The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-11-12
The Equal Standard
By VIRGINIA VAN DE WATER.

SN F COURSE believe in an equal
~ standard Of morals for both sexes"
declared a man to me long ago. why
should a woman be condemned more
than a man when she forsakes the beaten
and decent path? In either case the sin
is the same-and the matter or differ
ence of sex makes II no less"
"Do you really believe that?" I asked.
u am told that, as mems temptations
are many. there is more excuse for them
than for women II they do not live up to
tine standard Of right"
lie shook his head. "If mems temp
tauons are many" he replied. men be-
long to the stronger sex. Men boast
of their strength and deplore women
weaknesses then let them prove their
strength by keeping straight, and let
them show their appreciation OF womsn's
weakness by plying her when she makes
false step
As ] have said. that was long ago.
Some years later l learned With dlsmay
that this man and his wife had had a
falling out.
He was furious with his wife" said
my informant. who knew the couple well
because her name was connected with
that OF q certain man OF unsavory repu-
tation, / do not think that she was ever
really immoral but the fact that she
had been so T!.ecklessly imprudent angered
her husband
IT so happened that circumstances
threw this husband-a friend OF bygone
days-lnto association with me soon after
this rumor reached my ears In the
course OF one OF our conversations he
spoke bitterly Of "thc shadow Of his life"
Julia IS selfish and self-absorbcd.
ne insisted when 7 suggested that he was
harsh in his judgment Of her mo. we
NOT dlNOrCpE-fnr
feel that Il would be unfair TO the child
rem. But we are living apart temporarily
until / can s!ft this matter out and sec
! just how wrong my wife has been"
II do not believe she has been guilty
| OF anything worse than folly and impru-
| dence." ! protested. ''and surely YOU can
forgive those All people make mistakes
His face flushed. MY wife should not
| make such mIstakes!' he exclaimed
| Does she forget the dishonor she may
| bring upon my name and upon my child
| ren? woman cannot he too careful?"
| Have YOU always been CAREFUL !
asked softly. For I knew that ne him
self, had not been entirely the soul OF
And then. IN spite OF the protestatlons
| OF former years. he made the masculine
| able statement. with woman Il Is diff
| fcrent"
| After a little more conversation gath
! cred courage to remind him OF what he
|
standard for the sexes"
You have changed your views haven't
| you?' | asked.
| No no declared stoutly. mot at all
except when the woman happens TO be
my wife,
| He had the grace 10 blush al he thus
revealed his ideas. and vet I knew that
| he spoke n truth that lies at the bottom
Of many a mans heart Men pity tie
| fallen woman In the abstract they con-
denim women who arc hard upon her. thcy
give money 20 Houses % Refuge and 20
| Ma gdalenc Homes-and one would think
them The soul OF pity-until n woman
| belonging 10 them falls. then the whole
| matter changes.
! II T. not fair. nevertheless. 7 am told
| that II IS impossible for a man 10 rise
above this Inherited fceiuS-vct there are
farmer. learned that his girl wlfe--a pret-
| ty. foolish Crcature-had gone awav with
la handsome city rascal and he tried TO
harden his heart against her Yet when
q week later, she came to her senses and
returned. Naie and conscience -sInliten
land. paraphTaslng the prodigals prayer.
| pleaded: Il am no more worthy 20 be
| called your wifc. let me be your servant 80
| he lifted her from Ecr knees 10 his brea st
| and said II have been waiting for vou.
Ilittle girl. You have had a wild. bad
dream. but u Is all over
4 woman 10 whom ! told this story
| shrugged her shoulders. What pusil-
luminous fellow nc must be-" she ex-
| claimed. Such an action was certainly
no, like manly man"
! No. IL was more Ike God. wasn't it7
This womans censure reminded me that