The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-08
MONOTONY
THE GENTLEWOMAN

II monotony seems. in itself to be a
minor evil. II is responsible for many
major ones. 1t is feminine rather
than a masculine complaint. Compa ra-
lively few men suffer from it. Even
those whose lives are narrow and cir
cumscribed. seem to feel 1t less than do
women under the same conditions.
How many of the follies and crimes
of women are due to desire 10 es-
cape from monotony it would be diff
cult 10 say. Extravaganza, undoubted-
ly. may often be traced to this source,
Who are the hordcs OF women who
spend most OF their days gazing into
shop windows. but those who find Tina
hanging heavy on their hands? new
frock is an event a new hat Is a mild
excitement. Divorce cases would be-
come fewer and fewer if monotony
could be banished from life. The pre-
disposinS causes. as often as not, are
simply idieness. ennui and boredom
In most cases monotony is "a matter
of mind. of allowing ones self to be
dominated by circumstances and en-
vironmcnt. of looking outside for some
thing that should he discovered within,
Ihat is why women suffer so much moro
acuteiy than men from this evil. They
are more passive and senitive. ana,
therefore, more readily Influenced by
their surroundings. Generally speak
ing. their mental outlook is narrow.
Otten they become women of one idea.
They think that some particular thing
Is necessary for their happiness. This
railing them. they lose interest in life.
imperially." 1t Is dinicult for their
minds to soar further than their next
door netrhbor. Women of the middle
and upper middle classes are most sub
a ~ t- 70. al i,rr sft.
In the highest and lowest classes are
Kept too busy to be afflicted by it.
The great antidote to monotony is
work-hard.. engrossng, interesting
work. People with hobbies rarely SUM-
er from boredom. The person who can
say. MY mind to me n kingdom is"
could not. under any conceivable cir
cumstances. find life monotonous, for
life Is a reflex of the mind Imagina-
ton is another factor In ,ispelling mo-
notony. 1t enables it's possessor to re-
move herself far from her surroundings,
The woman who would be happy must
cultivate her ina gination as we'll as her
Intellect. But 1t must be cultivated in
the right way. for the same power
that can raise one to The heights OF
ecstasy can also plunge one into the
most profound despair.
It requires no psychic gift to pro-
phesy that monotony will become less
days go on. A French philosopher no:
long ago discussed tho type OF woman
who is to rule in tho future. She ~
to be intellectual. courageous. and en-
terpriBinE. The woman" he says.
"who used to be slow and ia1Euid, has
become energetic. She is no longer a
doll" Such a woman rarely sufferB
from boredom The days are too short
to Encompass her many act!vities,4
Furthermore. she Will keep young to
the end. MonotcTr 4: aging. Tragedies
and sriefs have fewer powerB to i'm
pair beauty than have long drawn
AN, sNf lE,aG Nd .tl,,
The great source OF pleasure In
variety" said DR.. Johnson, and no lwas
right. for tho power to give life variety,
when external means are lacking. In
dicates tho possession OF many de-
.irable qualities Of character and lns
toiieos "a