Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-06-04
THE NEW NAN PORTRAYED.
A 1ngiish View Of . Great and
Interesting Problem.


have come. He u foreshadowed, out
lined, indicated in resolutions passed at
conferences Of advanced ladies, and his
silhouette fits through the pages Of
m occasional magazine article emanat.
ing from the new school, but he il n.
yet here in the flesh. He remains aI
ideal, On abstraction.
Let US consider him for q moment
quite seriously. There is no doubt that
the relative positions of the sexes in
these times have changed q good deal.
That Is too big q question to go into
here, but If anyone doubts the fact let
him consider broadly how far the east
ern and western civilizations have
drifted apart in their views of marriage.
So do not deny that new sentiments
may from time to time become engraft-
ed upon human nature. The modern
repugunnce to slavery would have been
unintelligible in ancient Rome and
doubt whether fooded-out or burned
out negroes and yellow men ever under
stand the sltruistic subscriptions now
and again got up ut the Mansion house
for their benefit. On the other hand,
the Chinese, with their worship of an
cestors, indulge in sentiments which
are caviare to ourselves. No sect, no
body Of enthusiasts, need therefore de-
spair of bringing round society to tn
opinions; it is quite entitled to try.
But do the ladies who are clamoring
for tho new man realize all that their act
implies? can hardly think SO; because
the renewal of the British constitution
would be a feabite to what they pro-
pose, a. a little reflection will show.
First of all, however, let us be agreed
there should be but one standard Of
morality for both sexes. OF course, this
Is vague. There might be leveling
1own as we'll as leveling up Of morality,
or there might be a compromise be-
tween tho two sexesta meeting half
way. If there was any hesitation in
judging Of this matter it would hardly
be for the advanced ladies TO complain,
seeing that one section of them Is in
viting manufacturers and others to send
in deeigns for a new dual garment
or, vulgarly, trousers for everyday fe-
male wear; while another section claims
the right, a. understand, to retaliate
in kind, Tor infidelity. However, not to
Be ungenerous, let US assume the preva-
lent demand to be that men should con-
form to the existing standard Of NOR
atty.
Well, that idea requires following out
little more closely than has yet been
attempted ON advanced platforms, be-
a. <1 e<vo n t.
sues, for which can hardly imagine it,
promoters to be prepared.
Morality, it h clear, ought to be some
thing more than a verbal profession; 1t
ought to spring from inner sentiment
and to be closely allied to modesty.
Given modesty Of thought and modesty
of demeanor among members Of the
malo sex, there would follow, as q mat
ter of course, the new morality, which
IN turn would yield US a race of bashful
and blushing men, coy in love, lacking
in initiative, who would let conceal
ment, like worm in the bud, feed on
thier sentiments. Nor would the change
end here. We can hardly doubt but
| that the new man, actuated by his new
feelings, would be at some pains to dis
guise the contour OF his figure. II he
adhered to the dual garment" he would
probably puff it and frill it into fantas-
tic shapes and 'scrupulously avoid the
slightest exposure Of ankle. The ath-
lete would blushingly fling aside his
conventional garb as too indicate.
Side by side with these Developments
there could hardly fail to be a complete
change Of the inner man effected. Pro.
posals for marriage would have to come
indifferently from either side. Indeed
many new men would probably never
get over q sort Of maidenly repulsion to
the opposite sex, and there would be-
sides be little attraction to them in the
prospect of mating with a creature a.
emotional and retiring as themselves
Virtue itself would become q drug in
the market twould cease to be priced
because temptation would cease to a..
sail it.
Too modest to confess his passion, II
he had one, the new man would be con
strained to take a leaf out Of the boob
of the Bormese maiden, to light his in
vitat5onal lamp in the window and wait
patiently for the snitors of the opposite
sex to come. Would these respond? Ii
many cases perhaps not, and thert
would arise the difficulty which will be
remembered confronted the bashfu
Benedict, a. to how the world should
bc peopled.
The universal sameness of the sexes
would cause them to lose all interest IL
each other and there would be an end OF
chivalry, which on analysis proves Il
be rather forward" attempt on thu
part OF the male to ingratiate himself
with the female on false pretenses.
Do the advanced ladies' like this pic
ture? 1t is one Of which they hAv,
themselves supplied the outline. Ihav,
merely taken the liberty Of filling in ,
little detail. For the carrying out o
such complete reversal of the existinf
relation of the sexes something like Al
entire geological epoch would be re
quired. For no more variation of Gus
tom, such as / have referred to, is com
parable to it in point of Importance; i
would be fundamental change, tn,
great many evolutionary problems Il
be faced in connection with it. Suppoe,
he movement 70 be confined to Eng
land, to that privileged tract Of tn,
earths surface which lies within rang,
of the speeches delivered at Exeter hall
bow long would the new Englishmar
be able to hold his own in the struggl,
Tor life? No, my dear ladies', 1 an
afraid your ideal u a little too remote
| - al FL