The L'Anse sentinel., 1907-12-28
Copyright. By Joseph B. BowIss.l

dinate Knowledge to Charm.
Copyright. By Joseph B. Bowlss)
(Anna Farwell de Koven. wife of Regl-
maid de Koven. the composer. Is well
known as an author. Among her first lit
erary work may be mentioned her trans
man." which was praised by. the critics.
dust Doll" dealing with society in New
Editions and was republished in England
and India Her novel, by the Waters OF
Babylon" was also distinct success"
The liberty of American women has
ecome so universally accepted . fact
nat 1t has passed into a byword of
''omparison to the older nations.
The puritan idea has become at
last transmitted, through the light and
luxury Of wealth and the diffused in
nuence of widely scattered location.
INTO basis of fine responsibility and
finer courage. From Virginia and
he more southern states we have a
fluent charm, soft womanliness and
grace both lovable and admirable, but
regrettably lessening with the disap-
pearance Of the characteristic life of
the south.
1t Is too early to attempt an analysis
Of the western idea Of American wom-
anhood, for the west, from Cleveland
and Chicago outward, is but system
Of eastern colonies with only one gen.
eral and determining condition, and
that is liberty, under which individual
traits, traditions and tendencies find
their full opportunity of development.
These various ideas. historical as
well as local. In their origin have pro-
duced the types Of women thus largely
indicated in our country. Profoundly
,elt and almost universally operative,
,eneath these varying influences, re.
mains the old-world orientalism that
women should be first charming. again
charming and always charming. Char
acter. logic, reason and other stern
requirements Of life are for the most
part left to develop in some mysteri'
GUS way, INTENDED.
: The desirability of thorough col
/ ,egiate education Is as rule not ac-
cepted voluntarily by the solvent por-
lion of our national community. The
female universities are demanded by
the future breadwinners among WON
an and supported by them. This is an
almost universal fact and 1t has
double significance. 1t Is at once a
promise and a reproach. In plain
words, the American girl Is superb
tally educated except when she Is
compelled to earn her own living.
there is shallowness Of foresight so
universal, deficiency of logic SO Sc
rious and so ominous in this certainly
universal inclination on the part of
American parents that one may well
stop and inquire its reason.
In a certain celebrated essay by
Schopenhauer, an essay as acrimoni-
Gus as 1t Is profound, he remarks upon
the universal jealousy between all
women as women. Jealousy among
aen, he insists, is largely professional,
when 1t is not intensely personal from
particular emotional impulse. The
male will fight for his chosen mate as
long as the race continues; but watch
pretty woman, says this philosopher,
as she walks the street and see the
glances cast upon her by the women
she crosses In her path. They are the
glances of the Guelph and the Ghibel-
line. The jealousy is as universal as
the sex, likewise professional, In the
sense that women's only profession is
to please the men, their masters. He
goes further and with savage bitter
ness declares that the libery OF women
Is a monstrous idea, German-C Christian
In it's origin, which Is the curse OF
Europe. He advises the restoration OF
the feminine seclusion Of the middle
ages and lauds the institution OF the
| harem, which he insists would elimi-
nate vice and all the dangers which
/ beset homogeneous civilizations. This
Is indeed vivid expression OF the
idea Of woman and her proper func-
| tion and limitation. But his idea Is
only too prevalent at the present
time, even In America, the last outpost
of European civilization. The linger.
Ing proof of this deep-lying prejudice
Is shown In It's application to the edu
cation of American women. The con
6usion derived from the prejudice Is
Inevitable-it is dangerous to be clev
or. Such a reputation may be a for
midable handicap in the race for hap
piness, II a woman's happiness is In
the hands of man. 1t is idle to deny
that this Is 80. And here we have the
reason why the daughters OF the ricf
are guarded from any such peril. why
beauty and charm, gentleness, good
ness and submissiveness are the quail
ities which clothc young mans fanc,
and dictate the choice Of wife.
| The question now is pertinent. Doe'
a cultivated mind, with its ininitel,
various resources, detract from
charmf Does trained logic, with III
iunumsrable applications to the prob
lens Of life destroy 1T 1t Is aston
ishing- that the reasoning masculin'
mind for these centuries should hav'
persfsted in the conclusiou that the.
do. The slightest hint OF rivalry 7
the male intelligence IL destructive =
| ! budding prediction and giimps
1 xr1rr<, noriInn