New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-23
THE "PROGPESS" or WONEN.

In the course of some remarks TO the women
OF the Twelfth Night Club the other day Mr..
Cainc. the writer of problem" novels and plays,
spoke Of the advance women have made In the
last fifty years in taking part in the work of
the outside world Before that time marriage
and the nursery set up the first and only claim
TO their attention. Now he said man and wife
are no longer one but women think and act
for themselves and put on masculine man
ner All of which he regarded as proof of prog
ress and as making the new type of woman
much more attractive than the old. In this
latest contribution TO new woman" literature
there is unquestionably much truth. Women
arc doing more of the worlds work than be-
fore. They are-some Of them-paying less At
tention to marriage and the nursery. In many
cases husband and wife are not one, save in
name And many women have assumed a mas
culine manner So far we must agree with the
speaker But from his conclusion that these
things are cause for congratulatOn are con-
Idcnt the bette" mind of the community will
unhcsltatngy and cmphatically dissent.
We are far from subscribing 10 the brutal
creed onre-we believe ongly-attributed TO
Bismarck. that women are fiji only 10 bake
bread and breed babies" But we venture 10
hold that the claim of marriage and the nursery
10 woman's first attention Is valid and wor-
thy one If there be a higher worldly mission
than to continue the work Of the Creator Him
self we have not yet been made acquainted
with IT, The physicians work. in saving lives,
s noble: but this work creates lives The work
Of the priest in saving souls from sin is noble;
but This work Is the creation OF new souls. For
It no one can be- too good. no preparation too
great The most perfect physical gifts. the
most liberal intellectual culture. the lOftest
spiritual attachments. may we'll find their con
summation and their coronation In meeting this
"clalm OF marriage and the nursery" which is
nowadays so often regarded with something
akin to aversion and contempt. For that claim
Is simply a call to recreation OF the human race
and the closest possible partnership with God.
Nor can we regard it as a good thing for
husband and wife not TO he one; one. that is.
In mind and spirit We must confess a certain
partiality for the ancient principle that they
twain shall be one flesh" That may be- mere
superstition. just the notion OF two souls
with but a single thought. two hearts TINT beat
las one" Is mere poetry. still, II has been
realized unc0unted times in the long history Of
our race and always. we are persuaded. with
the happieSt results. Nor yet can we regard
the assumption of n masculine manner by wOm-
en- as any enhancement of their attractIveness
or ns any elevation Of their standing in the
world any more than we could admire effem-
macy in man. 70 each his or her true nature
Thus only is the highest destiny Of each 10 be
attained. The effemInate man * contemptlble
the masculine woman Is repulsve. Neither APP
peas 10 respect or sympathy ar love. and
neither IL apt 10 do n great or worthy work In
the world. The manly man and the womanly
woman are they who prevail and conquer.
We shall not he accused Of unfrlendliness Ia
the cause Of wOman's progress. We have cham
pioned. and shall champion, her rights to equal
ity with man equality IN opportunity for in
tellectual culture. and. 80 far as necessary for
professional and Industrial achievement Dvk