The Comrade. (Winnfield, La.) 1890-1914, 1910-08-26
CHAPTER vi,

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CHAPTER vi.
The BaseIess Fabric.
True philosophy is ascetic. It ma,
best be practiced under conditions IL
which the material is in allegiance. L
exalts the spiritual 1t is distinguished
by indifference to environment. There
is nothing so fatal to its profession as
extravaganza. Frugality is to the
philosopher what modesty is to E
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. It 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 we'll 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, uninf1uenced
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-
tons, disabilities and man-made tram
mels Of wOmankind.
Born of two fanatics on the same
subject, whose insanity was modified
and notified 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 disap.
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
;hese did not count The world bought
Ter book in thousands, read it avidly
md regarded 1t as the last word of
he last woman Of the end of the age
N the sex problem. Cleverly disguis.
ng her philosophy in the form of fic-
ion, with one bound she had leaped
o the fore front of all the writer's
for recognition. Publishers
ought her. Magazines pursued her.
Another book took shape in her mind,
Singularly enough her education
nd the erratic bent Of her mind had
eft her primarily quite unspoiled. She
7as the product not merely of her age.
er environment, her parents, but of
long generation of people to whom
or thoughts would have been as alb.
orient as her person was agreeable.
he unconscious Christianity which
urrounds the world and especially
ae world Of woman kept her pure
nd sweet and lovable-these in spite
t, not because of, her perverse and
erverted philosophy. Though she
efied convention in its spirit, she was
aturally subject to 1t in its exercise.
or instance, to her the marriage bond
as, indeed, bond, the marriage VOW
confession of Weakness the part
the woman, at least-and the mar
age relation an acknowledgement of
lferiority-again on the part of the
oman. She would have none of these
lings in her life. Yet, as she thought,
le had given her heart to a man
as, the submission to the eternal
Wand although their relationship
as sanctioned by nothing but their
lection, it was to her as pure and
holy a thing as if the contract had
zen witnessed and blest by a thou.
nd priests. What was it to him? She :
united without the other sex. Many :
her women unfortunately have done
e same.
Not content with the writing Of 4
oks, her intense devotion to her Il
use, coupled with her unfagging IS
ergy, had found vent upon the. lec,E &;
re platform ,rhe curious; crowded Ii,