The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-03
THE HOWE, ITS PROBLEMS IND INTERESTS
Observations of Peggy

!. 90
In one OF Jessie Fothergilrs books
! (she who wrote THE First VioIin').
cannot recall which one nowhere is
! an allegory which applies to many M
our women today. The gist of il is. =
young woman was journeying through,
a wood tine Forest OF Arden, perhaps)
and came to a hermit's hut where the
kindly hermit offered her n choice Of
one of three breast-knots; one was a
diamond, another was of gold. and the
third OF cut steel. She close the latter
The hermit thought her choice mani
/ testify foolish. and explained TO her thar
one was real diamond of rare value
/ the next the purest gold. whereas she
/ had chosen the cheap steel bauble
which would inevitably hurt her some
time, by reason of its sharp cutting.
! Nevertheless. she held to her choice
and woman-like. her only answer when
asked for her reason for so doing was
because she wanted IL.
am often reminded OF that story
when l sec girls passing by young men
of kindly natures, who love them earn
estly. devotedly and thoroughly. for
those OF disagreeable qualities whom
their fellow men and their parents dis
like.
When women are young they are
possessed Of a missionary spirit and
they look around, for subjects. 1t is a
pretty conceit. Of course, and one does
not object TO it before marriage. until
the sacrificing OF a young life in the
vain endeavor to reclaim a drunkard
for instance. occurs Then one rebels
strongly.
How / wish girls would come to be-
lieve that unless 6 man can be re-
claimed thoroughly before marriage, he
is not likely TO have change OF heart
afterward Not in one case out OF ten
does reformation begin afterward. and
meantime what becomes Of the gold and
the diamond
Again. after woman have been in the
world a few seasons. they often profess
to dislike a good man and prefer some
one with history They think good
ness is monotonous and gentility a
bore: and a little vulgarity and perhaps
brutality Is more to be desired. There
is a domination. you know. about Vul
gar. coarse man that the poor things
admire.
Their taste is somewhat similar to
that of the man of the plains to whom
whisky has lost its bite" and who
takes the Jamaica ginger instead.
The misery entailed in a life partner
ship with these samples of humanity Is
what oftentimes brings about divorce.
which is the only course left to the de-
luded women. who toss their heads at
the warning voices of their friends and
elders.
OF late there has been much talk I'm
the magazines regarding marriage. one
Of them in particular pointing out that
the percentage Of happily married men
who were also successful In their bust
ness or professional careers was indeed
small; and Of course the same rule APP
plies to women.
To be great as the world estirnst es I
greatness. one must be single; she must
have a purpose true. and brave all dan
gers. and outsteD all obstacles to
seems to think the married man or wo- |
man cannot do this.
His holiness Plus Y, II not a woman |
hater at Least is determined to carry |
put the precepts of St Paul, to the |
effect that women must keep silence in /
the churches. He has decreed. through |
Cardinal Cretoni. that women singers /
must be absolutely excluded from
church choirs. Boys are to sing the l
soprano and alto parts. and the choir Is 4
10 be concealed behind rood screen.
This is return 10 medieval customs.
However. I dare say, no matter what
the prophets may say. or whatever
may write or others like me, the world |
will go on In the same old way. and girls |
will be foolish until girls are no more.