The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-02
QUEENS ANoxe woxEx.


girls they are unconsciousiy recognized
as central figures In the group which
gathers around arg proposed action. ard
are surrendered 10 when they speak They
are yielded 70 as a matter q course
by their mothers. and consulted By
brothers and sisters. In society they
command the respectful attention of men.
but are not enysed by the women. be-
cause they do not enter into competition
with other girls for opportunities OF
Irritation
Marriage does not operate TO diyest such
women OF the power OF sovereignty. but
their rule Is then more generally confined
to nsen. They are sought b. their hns-
hands male friends. who form 4 faiih-
ful retinue OF respectful admirers a
man with such wife finds his invitations
not only eagerly accepted, but very frank
~ antfcinated. she becomes the confidant
OF some, bur that only rarely. Before her,
however, they will strive TO appear at
their best, and aim to be considered even
better than they are. Men envy the hus-
band. women pity hisa.
The power OF sovereignty does not de-
pend upon either beauty, intellectually
or even goodness. 1t is as often possessed
by the very plain, and 1t Is as frequently
possessed by those who viii sacrifice any
thing TO ambition. as by those who are
pure BY it. humble women rise TO places
of giittering. but doubtful honor, and by
-. sss.tU
and social movements having some de-
fined purpose In view. No women sue
ceeds among her own sex who cannot
command the admiration of men. Beauty
does net accomplish IT, although fine
form. face upon which the eyes finger.
and charm of manner do not detract
from It, intellectually does not explain
IL. because merely intellectual women are
rather Stunned by men-not by very in
tellectual men, perhaps, but the queen
among women attracts to her side men
who are not intellectual and who would
be at a loss to account for their adora-
tion.
There may be physical attractions, but
they are only accidental. An arrange
ment OF the hair. a trick OF the eyes, an
indedinable something about the dress,
may arouse admiration, but without the
inherent capacity to rule they would re-
ceive only passing and incidental atten-
ton. An intuitive faculty for analysing
and eomprehendiug human nature is one
of the concomitants. but that alone
would not suffice TO explain the thraldom
in which the uncrowned queen holds her
voluntary subjects.
This woman is often married happily
and seems to yield up her authority to
her husband, but 1t does not follow that
she Is not nevertheless the real source
of power. Her rule is not an active exer-
else OF domination. She can appear to
defer without becoming subservient. and
imposes her wishes without any display
OF arbtrariness or self-assertion. She is
easy TO get along with" as her hus-
band explains; he does not perhaps know
why, but it Is usually because she has
the priceless advantage OF knowing when
she is right, and that is her guide. A
Woman who is as apt to be wrong as
right in attempting to enforce her will
is weak: she Is open TO criticism and TO
correction. She may prevail. but it is
not By the quiet. natural and logical
force OF her own superiority.
IL Is not in mans power to determine
whether her regnant attribute is held I'M
consciously. or whether she sees clearly
the secret of and the consequence OF her
rare capacity. Few men who surpass
their fellows in success are able to inn
part TO others the secret. but their field
Is wide and their achievements are at
tributable TO pronounced advantages
which are seen by others. and their devei-
opment traceable TO opportune eircum-
stances. The queen among women has no
such opportunities. and the range of her
dominion Is too cireumscribed TO afford
sufficiently varied display of her capabil-
lty 10 afford chance to determine how
she would act In emergencies calling for
prompt and responsible decision.
The proof o: mans capacity is shown
b. his success. but that Is not always &C
c0mpaRicd BY popularity. II is true that
men sometimes dominate without being
generally liked--indeed, they often pro-
woke violent antagonisms There Il no
close parallel between the queen among
wemea aud the successful man. She Is a
unique figure IN human nature; and his
tory credits her with many triumphs. both
OF a commendable and of a very Doubt
fni character. When she becomes a no.
tent figure In exciting public llfc. she IS
neither so admirable or SO pleasant as
when she is The power regnant in social
hfe, she would not suit an men as
wife. but as friend she is desirable. ana
as an occasional companion she exercises
a most Saiutary influences. This phase ~
the character Is only presented where the
woman is good woman. When she l.
not. there Is no rule by which she Is "a
be judged. because her capacity for heinz
inscriptions. rsvcngeful aud feminine,v
mean may be none the less because wien
Il ali she possesses that power which bends
men willingly TO her rule.