The Washington herald., 1907-04-28

Pittsburg, April H-Baron Estouf-
nelles de Constant. the distinguished
member of the French Senate, who came
over to the Peace Conference, was com
pletely captivated by what he has seen
OF American welded life.
1.-THE American home life IS the most
charming OF any country in the world,
he said in an interview just before leav-
ing. The baron preferred TO oOnfne him
self TO the American wife ana mother,
subject in which. he said. he was deeply
interested.
Prom the little child to the wife it is
harmony and happiness. This is not so
in France This prevalent condition here
is due 10 the American wife, her influence
over her husband and mankind in gen
eral. to her rights as she understands
them. TO her feminine superiority She in
spires husband, father, brother, cousin
with this idea, and, indeed, every man.
She does not do it in a high-handed, die
tatorial manner nor does she WELD 1t
with a club. but with winsome ways,
sweetness. and tact.
Men are what women make them;
that is to say, their esteem and regard
toward their sex-their attitude toward
them. This your women are taught from
infancy Though it is not necessary to
teach it 10 them, they are born with an
intuitive knowledge Of how TO make hus-
band and all men respectful and indul-
gent"
With a growing suspicion it was sug-
gested that perhaps the baron might take
back with him some American Venus
.'Ah, no, he hastily exclaimed. I have
not come over to capture an heiress.
am already a benedict" he said, with
smile.
Not FOppish NObIeman.
In appearance the baron is far from
the picture which the average American
forms Of French b;irons, counts. and
dukes created by eccentric foreigners who
visit this country A little above me-
dunn height of good weight, entirely de-
void Of mannerisms and airs. his appear
ance suggested an American fnancier.
He swung no cane. wore no spats. no
violets adorned his coat lapel and he
did not radiate with sachet powder,
Neither did he affect a squirt or the
kangaroo walk.
Another reason why women are treat
ed with so much Difference in America,
continued the baron, is partly due TO the
fact that during the colonial days they
were scarce over here and greatly priced.
This marked the beginning Of the appre-
citation of their charms and merits, and.
having gained a substantial fOOthOld, they
have had the tact to foster this apprecia-
ton.
Each country has its peculiar customs.
but in no country in the world are women
held in such esteem or treated so well as
in America. All the others singularIy
agree in the subordination of woman.
Believes IN WOman's Rights.
II am believer in woman's rights. but
IL is a little too early for woman suffrage.
I believe in the rights of woman 10 rule
over heart and home. To enjoy "a social
equality with her husband, to make the
social position, for it is a fact that in
America il is the man who makes the
financial standing and the wife who
creates the social position. One is neces-
sary TO the other.
Without money il would be we'll nigh
impossible to keep up in the social
world, with its Injuries and extrava-
gances Without the incentive of pres
tige the enjoyment Of certain amount
of favor ana applause from the world
at large there would not be near the
striving after large fortunes We behold
on every side.
In America, observe, the wife Yields
the influence over the children; she is
the one who dictates pretty much the
trend of their lives and education, It
requires much firmness, delicate percep-
ton. and keen insight 10 do this Her
aaH Sc g1
an amazing fact that she is not in
frequently his adviser. He confdes IN her
his business secrets and troubles. and
they live as one. In the language Of
one OF your American plays, it is a case
of TWO souls with but a single thought
two hearts thai beat as one. 1t is, in
deed charming.
Suffrage Not Yet.
THAT is what l call, in a way, the
fulhument of woman's rights AS for
womans suffrage, not yet-the situation
is too perfect to risk an element that
might change all this. Men here con-
slider women too sacred to fight with
them over their masculine problems.
Instead of lighting for suffrage why
does not the American woman try to
ameliorate the condition Of women in
other countries SO that they might re-
ceive and enjoy the homage and cOnsid-
Grafton Of their husbands and men in gen
eral? Teach them their secrets
The cause of mems attitude toward
women in other countries? I attribute it
to military discipline, which the men over
there are all compelled TO undergo. They
are taught It, and they bring It 10 bear
upon their wives, their children, and
their homes.
1.-THE French husband is far from being
as good as the French wife, although
Il E.-aL.---.fa- in,