The Washington herald., 1912-06-30
Why Women Are So Queer"
By FRANCES sHAFFER.

women are queer creatures"
So they say! And SO they have said
for many long generations. And; In
way. when some women are in the light,
some women taken for the standard we
must say, yes they are.
But we cannot let It go at that. and
must add-whose the fault? Because
for a long while women have stood be-
tween two sharp fires, and little help
they have had in trying to get out In
the open, where things are done "on
the level" II you will pardon the ex-
preston.
How Things Are Obtained.
On the one hand, some coax. plead and
resort to strategy for what they want.
Sometimes It comes upon wish. some
times after Iabored argument or cheap
little trickery-and sometimes II does not
come at all.
On the other hand. there are some
who say that is not a human, wom-
anIy way to act and that II they would
cease to be open to the old charge, queer
creatures" they must not be left IN the
position Of supPliants. There's the home
for instance. Sometimes things work
out very harmonious and there is no
clash Of authority. no question Of who S
who" and no need for that strange some
| thing they call management" rather a
heaIthful spirit OF cooperation. And 50
| far. all is well. But there are other
homes where things that are really vital
to a wife. to her happiness and well-be-
/ ing. cannot be decided by her unless
they happen to be indorsed by the head
Of the house"
| And so. in order to win that indorse-
ment. she plots and plans 20 bring him
around" and sometimes, alas, she goes
about it in very undignifed, unwoman-
ly sort of way-but any port in a storm.
The many who exist in comfortable
Iatmosphere Of cooperation. where not
my wiz hut "ours'' is the motto. do
not realize the hardship and the demor-
allZation OF this managing method: but
the many others who have followed that
devious. weakening way for nll the years
OF their welded life have not much 10
say In favor OF that kind Of influence.
Called AEItators.
Yet, when a portion Of femininity
asks that woman's work in the home
be recognized to the extent OF placing
a financial value upon II, permitting
her TO have a share in money that she
has earned. without accepting II as a
| Gift. they are called agitators and dis
turbers Of world peace. Yet. you and I
/ know that II a man, or woman, Is
not given the dignity OF standing upon
! his own feet and acting upon his own
! initiative he IS likely TO develop more
than one queer" streak Funny"
papers are very fond Of picturIng a
wife resortlng to all sorts OF trickery
! to secure from a reluctant husband a
check for a new hat or gown, but the
! Truth hack Of that little joke IS not at
all pretty. Neither ls II quite fair TO
! the best development OF humanity that
when he thinks II time to replace the
! old with the new he can walk up, like
a man, and buy his hat without asking
[ anyone for the money, while she must
| coax and plot. For We must not for
get that while many women know no
| restraint except that which comes from
wise sense Of economy, others must
| wait until the spirit moves the mascu-
line poCketbook to open.
And II does rot stop with finances
When the spirit of partnership Is lack
ing and II is necessary TO manage
details that are trivial and those that
are important some queer" methods
are bound to creep In.
Rack in 1910 a wise man in London
published a pamphlet which ne called
Counsel for Ladies, and among the ex-
hOrtations for their guidance. there was
one which some folk are still insisting
upon-"Sever exact anything and you
will obtain much. Always appear eN-
cited by the little he does for you.
which will excite him to perform more. '
And this is the height Of manage
ment"-'A woman may have more sense
than her husband. but she should never
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