The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-08
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER $, 1911
THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES

kirlng's poem, IN the last i@oAses NUM-
Journal Is Kipling all over. lie need not have
signed his name. it has that martial swing
that rythm, that yerve aud sparkle and dash
that give his poetry distinction. Much Of Kip
lins's work makes one feel like keeping step
10 the time Of the poetry. 1t inspires the
ing melody which fingers long after the hear
ing and huns itself unhidden on the lips.
In the present poem which is protest
against the equal suffrage movement and pres
entation OF womsn's incompetency for the exer-
else OF suffrage, there are some things obscure
rs to their exact meaning and other things
false in their assertion The soul Of the singer
il apparent In the sound of rythmic words but
aside from this marvellous facility for juggling
with words, the poem is most remarkable for
its absurd and untrue propositions.
1t is not possible to contruct an argument
In which are wrought the feminine character
fstics Of strength and weakness by analogy
with a cub a cobra or an uncavilized squAw.
Materials that gave interest and delight to the
jungle Tales as works Of creative imagina-
ton may not, with either truth or propriety. be
expression to her largest possibilities only
mans character. There is but one element
In common as We run the whole gamut OF this
:, sex, from the crawling serpent, mp through
the ferocious animal and the savage and semi
civilized female. to the women OF this modern
world; that element is the mother love which
10 instructive In the sex, which gives capacity
for infinite self sacrifice which gives courage
and heroism almost divine in the protection
OF progeny and which is the unrivaled glory
Of the sex
For the production or progeny is she built
and as wife and mother her noblest rela-
tons suhserved but we cannot concede that
her mission Is necessarily limited to these
spheres We think she has demonstrated in
the process of her development that she has
capacities that guarantee conspicuous possibilt-
ties in other directions To be sure, the his
tory of civilization does not warrant the sup
position that man has monopoly upon all the
qualities OF body and mind that give equip
ment for broader service. The history OF the
world WILL we think, demonstrate that woman
comes to her own rightful sphere and gives
expression to her largest possibilities only
when she is accorded place by the side of man
as his equal in all physical strength and as
his superior in the virtues and graces that serve
to purify society and .glorify life, Secluded
sheltered restricted limited in her activities
for centuries the womans hour OF self-asser-
ton and self-expression was merely postpon-
ed When the day of recognition and larger
liberty did come she entered the open door OF
wider opportunity everywhere proving That
she was ready for the moment and prepared
to hold her own. In every realm which she
has entered she has demonstrated her ability
10 hold her own and the names of famous wo-
men are known to the world in every sphere
of human activity In which she has lahored.
less numerous than those Of men only because
the number Of women In public life has been
less numerous than the number OF
AS an abstract proposition the woman have all
the best Of the argument with which she pleads
for admission at the doorway Of a larger liberty
and a wider opportunity None cam dispute
her capacity or her right. For this reason the
tendency towards q broadening horizon for wo-
men has been conspicuous and inevitable,
The day OF her larger emancipation is bound to
come. II. indeed. it has not already arrived.
We expect to find her by sides some morn
ing at the polls, in spite OF Kipling and his
kind. Maybe we shall some day elect her 10
places OF public service and trust. and see
no reason why she should fill them less eff
GENTLY and faithfully than men. But. in spite OF
the inevitable, we fear the coming OF this day.
for we know that years OF unrestricted contact
with the coarse and sordid world without viii
leave its unfortunate impress upon the women.
. Already this very effect is being wrought.
Modessy. genueness graeiousness. sweetness.
those qualities that have charmed the sterner
sex and sweetened the life of the home will
gradually disappear as the struggle with life
and the contact with roughsr elements become
more pronounced 10 her life,
For sentimental reasons alone We deplore the
modern trend. We would preserve our ideal 81
wonsnhood. the gentle. gracious angel OF the
i hema the queen who rules the heart Of mar
/ ~ the grace and charm of her being and VITA
q ~ scepter OF love. When she abdicates this
u shrone and strides forth to contend for saprem
NJ ~ III other fields there il no reason why, she
Ia hAAa1d fail, but to succeed she must meet the
ana T. ~s.Y.~~1n he x,id -,