The Washington herald., 1906-12-30
The Martha Washington Experiment


Il goes without saying that n torrent
Of criticism yelled in ribald jest will be
poured upon womankind for the closing
by the proprietors Of the Martha Wash
ington Hotel in New York. With q mild
blare Of trumpets, this hostelry was dedl-
Gated a few years ago to the exclusive
use Of women. No male person was to
be permitted To dwell under its roof IN
der severe restrictions, representatives of
the unworthy sex We're to be allowed 10
visit the Martha Washington. if lady
friends resident there should invite them.
but in no circumstances were they to
have the privilege Of living in the hotel
As We recall the incidents Of its opening.
from one side of the continent 10 the
other femininity hailed with joy the op-
pOrtunity thus afforded TO segregate itself
from rude masculinity when It suited its
mood 50 10 do. That the experiment
would prove a success no woman doubted,
and no man had the hardihood to question
out loud. Masculine cynicism. a quality Of
mind distinctly distasteful TO femininity
reserved the right TO hold its opinion as
10 what would be the final outcome Of the
experiment; but men have been too well
disciplined in the school Of experience to
give tongue 70 their thoughts upon such
themes. And so the dream Of an Adam
less Eden so fondly cherished by the
ladies in this case was not. disturbed by
prophecies Of failure
That failure has come, however. seems
now apparent. Various causes are as
signed. but we note that thus far only
men have spoken on the subject The
manager Of the hotel, mere man, claims
that one cause Of failure was the expec-
tation that he was to turn the Martha
Washington into an old ladies' home
He further asserts, after an experience
which we are bold enough to say under
the aegis of anonymity that we would
have fed from, that some women are
only happy when they have something TO
complain about. and that the chief secret
of the fauIt-fnding is to be found in the
disordeTed liveTs of the fault-fnders. "
One Of his discouraged, assistants, obvi-
ously made desperate enough to face any
fate. thus speaks out:
L tell you some of the women here
wouldn't be happy in heaven They are
soured. Perhaps they have been crossed
in love. For their sakes hope they have
been. for that at least would give them
something TO think about They have to
complain TO keep themselves amused
They have nothing else to do"
Discretion suggests a different reason
than the one assigned by the management
for the failure of the Martha Washing
ton. Following the dictates OF sound
policy, we take pleasure in advancing the
theory that a fatal error was committed
when men were intrUsted with the man
agement Of the hotel. There should have
been no man connected with the place in
any capacity. Clerks, bell boys, porters
cooks. walters, &c, should have been
members of the fair sex. Then would
the ideal condition for which disguised
and discontinued femininity strives have
been put to the severe and proper test
We indulge the hope, therefore. that the
owners of the property viii start out on
a new tack. Let the ladies have the
Martha Washington all 10 themselves and
manage It exactly 10 suit themselves. We