The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-06
BY DOROTHY DIX


different to the admiration of her
own sex, but it is mans that she seeks
most, for the praise of woman of wo-
man is the profitleSS applause of
those who have nothing but their
good opinion to give. while the favor
OF man is accompanied by perquisites
and prizes for the lucky one who wins
it,
of course women will deny this.
The traditional attitude of woman to-
ward man is that of a goddess on
a pedestal with her nose in the ar,
who haughtily deignS to Snlft at the
incense that is burnt before hef, not
a hustler who is out to round up an
incense burner. NeVertheleSs the
most casual observer cannot help re-
marking that Il woman never quite
treats woman as she treats man,
or takess quite as much trouble TO
pleasa her. No woman listens to an
other woman's conversation with the
same rapt attention she bestoWS upon
a mans No woman ever beams ana
gurglcs with delight at the attention
of another woman as she does at
the notice of even a commonplace
man. When man tells story
woman's laughter is hung on hair
trigger that any old chestnut Will eX-
Mode but a woman who can make
her own sex smile deserves medal
as a wit and a faithful worker.
All of this is as heaven ordained.
for a woman. neither has to marry
another woman, nor does she have
to keep her satisfied and happy
through all the ViciSsitudeS of mar
ried life The strange part of it. how
ever is that having made study or
the art of pleasing men since the
dawn of creation women have not re-
. 70 IN DDf coil
from this being the case-instead of
a handy manual of the qualities that
men like most in women having been
compiled after profound study OF
masculine taSte-women are still 1g-
norantly laundering along in the dark
content to make gueSSeS at the sub
ject. Naturally, when all women are
trying too solve the conundrum, many
women guess right. and many others
approximate the answer, but con-
tinually increasing number guess
wrong and in consequence are the
ranks of the spinsters swelled.
According to popular belief beauty
is the quality which is always put
at the head of the list of attractions
that women have for men, but in
reality this cuts q much smaller
figure than is generally supposed. In
fact men put a much more liberal
Interpretation upon what constitutes
good looks in woman than women
do themselves. A woman dellailds
regularity of feature, delicacy of skin.
sheen of hair and grace of figure,
before she will give a certificate OF
pulchritude to another woman, but
men will substitute many other agree
able qualities such as good health, or
a pretty dress for beauty, and let II
go at that.
etc hat
time and effort that women put IN
i'm the vain attempt to make straight
hair curly or convert a snort ana
stubby figure into q Gibsonian thin
ness and length, might be better en-
ployed in cultivating an amlable dis
position. or sweet smile WIlcn d
man is as likely as not to mistake for
a Venus-like complexion, or a classic
al profile That it is also true that
men do not marry for beauty ho"e''"'
much they may admire 1T abstractIy
is also abundantly proven by the
number of homely matrons with
whom we are acquainted
Next to beauty, women depend on
clothes to attract men. and yet, al
though the great majority of women
spend most of their time and money
and Serious thought on dressing TO
please men. they have never found
out the kind of clothes that men ad-
mire most. Men like simplicity in a
woman's dress 1t may be the SIM
DIicitv that costs more than miles OF
frilIs. but to the untutored masculine
eve IL looks simple. In old-faShlon-
cd novels which were mostly written
by men. the girl who wore an UNI
sophisticated white muslin always
captured the rich ara distinguished
hero from out of the very claws of
the ladies who were dressed in silks
and satins, and laces. and the same
ideal of women'S dress prevails to-
day among men.
They hate the fussy and the froWsy
i'm clothes. and above all they lay
stress far more than women do upon
cleanliness. Only too often a woman
will forgive chiffon for being messy,
because it is chiffon. or excuse lace
for being dirty because it is old point
but a man makes none of these fIe
distinctions. Nothing would induce
him to wear a Soiled collar, and noth-
ing disgusts him in q woman more
than to Sc her decked out in hnefy
that cries alour for the wash tub.
'Tbe woman who dresses to please man
may spend much money or little on
her clothes, but she must be always
Immediately neat, and the trimmer
and the tauter the better. Inc houf
glass figure was woman's evolution 10
meet the requirements OF masculine
taste.
Men like feminity in woman ana
the woman who affects the mannlsh
in dress or manners. or converse
ton does it at her peril. indeed, SO
great is mans admiration for woman
illness that he VIII forgive her all otn-
or defects if she only possesses TINS
one quality. This is the reason that
the silly little ingenue can marry SIX
times TO her strong minded sister
once, and why we see women VINO are
dull and stupid and unattractlVe VINO
are still adored by their MUSTANGS. y
man may love a woman in spite OF
her being witty. and intelligent ana
able to take care of herself, out ne
never loves her because OF these VII
tues.
Women are never more largely anu
gorgeously mistaken than when they
think that they make q winning with
men by trying to make imitation men
of themselves. The fallacy that men
pine for women to be little brothers
to them has gained ground OF late
and found many adherents among
women who affect masculine sports.
discuss risque subjects. and endeaVor
to wipe out the sex line. Never was
greater folly 1t is womans unlike.