The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-07
The Woraan's Page Of The 'Tmmes-Dispatch
Have Learned New Art,
That Of Heckling

Along with all other present day
accomplishments and progressiveness,
women have learned a brand new art,
that OF "heclling.' The dictionary
gives the meaning Of "heckllng" az per-
sistent and aggressive questioning.
Formerly women were supposed to
belong to the meek and self -effacing
class that was seen, but not heard
However disagreeable might be the
t,upositions brought about as the result
OF action to which they were opposed
on the part of others, 1t was consid-
cred the correct and dignifed and
womanly attitude for them to endure
such impositions In silence, their vir-
tues being reckoncd In exact ratio to
their ability to submit themselves for
the advantage of the layers-on of Inn
positions and restrictions.
Now all these things are changed.
The millepnium has not arrived. 1T Is
true, but when results are comprised
a that women perceive to be harmful
they proceed to express their disap-
probation by heckling those RESPONSE
BILE for such And as they frequently
look closely into questions OF cause
and effect, their course of investiga-
tion is apt to be resented by those to-
WdTQ ~HO1u IL Is directed.
Moon No Longer Made of Cheese.
It Is no longer quite sufficient for
women to be told by any one that the
moon is made OF green cheese or some-
thing equally futile. and that any one
expect for moment women are going
to receive a statement like that as
final or conclusive They will immedi-
ately begin. instead. to ask. But why
OF green cheese? Is green cheese i'm
ported or domestic? Why does the
shape of the cheese loaf in the moon
vary from circular to crescent shape?"
and so on, until the unlucky person
who slandered the moon and intended
to be otherwise facetious ends with an
acute realization OF tho error Of his
way.
1IecltlinE In Earnest.
Women have taken to heckling IN
earnest about questions and problems
of national and State interest and well
fare. Educational methods. suffrage
and social welfare problems seem TO-
them matters OF deepest concern. They
look about them. and having ascer-
tanned into whose control the power
of making laws on these points has
been intrusted. they go joyously TO
work. They tini themselves, as II were.
by finding out how others stand They
say TO representative Of public In.
terests: How do you feel or think
about such and such an issue7 How
did you vote on such and such ques-
tion?" And the questioners cannot hs
put aside, because they are free to
scan records for themselves. When
they do the investigation Is pushed a
step.. further. why did you vote thus In
regsfd to this or that mattcs7" the
women ask.
VIII Continue to Read and Think.
Now IL is vain TO say tina. women
ought 10 let public questions alone and
stay at home. For they are going to
continue TO read the newspapers. to
think and act intelligently and to de-
eide for themselves how much time
they are called upon 10 devote to their
domestic concerns and how much they
are free TO give to the cause of hui
mainly. The time when Podsnap could
stand upon a hearthstone and wave an
issue out of existence is time that Is
past forever. Women are alive With
the awakened consciousness OF vitality.
and what they know they know for and
through themselves. They do not cnre
for ready-made and glibly expressed
formulas of secondhand and second
rate knowledge. They are apt to pre-
fer theirs at first hand.
An Illuminating Right.
The right to heckle or investigate is
an illuminating right. 1t explains
much that might otherwise be doubtful.
1t puts people In the way OF the open
policy. Whenever there is conscious
ness that the guardian of public rights
and the maker OF laws has to be justi-
fed in the minds OF many, the course
adopted is chosen and entered upon
by this guardian with sounder judg-
ment and fuller elaboration.
The heckling of women proves a
winning card with them because of its
persistency. Women know how to ex-
press point, and they are not to be
turned aside from it by evasion or
flattery
No, no." woman will often ex-
claim impatiently. II am not seeking
an idle or vain compliment. I wish
instead an answer to a directsouestion. y
And because she continues to heckle
or interrogate, she oftener than 9TH
erwise carries her point.