New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-24

GENERAL DENIAL THAT THE GENTIER
sen LACKS TASTE" VOICED BY
TWO WRITER'S.

Warm indeed. has been the discussion brought
about by the Scotch professors statement; that
woman has no literary taste" Last Friday the
Lenox Avenue Branch OF the National Alliance OF
Unitarian Women met TO discuss the moral power
of the novel giving their Views in a most decided
ard determined manner thereby claiming they had
taste" and as TO its quality. they were ready TO
be judged.
The different societies Of the NewYork Normal
College have taken up the subject In n most en-
thusiastic manner. the Alpha Beta Gamma spend
Ing the whole Of one afternoon last week discuss
ing the question rs Magazine Reading Profitable"
and last night NJ. Louise Thomas. who Is deeply
interested in the subject. greatly entertained her
guests by saying
ITO declare that the average woman does not
follow or care for literary pursuits Is TO simply
class her with the whole of mankind.
1.-The literary or learned. guild is never many
II Is comprised OF the select few who are silently
guiding and moulding the minds OF the many. but
In America the proportion between men and women
is fairly balanced. There is no reason why II
should not be so: the schools are open alike to
girls and boys. The spirit of our institutions IA
yors the idea OF mental equality. and the women
nre to be the mothers of both men and women.
and TO transmit to both whatever intellectual train
ing they themselves may possess. Whether that
be much little It is fair to assume that the
tendencies OF the children of the same mother can
not be essentially different.
Literature, or. more properly learning. is rep
resented by books. magazines and newspapers. and
the class affected by II may be divided into two
pa rts those who write and those who read.
"Of the last named, undoubtedly
largely in the majority for the reason that they
have more leisure than men and their habits lead
them to quiet pursuits. l am aware that mere
ISOLATION does not amount 10 much on either side,
and, still more. that 1t is impossible to tabuate
any average Of the true thinking power OF tho men
and women OF the world. but 1 of the opinion
that in America literature Is largely in the hands
Of the women. What they read and approve be-
comes POPULAR what they earnestly condemn must
die.
lately been giving monthly tables OF the popular
1896 We find nine books named, five OF them by
men, and four by women not bad proportion.
considering that men have centuries OF training and
scholarship behind them. and women centuries OF
Limitation and oppression The readers of these
same books will, | doubt not. be ten women TO
man.
THE love OF learning Is not question all.
any more than H. the yearning after the principles OF
liberty and eternal justice
PERSONALLY believe In the clearer spiritual percep-
and therein lies my hope Of tie future of the
but 10 Jess do believe IN and trust the strength. the
power OF logical investiga ton. and the wisdom OF
good men. and will not measure either against the
other for both alike essential in the great har-
mony OF the worlds redemption
THAT popular taste is not the finest taste hardly
calls for contradiction" declares Alice Wellington
Rollins Of Bronxvile. 1T Is il should assert