The age-herald., 1900-02-16
What Would You Do if
You Were a Woman ?

A number of public men have recently given their views upon the query: What would you do If you were a woman?"
 The interviewer writes:
 ''Woman probably will never admit that she means 1t, but, nevertheless, the ex- pression, oh, If I were only man., is heard not infrequently to fall from fair lips. It is doubtless true that the exclama- ton slips out only when skirts prove an impeachment to the accomplishing of some desired physical feat, when the exclaim- ing woman is righteously and rightly 1n- d.gnant and thinks that some hulk of a man needs a tnrashing.
 No sane man believes that woman would change places with him permanently, nor, when he looks into his own life, can he see any fit reason why she should wish so to do. It may be of some interest to
 womankind However, to know what few
 men who in the main have made successes of their own lives would do if. still possess
 ing their present knowledge of life's con ditions, they were called upon to change places and to assume the burdens and joys of womanhood."
 Among the well-known men who were asked to give their opinion was Jenkins Lloyd Jones, Who gave his views as foi- lows
 "If were a woman living in these days I would try in every way possible to work with and alongside of men in the interest of culture, reform and progress: In order to the more speedily secure the rights and recogntions still denied me l would try to live up to the full measure of the oppor- tunities and obligations now before me. In my eagerness to start new things I would not forget the old interests. I would not give to my club my best intellectual life and my zeal and enthusiasm to such an extent that would have only exhausted energies and conventional interests to give to the church, which I would still regard as next to the home in its central and fundamental interests. I would as often possible bury my femininity in my hu- manity. If were married l would try to take my husband along with me into the fields of poetry, philosophy and reform which so attracted me; and l would try in every way could to enter into his 5usi- ness perplexities, political activities, civic and economic studies. l would dress plain- ly, be ashamed to be suspected of following after fashions and trying to be fashion able I would never wear feathers in my hat and l would take my hat off in the church as well as in the theater. I would eschew tight corsets, high heels and nar- row toes. In short, I would try to be new woman with all the old-fashioned graces, sobrieties and sanctites kept on hand for everyday uses."
 MT. Stuart Robson, when questioned upon the subject, gave the following character istic reply:
 What little I know about the sex is greatly to their credit. If l were a woman l would not be as good as a woman: I would not suffer and toll for some one else, nor be as self-sacrificing nor patient and kind when that some one else proved ungrateful. would not have a ready smile for my husband when adyersities came.
 would not worry all the time about his comforts l would not stroke his forep ad
 when he had a headache, and am blamed If l would sympathize with him when his collar button rolled under the bureau If I were woman I would be a per- feet woman. My sweetness of disposition would make me the queen of the sex. When womankind lost me history wept."