The Washington herald., 1912-08-10
By FRANCES sHAFFER.

1t Is right amusing TO run across an
old Newspaper or a magazine published
half q century or 20 ago and read the
funny sort Of twaddle (the word is Just
as pretty as the stun deserves) they were
inspired to write concerning women.
This particular extract IL mild. COM
pared with some. but 1t happens to be
at hand and SO Is quoted-a clipping from
Philadelphia paper, concerning Phfia-
delphia women.
"Our Philadelphia ladies not only pos
sess beauty. but they are celebrated Tor
their discretion. modesty, and unfeigned
difiidence %, as well as wit, vivacity, and
good nature. Who ever heard Of a Phiia-
delphia lady setting up for reformer
or standing out for woman's rights, or
assisting to man the election grounds.
raise a regiment. command a legion, Or
address a jury? Our ladies glow with
a higher ambition. They soar to rule
the hearts of their worshipers and Sc
cure obedience by the scepter OF anec-
ton sss A woman 10 nobody. A
wife is everything, a pretty girl is equal
to 1000 men. and a mother is. next 10
God. all powerful The ladies of Phiia-
delphia, therefore. under the influence Of
the most sober second thoughts. are re-
solved to maintain their rights as wives,
women"
Queer Idea of womanliness.
And what a nice little "pat-you-on-the-
head" but ''run-away-and-play" style II
is, to be sure!
And I honestly believe there are folk
to-day who would write just as fooiishly
If they quite dared to brave the counter
attack on the part of ladies' who as
pired to be Just women before they were
wives. bellies. or anything else that the
old time Philadelphia editor thought more
desirable than women "as women" In
deed. they sometimes come pretty hear
it. as II is.
If ever l am glad to see a really strong,
purposeful, and reasonable woman. who
lays no stress upon her femininity. but
who reaches up for big things and really
grasps them. regardless OF the woman
end of 1t. it is after reading or listening
to bit of weak sentiment that sounds
very sweet and means nothing.
I suppose there always has been and
always will be a certain difference be-
tween a mans ideal of a woman and
her ideal of herself, but it seems rea-
sonably safe to think of a woman as
quite somebody after all. governed by
the same human instincts that belong
to all mankind-and this whether she
happens to be a wife, a belle, a virgin.
or a mother"
Times have changed: men, women
and editors-have changed with them;
and IL only remains for the laggards to
get in line.
Comparison Makes One Smile.
As We compare an old-time novel
with a story Of to-day it Is to smile.
The English novelist Richardson makes
Pamela, a dear heroine In those days.
very, very funny when viewed through
modern ears. One would Judge her bless
ed with an abundance of ''unfeigned
diffidence" when she says concerning her
future husband:
My good, dear master, my kind
friend. my generous benefactor, my
worthy protector. and. oh. all the good
words in one, my affectionate husband
that is soon to be-be curbed in, my
proud heart: know thyself. and be con-
scious of thy unworthiness-has just
left me with the kindest. tenderest ex-
pressions and gentlest behavior that ever
blest a happy maiden"
Isn't that awful? And aren't you glad
and isn't man glad with you-that the
day has come when it isn't quite neces-
sary to make a poor little mousie of
yourself in order TO be a heroine TO
those you love?
1t has even come to pass that novel
lists dare introduce a plain woman about
whom they weave a web of beautiful
romance for no better reason than that
she happens to be a bit clever and COM
panionable and likes to walk on a level
with man-no higher, no lower. just with
him. And that is all the modern woman
wants, and she is allowing herself to
dream of that time, without any little
butts thrown in.
Practical ReIationship Best.
And it really seems-much as some
folk are decrying the passing of what
they call sentiment-that the most salts
flying and the most hopeful relation be-
tween men and women will be based
upon truth and reality.
If / very much wanted something that
could be brought about only through
the Legislature, and l went to that
body, earnestly presenting my claims
and asking the indulgence OF action IL
wouldn't satisfy or appease me a bit to
be handed a stick of candy or a nice,
dignified bunch of roses, told L was a
dear. pretty child or a charming wo-
men" who should secure obedience by
the scepter of affection" and hurried on
to the shelter of home. Because, you
see, II would be a reality that / wanted
TO get hold of. not a tissue of pretty
nonsense that counts for nothing when
it comes to the practicalities by which
all must live.
yes MO orc clad fbo, u,or,,an have