The evening times., 1898-09-16
NEW WOMANISM.
A Clever EngIishmnn Gives His
Idens About 1t.

When man takes up the new wom-
an question seriously, or serio-comical-
ly. he is apt to be interesting. Sir Wal
ter BeSant has something to say ab0nr
Sarah Grand's ideal of the new woman:
In the current number of monthly
magazine called the Lady's Realm there
is a paper by Sarah Grand which
have read with the greatest interest,"
writes Sir Walter. The author is q sp--
cial pleader; she is an advocate retained
for the defense; she has thrown her whole
strength and her whole soul into the de-
fense. and she defends the new woman at
the expense of the old woman. What Is
the new woman. according to her latest
and ablest advocate? She is new in per-
fection of her physique; a stronger, bet
ter, more beautiful creature than the
blackhead majority can conceive She is
magnanimous by nature, for all that
makes life worth having Is hers. She is
conspicuous for gentlehood, for courtesy.
and kindness. Her health is radiant, heg.
manners charming. her wit taking, her
morals unimpeachabe. Her sense of hu-
NOR is always on the alert. Good humor
is one of her attributes. She cannot COM
prehend why people should differ with
bitterness. What she chiefly demands is
that one should have fair play. She has
full faith in mans ultimate perfection.
OlntTNlSt SNe would not Tolerate MIN
a moment There, l hope l have not
misrepresented the writer. Sarah Grand
has. in a word. portrayed the new wom-
an as she herself imagines her; she has
revealed her own ideal. Well. / am the
last person TO raise any objection. II Is
always good 10 construct and 10 cherish
ideals. l do not know. for my own part
any new woman quite so perfect as Sa-
rah Grands But she will become some
thing to look for. and the search will
certainly lend a new pleasure TO life.
Are you, l shall ask one girl after the
other. the new woman?-the ideal?'
'Alast' she will reply. 4 am not; my
sense of humor is deficient. or my man
ners are awkward or my health is not
what l should like 1t to be- -
Once upon a time, the New Man, who
was about five and twenty. went in
search of the New Woman. He adopted
Sarah Grand's ideal; in fact, it would
have been difficult to frame. for himself
an ideal so perfectly charming
Il Will search for the New Woman" he
said, until find her. l will hunt for her
in all the corners of the earth yea, even
unto the very end thereof
So he set out on his travels. At first he
confined himself to his native country
He started with confidence in London So
ciety; he attended balls and dinner par
ties with zeal; he attended meetings ard
discussions; he joined societies and clubs
he went to Cambridge and was introduced
to Newman. l know not how many
years he spent in this pursuit. but he was
past thirty before he desisted.
Let me be just he said. IT have
found some very delightful girls. beauti-
ful. clever, well bred, strong in health.
but l cannot find my ideal. In one point
or other every girl is wanting. One. for
instance. frankly despises man: another
may be witty. but she is not kindly:
while l have not found a single girl who
can differ or endure difference without
bitterness.
So he went abroad. He tried Germany