The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-04-21
BY KATE UPSON CLARK.

rarious reasons were given for the
breaking of engagements. Now a cor
respondent informs us that the chief
reason for broken engagements is a
lack of honor" among women. He
insists that far more engagements are
broken by the woman in the case than
by the man, and that the reason in
many, or most, OF the instances is
the absolute lack of sense of honor
In the female breast
women cannot see why, simply
because they have pledged their word,
they should have to keep a promise,
when any trifling cause stands in the
way Under the influence of their
emotions, they will break any sort OF
a promise, or lie or steal, or worse.
And do not mean," pursues this
"misogynic" critic, women in the
humber or the discredited classes. /
mean our college and society girls and
women. The great lack of the fe-
male character to-day is any sort of
an adequate sense Of honor"
Montaigne. whom Emerson calls
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 q 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
Montaigne wrote, in the latter half
of the sixteenth century? Have
women grown more constant, or have
men grown less so? Is the argument
of 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 Montaigne tells
of woman who stole from her hus-
band in order, as she says, Ito give
to the church, 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 a smart rap whenever he has
a chance; and yet he repeatedly
praises some special woman, as when
he tells Nine. DEstissac, with the
most evident sincerity, that she is q
"pattern of consistency, steadiness and
prudence and all excellent quail
ties"
While it i'll becomes our sex to
parade its superior virtues, it may be
| mOdestly mentioned that a habit
which is illustrated in the Essays of
Montague, the Conversations of
DR.. Johnson, and. in fact nearly all
literature, of belittling femininity in
every respect. may have been founded
upon peculiarities which. during the
lapse of ages, may have become much
modified. or may have ceased to exist
AS it was with Montaigne, so it often
| is with our modern men, when they
| come down TO particulars.
Thus not long ago. in a conversation
which was overheard between a man
and a woman. Tic man retreated be-
fore the onslaught of cold facts, when
| discussing this very subject.
He had laid down a paper, in which
the derelictions Of certain won en- had
been described, with the remark:
singular, isn't it. how lacking WON
en- are in any sense of honor"
Nov, do you really think they
are?' demanded this woman, who
happened to be his sister. Isn't that
a way of speaking, which has come
down to us from former generations
For instance. have you ever known
me to display a lack of conscience, a
denseness regarding affairs of honor?''
| Good heavens, no! l should as
soon think of accusing the Angel
GABRIEL"
We'll, there is Margaret W.,
Helen c., Florence L." she
unused on, adding. before he could in
terpose, and yet tiloughtfully and de-
liberately, the names of a dozen more
girls and women among their init
mate family circle. would you hest
tate to trust any of them with money
or secrets, Or would you doubt their
word?"
No. he admitted canddiy, after
a moments consideration. II believe
every woman you have mentioned has
a keen sense of honor, and having
given her word would keep it to the
end"
Then why do you make such hu.
initiating charges against us?'
"Oh, but those are all exceptional
women"
II venture to deny it" she asserted
with some feeling. Il believe that in
the lower walks of life,' so called, the
women will keep their word quite al
often and as rigidly as the men of the
same class. I would make this ex.
ception, though I am not sure ever
of this: When a woman's husband OF
children are concerned-their lives OF