The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-02

gates
| Can such an organization as the Pro-
| fessional Woman's League admit one
among them whose life has not in any
respect been worthy of emulation?
According to all published accounts,
| which have been allowed to pass uncor-
rected, Mrs. Langtrys life has been con-
stantly lacking in womanliness, dignity
and self-respect
"She has been neither a true artist nor
faithful woman. Notoriety alone, ano
that of the most questionSN14 sore, has
placed her in a profession rich with tai
ented, pure-hearted, noble women. There
is no room for Mrs. Langtry among them.
They owe her no duty, these loyal women
whose honest efforts and determination
alone have placed them in the front
ranks
''Only when the leopard can change his
spots will believe in the genuineness OF
Mrs. Langtry's latest version of the
greatest of these
Mrs. w. G. Jones' Mrs. Langtry's spon-
sor to the Women's League-"The Pro-
fessional Woman's League does not ask
about a woman's past. 1t concerns itself
only with her present and future. No
one can find fault with Mrs De Bathe's
present. If her conduct in the future does
not meet the approval of the League it
will be easy to drop her. 1 do not know
that the hard things that have been said
about Mrs. Langtry are true. Certainly
she is brilliant and beautiful woman.
We believe she will be Of assistance to
the club. At any rate have never been
one to cast down woman. found little
opposition to her joining the League.
There were not three black balls cast If
there were she would not have been ad-
mitted."
Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton-'When
women close their doors upon men of un-
questionably bad character then I shall
indorse a boycotte of an individual wo-
man who has erred, not before. Mrs.
Langtry is doubtless quits as good as
many society women. I read and care
nothing about the doings of fashionable
people The time spent in following their
movements is wasted Olive Schrefner
serves them very well when she calls So
cfety women parasites who live upon
men," When economic conditions are
such that all women have an opportunity
to work there will be no immortality be-
cause women will marry only for love,
and such marriages are rarely unhappy.
1t was, perhaps, one of the marriages of
custom that. led to Mrs Langtry's criti-
cised career. 1 shall throw no stones at
women until men are regenerated.
Mrs. James NJ. Belden-''Social recogni-
ton by way of an entertainment for
charity is of little worth 1t is also a
question in the United States as to what
is the highest social recognition. Birth,
breeding and brains should superseds
what is called The Aristocracy'
Miss Clara Barton-''What should be
men generally toward Mrs. Langtry when
she asks aid for a personal association
even for charity's sake? Women should
not turn against woman. If we can do
anything to truly help humanity in any
way, the hand should be extended. We
should be certain on this score, then go
ahead
Miss Ella Harrison-"Mrs Langtry is
as good as men who have stood by her
for years past. While not up to the con-
ventional standard morally she is deserv-
ing of that recognition accorded those
same men"
The Rev. Anna Shaw-"With regard to
Mrs Langtry, it should be taken into
consideration what her motive is in doing
what she now is doing. If her motive is
to rehabilitate herself socially, then the
attitude of society toward her must be
governed entirely by it's desire as to
whether or not it wishes Mrs. Langtry to
enter its circles.
Personally, L think it would have been
better taste for Mrs Langtry not to have
done this, not to have taken this initia-
tive under the circumstances
Mrs. Elizabeth Lease-'Doubtless the
Professional Woman's League, where
there was a black ball against Mrs.
Langtry, acted logically and after due de-
liberation. The members may have had
a spasm of justice and decided that Mrs.
Langtry was quite as good as the men of
their families, and acted accordingly. I
am for the single standard, and believe
that men should be quite as good as they
expect women to be. 1 don't think it mat
tiers much what society does Everybody
knows that it is not composed of the best
people; not the best mentally. physically.
NOIDllS
their poor bodies. 1t is society that makes
Mrs. Langtry possible I would not hest
tate to receive Mrs. Langtry into my
home. 1 know of no woman with whom
l would not be willing to clasp hands as
a sister,
Ella Wheeler Wilcox-"It is not mat
ter that can be arbitrarily dismissed or
dogmatically settled What the duty of
society women is toward Mrs Langtry
must be a question of Individual respon-
sibili5y. What is right for one may be
wrong for another, according to he lights !
and views.
1T is possible that Mrs Aston and Mrs
Mills believed they were helping a noble |
charity in giving their names to Mrs.
Langtry's enterprise. Our social leaders |
are quite as English as they are Amerl- |
can. and many OF them feel as much in
terested in the English soldiers as they
did in our warriors during the late Span
sh fray. Nevertheless. they We're con-
spicuous by their absence, save on paste |
board
1T is a comforting thought to know /
that one can do a great and noble act of !
charity by bit of pasteboard.
AS for the tea, it was a success fnan- |
cially, and it was interesting in way. !
attended the tea, and confess that my
motive was curiosity. That was gratified |
and 1 feel no worse for the experience. I /
saw no more drinking than I see at every /
private reception where punch is served. |
1t was not a representative society gath |
aring however.
1T was very much like an actors bene-
it-composed OF all kinds Of people and /
mainly theatrical Women went there /
from two motives. curiosity as to the 1