The Washington herald., 1910-05-01
The Man and the Woman.

Having in mind Mr., > NJ. Barrie and
his unfortunate domestic affairs, the Bal
timore Star says.
Failing in repeated attempts TO win
back the wife who had been pilfered from
him by a lesser one than himself he has
done all that lay In his power 20 remove
obstacles TO her union with her choice
She did not deserve the sacrifice. but that
does not lessen his spiritual herosm. The
man OF coarser clay would have dragged
himself and her through the mire Of scan
dial and sensation. He has spared her
that, and his own attitude has forced the
world to accept his view and 10 scqulesce
in his solution Of the supreme tragedy Of
his life"
The point suggested here is not new.
and the Stars conclusions will not be
Endorsed unanimously That the man was
justified in morals when he attempted 10
win back his wife's affections will not
be questioned; It does not follow. however.
that his attempt to further her union with
another, falling his own efforts at recon
ciliation. viii he approved
Waiving that, however. Il is much 10 the
mans credit that he preferred 70 let the
erring woman 20 in peace. rather than
drag her through "the mire Of scandal
and sensation" as surely he might have
done.
Why should such a tremendous distinc-
ton be drawn between the man who
goes wrong and the woman who goes
wrong? The question is old. but we have
never seen IL satisfactorily answered. Is
III because the woman. seeing the hope
lessness OF her future once she stravs
away from the straight and narrow path.
will. therefore. hesitate the longer in
straying? Perhaps that is the way man
argues the matter TO himself And vet
is il the honest conclusive. lust vave We
think not II seeks-after mans ancient
tashion-to make a right Of two wrongs.
A good woman may go down TO the
very gates Of perdItiou itself and drag A
man back in triumph. If she be able 70
honor and high estate. Noble wife: noble
mother, noble sister, noble daughter But
"a SHINING woman standing at the gates
Of perdltion must lift her sharned and
faltering eyes to the Great White Throne.
and there alone plead for the mercy and
forgetfuIness the world denies her all but
uncompromisingly.
Come now. and let us reason together.
saith the Lord; though your sins be as
scarlet they shall be as white as snow:
though they he red like crimson they
shall be as wool"
Does man lay the catering JUNCTION 70
his soul that the Lord intends the earthly
application OF His amazing grace discrim-
inatingly in mans favor? Man seems 10.
in degree, AZ least: otherwise. why the
double standard which he sets up for him
self and his sister? Shall man ascribe a
human limit against woman as concerns
the forgiveness Of God. and say he stands
over and above it? Whether he should
or not, he does. Why?
The question is one of the few that man
refuses. generally speaking. 10 answer
in a manly way He is impatient OF it.
disQuieting queries.
Sometimes we wonder II woman's re-
ward IN the hereafter may not he pro-
portionately greater because OF the stern
account man insists that she give Of her
self here below. It is possible that a wise
and just Father may thus adjudge things
in the end
And so we think J. NJ Barrie elected 10
travel a safe and wholly worthy way
when ne decided % proceed along the
quiet road Of gentleness and unoetenta-
uous self-effacement. And that more
over. in spite OF the fact that his brother
in all the imagined glory Of his earthly
status. may think differently.