New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-22
COPPEE NOT OPTIMISTIC.
THE WOMAN OF THE FUTURE A DREAD
VISION TO THE FRENCHMAN.

FAIR DOCTORS AND LAWYERS ON ELECTRIC
BICYCLES DO NOT CHARM IIIM-THE TYPE
lie THINKS WORTH PRESERVING.
TRANSLATED from an article by Francois coppee in lie
Journal" PARISH
This problem was given 20 me, What will the
woman Of tho twentieth century be lil<e?' had
fully resolved that should not answer this ques-
tion for the simple reason that do not know; my
resolution was plainly full Of wisdom. and you may
wonder at its change. The reason Is simply this,
that during the languor OF my recovery from a
long illness II seemed a more agreeable subject 10
think Of than some mightier matters that should
have claimed my attention. / am inclined to be-
leve that she will be very much she is now
with much to complain Of and tolls and priVatiohs
a large part Of her existence.
THE Woman Of tho Future such as she Is
imagined appears as a sort OF pedantc creature
Astounding In diplomas and scholastic parchment.
never talking Of anything but her rights ana those
superior TO the rights OF her companion In chains,
that Is II she has not already openly declared her-
self the free union and its direful consequences;
briefly a creature that would be repugnant to US,
who far behind the times who believe mat
woman Is by nature more wife than lover, ana SUN
more mother than wife. and also that the famiiy
ought TO be recognized ) institution respect
able and sacred and even maintain beyond this
that except in rare cases woman Is not MADE lor
and gains nothing from existence spent in the
rush Of outside occupations. | accept with pain
the Idea OF numberless women lawyers ana doc
tors always busy running about, the one TO law
courts the other to her patients, mounted on cleo
trio bicycles. / the children abandoned to SER
wants, and, above ALL the husbands claim my at
tention because we shall the great increase III
the already large number Of parasitic husbands
living on the fortunes or labor Of their wives
WEAKENING THE MARRIAGE TIE.
,ha npin OF W would
believe that woman will have changed her IN
stincts; that marriage will be tie as fragile as q
string OF macaroni one would divorce FOR a yes or
no; that the children would vacillate between the
remarked fathers and mothers. which last state or
things could not develop a sense OF respect in the
boys nor OF modesty in the girls. IL does not toIio"
that the law most urgent should be one that would
permit a woman to change her husband as easily
as she does her robe, and my humble advice Is
that before taking any such measures to change
tho morals and sentiment of the family, We might
make some less ambitious attempts which would
have their utility For instance one could vote
for that excellent measure permitting the unhappy
wife Of a drunkard and debauchee to guard for her
self and children the results of her personal labor
One could encourage the development Of the CO.
operative society for the benefit of the household.
by which the family would be able to supply its
necessities at a much lower price and without en-
rchlng many Intermediates. one could find
means to help and succor the poor woman be-
trayed and abandoned. One could further move
ment toward monopolizing the commerce of alcohol
In the hands Of the Government. so that 1t would
be sold at higher price and thus reduce the
number OF feminine martyrs. whose miserable hus-
bands brutalized by drink let them die of hunger
and abuse. Further. l believe that we could do
many things more profitable than the making of a
new law which. under the special pretext Of estab-
fishing equality between the sexes would make Of
marriage an Institution of derision that would only
give satisfaction to women Of perverted instincts.
TYPE WORTH PRESERVING.
What will the woman Of the next century be?
Again am ignorant and cannot presume to be an
oracle. but / wish solely that she may resemble
the French woman Of to-day such as she remains
and such as have often encountered among the