The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-10-27
CHAPTER vi.
The BaseIess Fabric.

The BaseIess Fabric.
True philosophy is ascetic. IL may
best be practiced under conditions IN
which the material is in allegiance. 1t
exalts the spiritual. 1t is distinguished
by Indifference to environment. Ihere
is nothing so fatal to it's profession as
extravaganza. Frugality is to the
philosopher what modesty Is to a
woman-the essential thing without
which it and she cease to be-
The atmosphere into which Rather
inc Brenton was suddenly plunged by
her bold step was the very antithesis
of these requirements. 1t was I'M
healthy. and like unhealthy airs 1t
bred disaster. She had been trained
to independence Of conditions, to dis
regard of circumstances, as well as to
disdain of restraint; but there was
that within her surroundings which,
from her first experience of them, she
felt instinctively to be vitiating, which
tended to deprave, which precluded
the exercise of clear uninfiuenced
mentality. Especially in her case was
this true since the luxury with which
she had been surrounded appealed so
subtly to the preponderant, and it
must be admitted, immortal feminine
in her composition. Sex distinction,
sex difference was the one thing
against which she fought. Sex equality
was the supreme good to be desired in
| her scheme of right relationships be-
| tween the individual and the universe.
While she rebelled against her sex,
yet she rejoiced in it. Glad was she
sometimes on that very account that
to her was given the opportunity to
prove her superiority to the limita
tions, disabilities and man-made tram
mels of womankind.
Born of two fanatics on the same
subject, whose insanity was modified
and Modified by brilliancy of intellect
in every other field of investigation
and experiment, Katherine Brenton
had been trained to the hour for her
profession, for the exploitation of her
principles. The greatest of universe
ties pointed to her with peculiar pride
as one of the children of the free;
free from everything in thought and
determined to be free from everything
) in action. Much was expected from
her and the world was not dsap-
pointed at the first result of her men
tai labor. There were certain old
fashioned people who deplored the
perversion of so much talent and even
genius to the defense of error, but
these did not count. The world bought
r her book in thousands, read it avidly
and regarded it as the last word of
2 the last woman of the end of the age
=. ON the sex problem. Cleverly disguis-
t ing her philosophy in the form of fic-
ton, with one bound she had leaned
to the fore front of all the writer's
3 struggling for recognition. Publishers
a sought her. Magazines pursued her.
5 Another book took shape in her mind.
/ Singularly enough her education
: and the erratic bent of her mind had
i lett her primarily quite unspoiled. She
was the product not merely of her age,
t her environment her parents. but of
o a long generation of people to whom
: her thoughts would have been as alb
: horrent as her person was agreeable.
t The unconscious Christianity which
d surrounds the world and especially
= the world Of woman kept her pure
and sweet and lovable-these in spite
e oil, not because of, her perverse and
d perverted philosophy. Though she
II defed convention in its spirit. she was
a naturally subject to IL in its nveroiso
r For instance, to her the marriage bond
o was, indeed, bond, the marriage vow
IS confession of weakness-on the mart
e OF the woman, at least-and the mar.
r rage relation an Acknowledgement of
It InIeriority-again on the part of the
d woman, She would have none of these
e IhIhgS IN her life. Yet, as she Thought
y she had given her heart to a man
e aIas' the submission to the eterna,
h laW'-and although their relationship
d was sanctioned by nothing but their
Is aHection, it was to her as pure and
II as molly thing as If the contract had
" o'eh witnessed and blest by thou
o SAND priests. What was It to him. she
y counted without the other sex. NAM
y olher women unfortunately have done
ie the same. "'' uon'
re- Not content with the writing -,
ST DOCKS her intense devotion 10 he,
sc cause coupled with her unfagoIna
IT, energy, had found vent upon the Iaa
ie ture platform. The curious crowd ieo