Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-03-30
OF Woman's Right
TO Enhance Natures Charms.

We have never been able to under
stand why anyone should wish to be
Younger or older than he or she really Is
Vanity. Of course, must he reckoned with
as potent force among human fraities.
and is responsible, doubtless. for much 81
womans resentment al the ravages OF
passiug years. But il is not the flight
Of time. nor even the contemplation of a
steady approach to the limit of human
existence that offend> her instinct: nci-
ther Of these considerations really enters
her mind. 1t is the change in physical
appearance iHscparable from growing old
that sinks into her heart with every
glance al a mirror and makes her sad:
angry, too. with God, for not imposing
the same penalties upon aging men. She
would not express the feeling in those
words, if 50 hluntly put. she might af-
frightedly deny its existence; but pressed
for an answer, if truthful. as most wom-
en- are in such matters. while lodging
the fixing of responsibility for this seem
iLg discrimination against her sex. She
will insist invariably upon the unfairncSS
Of the arrangement whereby Il process
that adds to mans physical distinction
detracts from woman charm.
For ourselves, we make it Il point sell
dom to criticise publicly the methods Of
the creator IN shaping the destinieS OF
the human race; but in this instance
we frankly concede the apparent justice
of W0man'S instructive attitude. Hap
PLY, however, we seem to perceive in
the wearing away of mems prejudices
signs of mitigation of the inequitN
Time was, not so long ago, when, hold
ing the fixed opinions of youth. we stern
" reprehended such innocent practices
as changing the color of ones hair. or
frightening the complexion on occasion.
or even dieting seriously for the figures
sake Not so, now The most casual
consideration growing out of philosoph-
zeal observation has not merely modified
our views. but has virtually changed
them altogether. 1t may still be- as once
we confidently asserted and now often
hear from others like foolish. that there
is nothing so beautiful as Young face
ia frame of silverv gray; but when the
poSSeSSOr of those incOngruuuS features
happens to be the wife of man most
often taken to be her son. we declare her
resort to henna 10 be not only Il right
but a duty to both. The custom of lacing
we Judge to be far less prevalent than
II was dozen years ago; the wiser
method of dieting seems to have super
SEEDED it; but, even so. no fair-miuded
person can behold Il woman without real
tive; and He knows il, as well as We
that there is nothing more hideous than
plashy feminine appearance. In pass
ing Judgment upon this point, therefore.
even ON religious grounds. we could 20
no further conscientiously than st. Paul
went in enjoining moderation in all
things.
Moreover, we believe in woman's right
as well as in women'S rights, Just as we
hang tenaciouSly TO the doctrine of ind-
vdual liberty for man. As Il people. we
viii not go far astray if we sustain the
tlme-honored principle that they are best
governed who are least governed. and
further insist that each and every think
ing person may do whatever in the world
best peases himself or herself. so long as
such conduct does not affect deleteriousy
The welfare of the community. That is
HE distinctively American idea and the
basis OF all true freedom; wherefore W.
set our face tixedly against every oppos-
ing tendency. political or otherwise, and
earnestly maintain that woman's en-
hancement. by harmless articles, Of Ma
lures endowment of charm is as clearly
itr malienable prerogative as immunity
from interference with thought and
speech IS that of man.-George Harvey
III Harpcr's Bazaar.