Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-04-08
THE KENTUCKIAN'S
"WEAKNESS. y

If there is anything that dis
tinguishes the Kentuckian it is his
gallantry and indulgence to women.
Wherever he may be and whatever
the, surroundings and circum-
stances, this is so clearly manifested
that the Kentuckian can be pointed
out among a thousand. 1t is the
one of his many good traits most
admired, and which the Kentuckian
holds as the first and ultimate test
of manhood. He who would treat
a woman disrespectfully has no
standing as a man among Ken
tuckians. 1t matters not whom the
woman may be, the Kentuckian
respects woman-not because OF
her wealth, beauty, dress, social
standing, character or even color
but solely because she is a woman.
His whole nature revolts at and he
is ever ready to resent the slightest
discourtesy to her. And the Ken
lucky women, as a natural result of
this characteristic of the men, not
only accept graciously such gal
lantry, courtesy and solicitude for
their safety, convenience and COM
fort, but as a matter of fact, if not
as an essential attribute of the gen.
tleman, although other women may
regard it as objectionable oficious-
ness and impertinence. The Ken
lucky woman expects men to re-
spect, serve, indulge and give up
everything to her, and the men all
but unanimously uphold and en-
courage her in the demaud.
We could not disapprove OF this
Kentucky idea and custom If we
would, because we are imbued WITH
the same weakness" of all Ken
tuckians for women, and like them,
though we sometimes think the
women frequently impose on good
manners and deserve a rebuke
rather than courtesy, we just can't
help, at least, not condemnlng
them. But the women do at times
abuse the privileges accorded them,
and though the men submit to it
silently and evenly politely here, it
would likely be emphatically re-
scented as unladylike by any other
man than a Kentuckian, who,
though he feels keenly the imposi-
ton, impoliteness and injustice of
the women's conduct and may be
angered thereat, is restrained by
his respect for her from doing or
saying anything that could be con-
strued as offensive. While this adds
to the credit of the men, it is GER
tainly discreditable to the women.
The Kentuckian may overlook it,
or at best give it only a passing
thought, but others note and COM
ment on it. In theaters, public
places, street cars, everywhere, with
rare exceptions, is this universal
courtesy and indulgence of men to
women practiced and more or less
abused by the women. A little
forethought and consideration by
the women would go far to lessen
the abuse of a custom of which
every Kentuckian is proud and
the violation of which pains him
sorely.
A case in point On Sunday
afternoon street car nearly filled,
in which were several men, was
stopped by crowd of about fifteen
women, who crowded in. All of the
men but two promptly arose and
gave up their seats, The two men,
all unconscious, retained their seats.
during the trip, allowing several of
the women to stand. Every woman
will vote those two men "brutes, "
and nearly every man, without a
moments hesitation, will indorse
the verdict, and the few men who
do not will not argue the case,