Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-01-21
GEORGE BERNARD
SHAW'S OPINION
OF WOMANklND

W. 80 ~"
Some men who know a great deal
about women can't be induced to ad-
nit it. There is Edward Box. for ex-
ample, editor of the Ladies' Home
Journal, who, when interviewed re-
Gently On the subject of the eternal
feminine, remarked demurely, Con
sidering all the years / have known,
loved and worked for women l know
absolutely nothing about them, and
am utterly unable to say anything In
regard to them"
But one connoisseur in DANES is less
bashful. He is George Bernard Shaw,
the daring English dramatist, who
with play ard novel and criticism of
life and literature has been incessant-
ly. characterizinG la femme, in all her
garbs and guises, for many years
n here are just a few Of the
things he declares he has found out
about her:
The ordinary woman's business is
to get married.
Women begin to be socially toler-
able at 80, and improve until the deep
ening OF their consciousness is
checked by the decay of their facul-
ties. But they begin to be pretty much
earlier than 80, and are indeed some
times at their best in that respect
long before their chattering is, apart
from the illusions of sex, to be pre-
ferred in serious moments, to the ST.
lent sympathy of an intelligent pet an
imal.
Two Americans of the fair sex have
been not unknown to me. One is that
glorious and beautiful phenomenon
the "heartless" rich American woman.
who so thoroughly and admirably I'M
derstands that conscience is a luxury
and should be INDUCED in only when
the vital needs Of life have been
~ndan satisfied.
The other is that most awful en-
bodiment of virtue and decorum the
Intellectual American lady.
In every case the relationship be-
tween the woman and the man Is the
same; she is the pursuer and %contriv-
er, he the pursued and disposed of.
When she is baffled, like Ophelia, she
goes mad and commits suicide; and
the man goes straight from her flu
neral to a fencing match.
'Womanly self-sacrifice" is an es-
sentially manly weakness.
He who desires a lifetime of happi-
ness with a beautiful woman desires
to enjoy the taste of wine by keeping
his mouth always full OF 1t,
The formation Of a oun lady's
mind and character usually consists
in telling her lies.
Women do not mind il-usage so
much, because the strongest position
for a woman is that of a victim.
1t is the self-sacrificing women that
sacrifice others most ruthlessly. I
know a poor wretch whose one desire
in life is to run away from his wife.
She prevents him by threatening to
throw herself in front Of the engine
Of the train he leaves on. That is
what all women do.
No woman looks her best after sit
ting up all night.
A lady who is invariable exceeding
| 1y liSo ocaaa hIa fc In nnnSanltanca hold
to be exceedingly good.
Mrs. Tanqueray was received with
delight by the public; Saint Teresa
would have been Kissed off the same
stage for her contempt for the ideal
represented by a carriage, q fashion
able dressmaker and 2 dozen servants.
In the past women have rather liked
being worshiped on false pretenses.
In America they still do.
Women spend half their lives tell
ing little lies for men, and sometimes
big ones.
when women are offended they do
not group themselves pathetically to
sing "Protegga ii Giusto Cielo!" they
grasp formidable legal m social
| weapons and retaliate.
A man who discusses his conscience
is much like a woman who discusses
her modesty.
If women were as fastidious as men,
morally or physically. there would be
an end of the race.
Sometimes we grumble u~ngallantly
at a lady because she does not act as
we'll as she looks.
When a lady, because she is a lady,
will face any extremity of parasitic
dependence rather han take a situa-
ton as a cook or parlor maid, we
make large allowances for her.
II cannot understand why she is so
unlucky; she is UGH a nice woman!"
That Is the formula. AS If women
| with any force In them ever We're al
together nice!
The whole world is strewn with
snares. traps. gins and pitfalls for the
capture of men by women.
The Eternal Feminine draws us ever
upward.and on-without getting us a
step further.
Literary and cultured persons have
been for years setting up the cry of
the New Woman whenever some UNI
usually o~ld-fashioned female came
along.
Man is no longer victor in the duel
of sex. Whether he has ever really
been. may be doubted. At all events.
the enormous superiority of Woman's
natural position in this matter Is tell
ing with greater inc greater force.