substantial article Of diet TO good solid meal and
that IL appears to me, Is just the difference be
ana with which the market is flooded at this time.
The difference between that and the books that
feeding one upon trihcs and upon sweets and un-
wholesome dainties. and giving one good SUB
bone and develops all OF ones best parts.
1t is hardly TO be expected that women who find
and who read nothing but the lightest and most
frifng ronrazincs from choice should care only for
the literature that i. typfed by the novels OF the
Duchess Rosa Nouchctte Carey and others Of A
similar class: but We must remember that this class
of women have had very little literary training. /
know many women: know women not only in this
city, but in Other cites know women en- IN ne o
Sorosis: know the women OF the Bernard cub
ana many Other ana ~ ' nnn and ascey Dd tber
reading list, you would find that the books that
they choose compare very fayrraby 10 those which
would be selected by men Of equal Intelligence.
OF course. there many women who have that
spfcalty. ] know women who is thoroughly
versed In French literature; ! know another one
who can tell you everything about the art liter
allure in two three languages; another one who
has devoted herself 10 the study OF dramatst5; an
other one who has chosen American history for her
specially. OF course may say that all these
are not perhaps typical cases: that they don't rep
resent the great body of women; but one must
Judge society by the exceptions AZ well as by the
rule and II is only question OF whether you are
going 10 take the example Of the best educated
women as "A standard or whether you are going 10
take those who have had Indifferent education.
and who have had the means or the nclina-
ton 10 seek a higher literary culture. -
CHRISTINE HERRECK.
New-York City, Jan. Il. lsG.