The Washington herald., 1909-01-26
CKERCEIEZ LA FEMME.
BY THE OPTINIST.

" nat wonderfully persistent ana
cowardIy falsehood is contained in that
alleged smart" phrase. 'cherehez Ia
femme There are hosts Of men. inept
and incompetent, to whom this phrase
often the only French in their vocabulary
appeals. because they know that it has
come to signify that at the bottom OF
most ills that happen 10 men a woman
viii be found
Out IL Ohio the other day there was a
man who committed suicide. and, dying.
left a note In which he said.
] have no money, no work and no friends, and
am getting tired Of living this way Il is mora
than can stand. viii have 20 get away with
u5 ELF 2Iy wife drove Ee TO this and don't want
to do Z. but simply have 20. to end my troubles %
Once more d specific Instance OF lay
ing it on the woman, And yet. inst.ac-
lively. one knows that it is not true.
There must have been many times in
the history Of the world when the poor
woman was TO blame. but surely It is
high time 10 get away from the idea
that womeB are responsible for the in
eptitude and the foIlies Of men.
When one is inclined to dismiss the
story Of a mans downfall with the cyni-
cal platitude "cherchez Ia femme" It
would be wiser t. remember the enor-
nous debt OF gratitude that men owe
to the other sex. In spite OF cynicism
and a cowardly desire 10 folst of Our
sin ou other shoulders. there is no de-
cent man living that must not in his
heart Of hearts acknowledge that always,
from the very cradle-time. woman has
been the dominant factor for good in his
life.
In the soul Of every man there is an
intuitive striving toward the ideal; II is
inherent in him, part OF the great gift
he received from his mother. and when.
in the great march OF life. ne leaves his
mother and takes a wife, she. IN a great
measure. supplies that yearuinE toward
the maternal feeling that IS so great a
factor IN the composition Of even the
hardest and most cynical OF men
Look for the woman indeed. and
when you have searched you shall find
that the things that are good, the thoughts
that are Ideal the strivings that are to
ward the better things Of life. the hopes
the influence Of woman. To say that
women are better than men IS to utter a
platitGde. but we know in our souls that
-hey can reach 10 heights that are be
y0nd our grasp. that always they are
nearer heaven than man can reach.
The man who. dying by his own hand
seeks 20 put the blame upon his wife. dies
a confessed coward. and. more than that
he dies, probably, with a lie upon his lips.
For q man does not fail IL life be
cause Ct his wife. He fails IN spite Of
her. for however good he may be. he may
be sure that by virtue Of her femininity
alone she has heights OF good which he
knows nothing Of which he may not have
been able 20 fsthOm, indeed. but which his
Own stupidity and lack OF understanding
have alone kept him from the knowledge
Of.
Search for the woman" and you shall
find that back Of every large success in
the world there has been a woman's
heart a w0man's love. and woman's sac
riiCe- Not at the bottom Of everything
that IS bad but Of al that is good and
hne and noble. you shall find the direct
ing hand OF some gentle wOuan-SOme
redTer OF children. some girl OF fine
ideals who finds her Joy in seeing them
worked out IN the person OF the man she
loves, while she, herself, IS content 20 stay
IN the background
From the tine Of Adam with his the
woman tempted me and did eat il has
been the fashion Of the male 10 lay his
troubles al the door OF womankind. but
it 3 the rankeSt sort OF injustice. Cor. as
Moore saws Disguise our bondage as
we VIII It's woman rules Us still and
always for our betternent-
L Is time 20 read a new meaning into
the old phrase. 'cherchez Ia femme. and
10 remember that
Woman nay en- woman nay give he- 1ind
To evil th0ug1ts snd ioSe her rure es-ste;
But f1- ore woman who aff-c-ts le- kind
b wicked passions and r5rrcrseless hate
A rhOgsand make amends II age ard youth.
b heavenly syTurathT. b sweet sympathy.
By patient kiudlgEs ~ enduring truth
b. love. suIEgUCst il sdTs-Siry-