The San Francisco call., 1908-03-08

TO a woman; and. as Horace
has so truthfully expressed
it, When woman starts out to per-
sure herself all h cannot keep her
record"
Thus did Colonel James Hamilton
Lewis. formerly congressman from the
state OF Washington and a well known
figure in Illinois politics. give his
opinion regarding women witnesses IN
an address he delivered before the stu-
dents Of the Northwestern University
law school
Women seem fated these days to
stand in the glare OF the spotlight OF
public opinion. For some months past
they have been the target for verbal
assaults. These attacks have been
cumulative, a~ Il were. Starting in
with mild criticism. they gradually
grew more censorious. until the climax
certainly seemed reached when the gal
liant colonel defined the method he en-
ploys toward women witnesses.
These attacks began with Dr. Walter
E. Tanner. pastor Of the Melrose Bap-
list church OF Oakland. He might bo
said 10 represent TIE positive degree
when he expressed himself quite forci-
bly, against women's clubs and the use
o. the latch key By the gentler sex in
the wee sma' hours. Not for women is
the congeniaifty of club life. declared
DR.. Tanner Sauce FOR the gander is
not sauce for the goose, thesdivine con-
tended. Decidedly not.
Or. Tanners remarks were suficient-
ly infammatory to ignite discussion on
both SIDES or the bay. A few weeks
after, however. they were smothered in
2 cloud OF smokc-cigarette smoke
and. hor~crs, the smoke came from be-
tween feminine lips. The comparative
degree had been reached. Women nad
discovered that cigarette after the
Snail biack was soothing and conducive
to good digestion. To be sure, those
We, TWO - the very reasons Why men
had been iadriging in the weed for
some years past, but-la grande differ
ence- Women should swallow dyspep- .
sia tablets--or 1iet. The ideal who
ever heard cr such a thing" And nr
Ia. -er's b. snarss on the club life ~
wotaen oeaeenea 70 the dull ticking of
ar eld kitchen clock when compared 10
the c,alaor that arose from this latest
transErcss5on or the fair sex
And people were Just beginning to
breathe naturally again. after much
volzbil.fv. when Colonel Lewis of Chi
scaSo added the superlative degree Icy
delivering hin sc.f Of some statements
regarding women beside which the late
smoking discussion sounds Ike pink
TEA chatter and Dr Tanners remarks
day school eatechisms.
What Colonel Lewis Said
"A woman always comes to testify
as a with ess Tor one of two reasons" !
added colonel Lewis to his astonished
audience. Either she comes through a
sense Of affection or duty to those ,
whom she loves, or she comes TO satisfy !
what she regards as a perfectly iegiti-
mate feeling Of resentment woman
has no idea OF the ssnctity OF the oath. I
and : woman Will repeat on oath any
thing which she will say when not on
oath" ,
According to the chivalrous colonel :
then. women are born perjurers. From
the vehemence with which he expresses =
himself he probably has never had to :
resort to a little truth twisting to ar
range affairs amicably at home. Il was
20 stay late at the Office, my
dear, 70 talk over some important busi-
ness with man from out Of town.
Fairy tales. fairy tales,
We hear them ev'ry day"
But never from the lips Of Colonel ].
Hamilton Lewis. Gracious. no, Neither
would he care to initiate the example of :
King Edward. probably. who. to pro- {
tect the beautiful Lady Mordaunt from I
the stabs Of gossips' tongues. "per5ured {
himself like a gentleman" 1t may be ]
logically deducted from the former con- z
gressnan's remarks that he at all times Z
tells the truth and shames the devil.
The truth not always being charming :
and plee SAINT II is easy sometimes to un- I
the shame OF his satanic ma
5esty.
But Just as one swallow cannot make ]
g summer. so one accusation cannot al 7
ways establish q reputation conse- s
Quently the Importance Of the ques- s
LlDnf is AoLOntl Lewis diOHe IN ms De-
lief of the untrUthfuIness OF women I
upon the witness sfand2
No ore seemed more fitted to discuss {
the subject than Judge Graham. His 6
faculty for persuading pickering s
couples TO kiss and make up, to swing
once more upon the empty nail in the I
PEER wall the motto. Home. Sweet I
home" and to adopt the dove of peace e
as a household pet, is well konwn. Now, J
II ever a woman is tempted to try I
truth twisting 1t must be under the ]
stress Of matrimonial emotion. How a
easy TO elaborate quarrels! How simple I
to describe her husband as a brute IL
his appetite was prompt and dinner I
was latel How natural to describe I'll '
Treatment from her liege lord, beside I
which the tortures Of the Inquisition n
would seem TO be mere caresses. for !
who is so abused as woman who feels r
sorry for herself2 Women naturally 7
love the dramatic: a scene bores a man. j
Yes, decidedly Judge Graham would 3
know whether or not women were r
truthful witnesses. So. seeking the r