The Washington herald., 1908-03-07
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

wonder II il is wise for women TO
try and force public acknowledgment
of equality with men-in rather insig-
nifieant ways. 1 mean. It is well for
women who own property TO be able TO
protect themselves as do men in the
same position and to have a voice in
the government under which they live
IL they want 1t. Those are big and
serious affairs worthy the attention of
dignihed women. To fight for the privi-
lege Of smoking in public or eating at
seen fit TO draw line-wlth good reason,
probably-is not consistent with dignity.
or, as one M. put 1t. with self-respect.
am liberal-minded to a degree and
believe that II women want 70 smoke
they should have the privilege. but not
in public. because It is conspicuous and
defies convention. On the same principle
that drunken woman Is a thousand
times more repulsive than a man in
the same condition. woman who files
in the face of convention is a noxious
spectacle 10 delicateiy bred women and
fastldious men. They cannot understand
the desire Of unescorted women TO break
down a rule which was probably made
to keep out an Objectionable feminine
element They know that there are many
places. very many, where women alone
or In crowds are warmly welcomed
I used to think that the rule Of first
class hotels in excluding lone women
who arrive after midnight was unjust.
\ newspaper woman who lived out OF
town was kept at the Office one night
so long that she missed the last car.
and decided to remain in town. She
was new 10 city ways. and did not
know OF the rule till she found all the
hotels filled to overfowing. according
10 the courteous words OF each clerk
she approached. At the last place she
had her eyes opened by the treatment
accorded a couple who arrived while she
was at the desk.
She made 1t rather embarrassing for
the clerk by demanding an explanation.
and when she got 1t she Immediately tele-
phoned TO the Office for credentials
They did no good. for the man dared
not break a hard and fast rule OF the
house so she hired a cab AT an eNIOr-
tionate price and requested the Office
n pay for Il because she had not been
enlightened on the subject and had re-
ceived annoyance in the pursuit OF busi-
ness said good deal about the injus-
tice OF the rule al that time. but after I
heard the other side OF the question.
veered somewhat. There is a faminine
element 10 be reckOned with. one that
destroys the reputation OF hotels and
turns ereditable patrons away For
the sins OF this class all women pay
some penalty. and those who work IN
the big outside world pay heavily.
They are looked upon with suspicion. for
one thing. and treated with discOurtesy
oftentimes when doing work outside the
stereotype order. There are men who
never make distinctions who are unable
10 make them. most likely. and they make
life harder for respectable women. One
OF this class had an uncomfortable ex-
perience on her way to train after a
lecture. IL was not late enough 10 war
rant fear, and she had Travelled the road
many times before, never meeting a
policeman. she remembered after she
had been followed, addressed in familiar
fashion, and even handled by one Of the
three rough men They were out for
money, evidently. and her quiet. dignihed
manner should have protected her from
familiarity. II would have had the men
not placed all women In one class, the
objectionable one. BETTY BRADEEN