The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

questions should be addressed 10 The
Arbiter, care The Washington Herald
Every now and then some one writes
to The Arbiter 10 demand why foreign
men are so much more attractive TO
American women than their own coun-
trymen. Such a query now lies before
ne. a query that any one with a little
thought and knowledge Of life and Gus
toms on the other side could answer.
The reason why foreign men attract
American women more than do the
American men is because they aim TO.
They make gailantry, politeness, and
culture cult. The main object OF
their lives Is 10 make themselves sc
eeptable to women Whether this is a
worthy object or not is. perhaps. a de-
batable question. but It is an indispu-
table fact that It is theiz object
The American woman has had things
her own way since the beginning Of
the republic. She has dominated men,
she has dominated society, and she has
taken everything that has been offered
her with insouciance. il not ingrati-
tude; but lately both the domestic and
foreign papers have held her up TO
criticism. She IS a petted doh. they
say. a pampered creature who absorbs
everything and gives cut nothing; who
makes her father, huband. and broth
srs the purveyor TO her vanities: who
allows them to toll in the darkness
that she may shine in the light; who
tramps through Europe. making con-
quests everywhere, while the men she
draws upon are burning the candle at
both ends TO send her the wherewithal
10 make the sensation she undoubtedly
does create everywhere she places her
foOt-a part Of which is true, part
false.
Just why the American man should
put the American woman upon the ped
estaI she occupies is a story too long
10 recount here. but, briefly. Il dates
back to those early DAYS when there
we're so few women n the colonies that
the most ordinary feminine creature
was looked upon as a goddess. Il viii
be recalled that the purlleus OF Lon
don and Paris were secured for women
who would be willing TO leave their ca
pricious existence 10 become wives Of
honest men in the New World. and
they oSere bought for tobacco and
other commodities. IL will be remem-
bered. TOO. that these women. almost
without exception, made the most Of
their opportunities. and became ele-
vated and purified by their lives in the
New World. and were, as rule. fac
tors in the development OF the colo
MES OF course. these were exceptions.
and are only cited 10 show the prem
ium put upon women IN the days when
the coIonists We're battling for domina-
ton Of this continent
II the ordinary women were placed
IN so high a place. the good ones were
even more exalted Those rude men
who settled the Primeval forests felt
not enIy tender love but deepest graf
itude 70 the women who shared their
fate, and laid at her feet all the riches
thar their environment could furnish,
and for this they received a COmmensu-
rate return There IS a no more gIOri-
Gus history than that OF the woman
who helped found this republic. She
was everything in ber family-Wife,
mother. doctor. maid OF all work. far
mer when occasion required. a valiant
soldier when a sudden attack found
the man away from home, and her in
Euence in the state was a mighty one
So IN those early days the men who
made the wilderness blossom as the rose
came 20 worship their helpuates.
habit that they have continued until the
present day; but their worship does not
always take the finest expression The
women OF to-day, al least the society
women. have grown far away from the
traditions of their great graadmotheTs.
and that they have done so IS due 10 the
fact that trey have been spoiled by those
who love them best. II is not the highest
form Of affection 10 treat woman Ike
Sybsrite. TO accede 70 her every whinl
70 string her with jewels and drape her
with old lsces and give her liberty &c
wander whittier she viii throughout the
world while the wage Garner remains at
home minJing gold for her TO spend and
knowing nothing, having the capacity for
but this same getting Of money
HIS condition Is not unlike the miner who
works in the dark with pick and shovel.
and who IS ignorant Of the world, ignO-
rant Of everything save the one corner
where he tolls Such a one cannot give
pleasure and distinction TO a spoiled
woman Of the world. who has been IN
touch with the greatest intellects OF the
day. He can only pay, pay, pay
foreign resident in Washington said
the other day that he thought American
women were the happiest in the world
but the French women-mind he did not
say Partisan women-made the best
wives. but were not happy. q statement
to be seriously questioned. American
women are gay. original. brilliant. and
clever, but that they are not always hap
py IN the butterfly existence they lead,
there is abundant proof. Their leisure.
however, gives them opportunity for OBJ
for education in worldly mat
ters and for the study OF men,
II is certainly with no idea Of dis
loyalty that woman ThO has passed
a season in London. perhaps in Paris.
Rome Berlin. or Vienna should com
pare the men at those different capi-
tails with the men at home TO the dis
credit Of the latter; or that the Amer
lean girl should turn away from the
man whose whole life is given up to
money getting, who knows no Ian
guage save that Of business. who has
not had time TO read, views art by the
price he paid for its objects. and finds
more pleasure in his club, where he
IS understood, than IN his wife's draw
ing-room. TO the accomplished man Of
the world she meets IN foreign society
70 whom social conquest has been
study, whose breeding and
are exquisite. who car talk
brilliantly on any subject from pro-
found politics TO the cut Of a woman's /
gown, and who deals in most subtle
batteries. who adroitly draws a wom-
an out. and makes her shine. and thus
keeps her in dne accord with herself.
Tis true, it's pity" that the foreign
man OF fashion is more attractive than
his American contemporary, and for
the same reason that an American
woman IS more attractive than her for
eign sisters. The European woman is I
to be a helDmate to her hus-
band. She remains in his house cares