The Washington herald., 1908-09-06
The Psychology of Woman.

The Psychology of Woman
We do not at all agree with Dr.
/ lClaye-shaw-it is often hard to agree
with a man who spells his name with
a hyphen-although he has attained some
Ieminence IN Great Britain as a psycholo-
gist. in what he has TO say about the
psychology Of woman.
With a courage worthy OF a better
cause. he says. Woman is deceitful. Oh
z5inate, impulsive. and cruel. and when
he comes to support this charge more IN
detail. he tells us Of '-false l.=.s== s=, false
teeth. face powder, and lotions to-
( gether with a host Of other things that
woman has used. about which mere man
/ is supposed TO have no flrst-hand knowl-
edge. He tries to account, in a measure.
I for the faults Of the fair sex on the
theory that man has kept woman down
| for so many centuries. made Of her a
mere housekeepcr and cook. that she has
had no opportunity to develop the larger
! capabilities. and that all the practices TO
which he objects should be blamed on
the shoulders OF man.
We quite agree with Dr. Shaw-we
mean CIaye-Shaw-in his conclusions.
even if we do not agree with his pre-
mises- Man is responsible for the false
puffs. and false teeth and face powders.
and the lotions OF which the hyphenated
doctor speaks. But only indirectly; and
We certainly do not agree with the doctor
that the use Of these things is TO be
banned Whatever woman Of the olden
1 day may have regarded as her duty TO
mankind. it is manifest that the modern
woman has come to regard as one OF
/ her chief missions of life the making Of
the world a more Joyous place for man
kind. and adding 70 its beauty.
There are mighty few absolutely ugly
women in the world, but there are some
more beautiful than others. and It is
4 plain that those with whom Nature has
( been niggardIy must. II they desire 20
/ add TO the beauty Of the scene. and TO
the happiness and enjoyment Of man,
use such aids as " Marcel, the dentists.
and lotion makers have provided We
doubt very much whether any one has
a right 20 90 prying into a work OF art
4 to ind out OF what If is composed It S
a childish task comparable 10 that of
I the little girI who cuts open her doll 90
find whether Il IS really filed with saw
dust. WHAT We. mere men. ought 70 do.
I Is TO accept the goods the gods provide.
and be grateful for the fact that women
/ care enough for aesthetics 10 put them
selves 10 50 much trouble 20 make the
world a more beautiful place 10 live IN
I It Is not for Us 10 inquire too closely as
10 whether all those puFs that crown her
forehead Ike a halo really grew there
{ that they are there should be sufficient
/ Sometimes. unfortunately. they are more
{ than sufficient
I Dr. Claye-Shaw says. The psychology
OF woman must always remain a para
dox 10 man., and continues, 1T is no
more possible for a man to predict what
a woman shall 90 than II is for a timid
person TO understand the audacity Of a
Hon tanner. or why a rat catcher should
1 fee at the presence Of a mouse"
Again. We do not agree with him We
{ think It should BE- taken for granted
that what woman VIII do is 70 strive
always 20 be a thing Of beauty and a
Joy forever. 10 comfort Us N our sor-
rows. and 70 be sharer of our Joys II
: she IS "deceitfuI." We are sure that most
Of the time she deceives Us for our own
good II she is obstinate" It IS only
I that mere man may have the pleasure
{ OF giving in 70 her II she IS 'Tmpul-
sive." It Is because there is 50 much
[ Of the child left IN every woman that she
( IS fmpened irTesistibIy toward the thing
( she desires; and II she is cruel we
: are quite certain that she IS cruel only
E 20 be kind
I Woman, Dr. CIaye-Shaw may not IN
( derstand you-the hyphen may have been
I in the wsy-but. thank heaven. there are
{ some Of Us that do. and thank whatever
gods there be that you are here. false
/ hair. face powders. lotions and all, %
sweeten life. and make the world a bet
: Ter place IN which 10 live