The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-13
.Riahtsv and PoIiteness.

In various sections Of the country late
" there have been laws and ordinances
passed for the purpose of regulating the
headgear worn in theaters and other places
of public amusement or gathering. These
laws have all been directed against women
as being practically the only offenders. 1t
has been presumed that woman's rights
do not extend to and include the privilege
Of consulting only her own desires with
regard to her headgear in public halls; she
must consider the convenience and pleas
ure of others. And yet, while states and
cities have been passing laws against wo-
mems hats, We find that a court of the
District Of Columbia has declared by its
verdict that a man has a right 10 wear
his hat in the theater. Without discussing
whether or not the Washington court is
right, it may be stated that, if it is the
right of a man to wear his hat in the the
alter. the south is one section of the coun-
try in which men viii forego that right,
out of respect for the ladies who attend
The play, and for the further reason that
the ethics of good breeding demand uncov-
tit1 utd'iH III Hu'I kldNtSs
Another instance of fin de steele asser-
ton Of mems rights" is reported from
Ohio. 1t is the right of men in that state,
as in others, to retain their seats in street
ears while ladies are standing for lack Of
sitting room. AT Cleveland a club has
been formed for the purpose of asserting
that right. 1t is called the Shutdown
club" and the members are pledged not
TO give up their seats to women under any
circumstances. The club has only one
rule, which embodies its purpose as stat
ed. Any violation of the rule is followed
by expulsion. The membership is limited
to 300. 1t is now full, and there is said
to be a large waiting list.
This is also right" which will not be
asserted by the men of the south. There
is still chivalry in this section of the coun-
try. Women continue to receive the po-
lite attentions and little kindnesses and
Differences which gentlemen feel called
upon to render to the opposite sex, wheth-
er or not they set aside any of their own
rights in so doing. The man who refused
to offer his seat to a woman in a crowded
car would be regarded as a boor, and he
would be pretty apt to understand the
company's opinion of him before a great
while.
At the same time, it may be that the la
dies of the north are in a great measure
responsible for this movement on the part
of the men to assert "men's rights" A
great many of them have taken up the
new woman" idea. They ask to be put
upon footing with men in business, pol
tics and otherwise. They profess to de-
sire perfect equality. They want to do
mems work. hence the men may think ii
is no more than just that they should be
required to put up with mems inconve-
niences. If Difference were shown to them
it would convey the idea that the men
were still of the opinion that they were
the weaker sex" and should still be
treated as such. And that would wound
the new woman's pride. Women may
gain something of independence by Their
efforts to occupy the same plane with men
but they will be very apt TO lose much OF
that fine, chivalrous Difference towards
them on the part of men, once known as
an American trait but now largely con-
fined to the south.