The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1898-04-28
TYPES or MEN AND woMES.
The New Wowsn.
No. III.

Remembering the courtly splendOr
of the ancient regime, when honor and
truth kept white the lilies Of knight
heod, when a 'lady" was clinging
vine to which mankind bent servile
knee, how can we reconcile the fawn-
like timidity and helplessncss of those
white e-fngered danes with the strong,
free, masculine fearlessness woman of
of today? True, we. have not lost all the
gentle women a ID timid-eyed maidens,
but who is this brazen figure that clam
ors for the ballot, and apes her brother
in everything, even in dress? She is
the new woman! Ye gods and little
fishesl is this the true, loyal sex for
which men have died this new-any-
thing but the beautiful and sacred
name Of woman? She is the creature
that has gladdened the heart of the carl
caturist, who, at the time of her en-
trance into life and public notice, was
rather idle, owing to the stagnancy. or
cldness of eccentric types of men and
women at whom his sneer might be di-
rected; she is the cause of the bitter
cry that rises to many mems lips: care
there ne more womanly womea in ex-
istence? Are they all free-minded?"
and many cynic smiles his grim, hope
less smile and comments upon the de-
generacy of humanity, as he views this
bloomer- clad, bold faced woman of the
world. How can we attribute it to
progress? Pitiablo progress it is, if
this is to be the outcome of it all.
Woman, whose sphere, while limited,
is greater by far than that of the crown
ed monarch, is frienziedly attempting
to reach the ballot. the halls of con-
gress-to be, in truth. what she calls
''man's equal" And she never once
pauses to reflect that all this can be ac-
complished, while she still remains a
strong, true, noble woman, content
with simplicity and obscurity, so long
as she fultils the mission of woman
kind with praise-worthy effort. Her
voice may be heard in the halls of con-
gress through her sons; her goodness
and purity may illumine the world
through her womanly daughters. What
ncbler mission could woman have than
to rear sons Of genius and daughters oi
purity?
The new woman has practically revo
lutionized woman kind She presents
to your mind picture-that of tht
white-faced, dainty, delicate creatur,
of century ago, who lounged amids
masses of satiny cushions and rea(
novels, weeping and fainting over thu
exploits OF the heroine, and whose mos
menial and difficult labor consisted 0
the perfectly lady-like employment 0
knitting gray socks, and then she ask
; you to compare that dainty ''lady" will
herself, as she goes whirling through
{ the dusty alleys upon silent steet
: that would have filled that modest
: weak -liMbed dame with unbounde,
. horror, and as we behold the strong
sinewy muscles, clear eyes, rudd
' cheeks and agile form of the new ON
an, we are obliged to admit that sh
e commands oar greatest admiration
But the ubiquitous Puck presents
second picture, that we turn from j
/ horror: A timideyed, gentle hus
} hand seated beside a cradle, who's
"rocker" is piled by his motherly q
: foot, his white hands busy among til
sheeny folds of fancy work." Will
his low voice lulls to sleep the fretfl
: infant with that beautiful stanza
. "Rock-a-byc baby in the tree top,
O When tho wind blows the cradle willrock:
h When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby cradle and ALL =
: while above him stands the new woman
clad in her bifurcated garments, an
wearing the lordly expression of OF
who knows she is monarch of all 81
. surveys.
"My dear" she is saying in tol
of authority, II am going to the clu
now and may not return until late, |
please get me the latch-key from n
gray bloomer pockets. Aud the ge1
tie little husband, quiyering meek
under her goodbye kiss, pauses to sa
"Yes, dear, as he hurries off ON his e
rand.
While we know that the above is I
exaggerated picture of the new woman
power, yet is it so very far from VII
might beif woman should be given Il
every right Of man? Woman is all u
fitted for the ballot and the platforl
And these that clamor fer ''wome1
rights" would certainly take the rel
"A from the mans hands in the home.
6 These advanced women are not woi
u anly; they tell MS that Justice is slee
= ing and that they are bent upon ava
ay ening her. And, Judging from t
.rt amount Of noise they manage to pl
'm duce in loudly proclaiming thI
,se ss erights," they viii succeed, if t
nd sleeping goddess is susceptible
1 sound. (Let us hope she is notD
l Who ever heard of new WON
ps s making an ideal mother she whe n,
or. leets her children, trusting them to
lie tender mercies Of an ignorant and G
times heartless nurse who leaves