Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-04-14
THE SENSE OF HONOR
ARB WOMEN LACKING IN TRUN
MEANING OF TERMp
Ys-dict Of Time Is "No," But Do Not
Facts Belle ItP-Have the Women
of Your Acquaintance This Sense of
Honofe-Are They Deficient in
Truth Tellingp-Do Women Break
Engagements More Frequently
Than MenP
RY KArE upsoN cI.ARK.
Copyright. 1905. by Joseph B. Bowles)

BY KATE UPSON CLARK.
Copyright. 1895. by Joseph b. Bowles.)
In a recent article in this series
| various reasons were given for the
breaking of engagements. Now cor
Respondent informs us that the chief
reason for broken engagements is
lack of "honoI" among women. He
insists that far more engagements are
broken by the woman in the case than
by the man, snd that the reason in
many, or mos, of the instances is
the absolute lack of a sense of honor
in the female breast.
Women caunot see why, simply
because they have pledged their word,
they should hsve to keep promise,
when any trifling cause stands in the
way Under he influence of their
emotions, they will break any sort of
a promise, or lie or steal, or worse.
"misogynic" critic, women in the
humber or the discredited classes.
mean our college and society girls and
women. The great lack of the fe-
ale character to-day is any sort of
an adequate sense of honor"
Montague, whom Emerson calls
"the great sheptic," shares the opin-
ion of this cynical correspondent.
Speaking of marriage, he says, "the
ordinary talent of women is. such that
they do not appear to be endowed with
consistency of mind, to endure the
pinch of so hard and durable knot"
Yet statistics in this age and coun-
try prove that the overwhelming ma
jority of cases Of desertion of one or
another partner in matrimony is OF
men. Have things changed since
Montague wrote in the latter half
OF the sixteenth century? Have
women grown more constant, or have
men grown less so? Is the argument
o. mother-love reason for the SUI
perior steadfastness of women? Or
was the 'astute monseigneur, per-
chance, mistaken in his generaliza-
tons?
In another essay Montaigre tells
Of woman who stole from her hus-
band in order, as she says, ito give
tc the chl,rch," though he evidently
does not believe that her ill-gotten
gains ever found their way into the
sacred Golfers. This clever and anus
ing old genius never fails to give
women smart rap whenever he has
chance. and yet he repeatedly
praises Some special woman, as when
he tells Mime DEstissac, with the
most evident sincerity, that she is a
'pattern Of constancy, steadiness and
prudence and all excellent quail
ties
While 1t i'll becomes our sex tt
parade Us superior virtues, it may b.
: modestly mentioned that habi
which is illustrated in the Essays Of
Montague, the Conversations O
DR.. Johnson, and, in fact, nearly al
literature. of belittling femininity il
every respect, may have been founded
upon peculiarites which, during thu
lapse Of ages, may have become mucl
modified, or may have ceased to exist
AS it was with Montaigne, so it Otter
is with our modern men, when the.
come Gown to particulars.
THUS not long ago, in conversation
which was overheard between a NAL
and woman, the man retreated be
fore tie onslaught of cold facts, whel
discussing this very subject
He had laid down a paper, in whicl
I the derelictions of certain women ha
, been described, with the remark
singular, isn't it, how lacking WON
1 en- are in any sense of honor!"
New, do you really think the
5 nre?' demanded this woman VIII
g happened to be his sister isn't tina
way of speaking which has com
t down to us from former generations
D For instance, have you ever know
me 10 display a lack Of conscience,
denseness regarding affairs of honor?
Good heavens, no! l should a
soon think of accusing the Ange
Gabriel"
: We'll, there is Margaret w
, Helen c., Florence l." sh
:, musea on, adding, before he could in
:, terpose, and yet thoughtfully and de
liber&tely, the names of a dozen NOR
= girls and women among their int
mate family circle. would you hes
. tate o trust any Of them with none!
or secrets, or would you doubt thei
word"
:. Nc he admitted candidiy, afte
b, moments consideration. 81 believ
every woman you have mentioned ha
:, keen sense of honor, and havi,l
= given her word would keep it to tn
end"
9 Then why do you make such hi
initiating charges against us?"
"Ol, but those are all exception;
- wom' n"
"a 81 venture to deny it." she asserte,
q with some feeling Il believe that
II the lower walks of life so called, tn
II women will keep their word quite {
# oftsn and as rigidly as the men of ii
cosn. class 7 would mako thiS o-