The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-18
About That Dead Line For women.

called upon 10 lace not ire or crit /
icism from women of the progressive |
school because of the dicta found in /
his recent book, Sex ard Society" +
Portions of the book have already ap-
peared in various journals and at diff /
ferent times, usually with the result /
that many women became conscious
that some new man Of science was
looking at them with a microscope. /
Now. the microscope doesn't fiatter di- |
rectly. But it digs up truth. Readers
of Professor Thomas argument who
so choose may find therein a view
which exalts the position the sex of
woman holds in the scheme of the
universe. Evidently the author aimed
to be pitilessly truthful or scientific
throughout the work. He comedies that
the new woman is getting on. but hints
that in her zeal for progress she may
painfully ignore certain limitations
that are inexorable, yet perhaps are
wisely ordered.
Recently another scientist has pur
sued this train of thought to the point
as he believes, of demonstrating that
man at his best is the offspring of wo-
man who is not engrossed in public
affairs and cannot be so engaged and
still give the world noble offspring.
Sentiment and feeling, according to
DR.. Albert Reibmayr, who writes on
women's rights as a menace to the
race. are crushed out of women who
devote their powers to affairs which
are classed as practical. Business, art,
science, literature either deaden or
/ use up the finer qualities of both men
| and women. Mems strains run out.
Women with original stores of feeling
and sentimental, impractical views Of
/ life must rear new strains to keep
society moving and likewise must
cherish their monopoly jealousy as
the heritage of their sex. To quote:
1t is clear that the biological menace
in the womans rights movement lies in
the loss Of the finer sensibilities. These
| Will be stifled and effaced. We know to-
| day that this priceless Inheritance is en-
! tirely dependent on the intensive culture
| Of the mother feelings. These feelings
| have heretofore been highly developed by
| the woman, undisturbed by the struggle
! for existence, protected by the man and
! relieved of the greater part OF the mate
| rial cares OF the family. And by constant
| culture and development throughout the
course of generations these deep sensibil-
tiles have become grand inheritance. If,
/ however, woman enters the field OF active
4 H.
| stunning and degeneration of the feelings,
but to abnormal growth of the intellect
and to the inevitable exhaustion of the
brain through social strife.
! OF this German doctors reasoning it
may be said that his thoughts have
come out in an atmosphere where the
feminine development which he de-
plores is comparatively new and q
startling innovation. Experience shows
that women noted for what Is called
practical ability and who have exer-
, cised it have given birth to families OF
strong men. And woman's invasion
. of new fields Of activity does not mean
that individuals will to an alarming
extent separate themselves from the
sphere where feeling and sentiment
have full play and continue to mark
male offspring. Apparently MAORI
ty of young women who engage in
gainful occupations subsequently mar
ry and become devoted mothers. Al
least we may safely wait before de
Gliding offhand that the feminine spirit
of the age is going wrong.
Professor Thomas himself calls at
tention to races of women who were
; stronger than their men, PHYSICAL.
and every other way; also that Otter
the so called weaknesses of the fe
. male character have been due to de
4 velopment rather than to structural in
feriority. To the main proposition
which he stands for femininists ma.
answer that history shows great mel
controlled by a woman or women
! great epochs in which the sway Of VIC
men was complete, and stages of civ
: ilization, as in ancient Egypt, Athen
; and Sparta, where women ruled tn
j home, directed commerce and cor
e trolled the state. In brief. many note
: events and personages in history mus
I be explained away and lessons froI
; everyday experience thrown to til
: winds before society can be convince
that there is a dead line in woman
progress, to be crossed only at peril t
= the entire human race, because natur
u has proclaimed to one sex thus IA
I and no farther"
J. S0mo of tho phiI9dplnb DolicoToo