The Washington herald., 1907-02-10
Aspect of Social Life
Views of Chicago Socologist on
Woman and Marriage

Romantic love in the modern family is /
myth, according to Prof. William J. /
Thomas. the University Of Chicago soci- /
oiogist IN a book on Sex and Society /
issued from the University Press the Mid 1
way teacher declares that present-day I
matrimony and the family institution are
inferior 10 the unconventional mating of
primitive men and women, from the
standpoint Of romantic happiness
Prof. Thomas presents the theory that
the ancient practice OF getting wives by
capture or bargaining offered the highest
stimulation TO romance, while the modern
monOgamic system. involving intimate
association and daily familiarity" are UNI
favorable TO il.
Prof Thomas book. as described by
the Chicago Record-Herald. contains nu-
merous startling statements and theories
concerning women's parasitic position
in society. Modern styles in women's
clothes, particularly in "diaphanous fab
RIGS and decollete dresses are compared
with the abbreviated covering OF primi-
tive savages.
The professors sensational articles on
and The Mind of Woman and the Lower
Races are included in the book These
articles recently aroused criticism
throughout the country because of the at
tack on modern society, psychological de-
tense Of the social evil" and deprecla-
ton Of the intellectual powers Of women.
States Of high emotional tension are
due TO the presentation Of the unfamiliar
that is, the unanalyzed. the uncon-
\ troled-to the attention. he declares In
discussing modern matrimony. And al
though the intimate association and daily
familiarity OF family life produces affec-
ton, they are not favorable 10 the gene
sis OF romantic love. Cognition is so
complete that no place is left for emo
tional appreciation.
Our common expressions falling I'm
love and love at sight imply. in fact.
unfamiliaTity. and there can Doe no ques-
Ton that men and women would prefer
al present 20 get mates away from home,
even if there were no traditional p-eju-
dice against the marriage Of near kin. IT
IS pSychologicaIly true that only the un-
familiar and not completely controlled is
Interesting.
MOnOgamy Habit.
"Monogamy is habit acquired by the
race, not because it has answered more
completely TO the organic interest of the
individual, but because IL has more com
pletely served social needs. particularly
by assuring to the woman and her chill
dren the undivided interest and provi-
dence of the man.
Speaking from the biological stand
rltlfr ~,
o SWer 10 the conditions Of highest stimula-
ton, since here the predetermined and
elusive elements disappear To some extent,
and the object Of attention has grown so
familiar in consciousness that the emo
uonalarcactions are qualified.
Familiarity with women within the
group and Unfamiliarity with women with
out the grOup. is the explanation Of exc
gamy On the side of interest, and the
system Of exogamy Is a result Of ex-
changing familiar women for others
In regard to the morality and mOdcsty
of women. Prof Thomas says:
Morality is pre-eminently am adult and
D male system. and men are intelligent
enough 90 recognize that neither women
nor children have passed through this
school. 1t is on this account that. while
man is merciless to woman from the
standpoint Of personal behavior. he ex-
emptS her from anything like c0utractual
morality
THE most suggestive use Of clothing IS
the use of just Il sufficient amount TO call
attention 10 the person. without com
pletely cOnCeaIing it, I need not refer to
the fact that In modern society this Is
accomplished BY or perhaps We should
better say transpires In connection with
diaphauous fabrics and dec0Ilete dresses,
and the same effect was doubtless accom-
plished by typical early form of female
dress
There are numerous cases found
among the lower races where the wear
ing of clothes and ornament are not as
sociated with feelings of modesty. The
original covering of the body was In
the nature of ornament rather than
clothing The waist, the neck the wrists
and the ankles are smaller than the Por-
tiUn OF the body Immediately below them
and are from this anatomical accident a
suitable place &c tie ornaments. and
the ornamentatiou of the body results
incidentally in giving some degree OF
covering TO the body.
Breaking Up of Custom.
But when for any or the reasons
have outlined. women or men began to
cover the body, then putting off the
covering became peculiarly suggestive
because the breaking up of a habit brings
an act clearly To attention. But, so fan
as sexual modesty is concerned, the cloth.
ing has only REINFORCED the already great
suggestive power of the sexual charac
ters
In the course of history woman de
veloped an excessive and sCrupulOUs con.
Germ for the prOpriety of her behavior
especially in connection with her bodily
habits and this in turn became fixed
and partiCulariZed by fashion with tht
result that not only her physical life be
came circumscribed, but her attention
and mental interests became limited large
~ 10 Safeguarding and enhancing her per
son.
I'm animal society the coyness Of tn.
female is the analogue Of modesty. The
male is always aggressive. and in botf
animal and human society used orna
ment as a means of interesting and in
tiuencing the female.
In the course Of time, however. man,
activities became his main dependenc,
and WOman's person and personal be.
haviOr became more significant, especially
in q state of society where she becam,
dependent on mans activities, and botI
ornament and modesty were largely trans
ferred 10 her
WOOinG l. Discussed.
In a discussion Of the psychology o.
wooing.' he declares:
1T is evident that very delicate at
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