The Washington herald., 1913-04-23
PIERRE LOFTS IDEA
OF WOMAN'S CHARM
Sounds Childish to Be Told that to Be
Mysterious Is Her Greatest
Attraction.
By FRANCES sHAFFER.


recent visitor to America, Pierre
Lott, had lot to say about women the
world over, and our variety in particu-
lar. And among other things, he went
on record as telling womankind:
woman must not lose her mystery
Her greatest charm is her mystery
And then he went on to say that the
really new" woman, crying out for I'M
tried tools, had not a particle of interest
for him, for mystery was all that ap-
pealed.
Some of U.S. at the time, read his COM
ments, smiled a bit, and thought no
more about them, and it happened that
We saw that little extract standing out
by itself, away from his other COM
ments.
And then we wondered hoy the world
was divided-how many women live in
an atmosphere fostering the something
he calls mystery, how many more spend
their days and their years i'm quite
different setting, a setting in which there
is, perforce, too much of the practical
for the mysterious to come creeping in.
And We wondered something more
Real womnnhood Better.
As the years steadily slip by and the
training school of life broadens and
strengthens a woman, bringing the fruits
VI d ucNtiOptu uOtsll SIlt tOuhl
it a bit childish, certainly not at all
flattering, to be told that to be mysteri-
GUS is her greatest charm? For once
having made the most of her natural
heritage OF good mentally, once having
looked upon life with seeing eyes, and
once having grown as nature meant her
to grow, isn't her own sincere, purpose
full womanhood better and hard to
please?
behind closed lattices, look out at life,
when they are permitted to look at ALL
through obscuring wells, and hump about
Oil ridiculous deformities. And perhaps
here in America, we have a few OF the
type, women whose dreams Of happi-
ness and of growth never outreach the
social horizon. dress, amusements, and
the like. Yes, they may fit in with
visions of mystery
wouldn't Interest Lott.
But. happily enough for the good of
the world, there is nothing mysterious
about the majority of women. Certain
ly the millions of women throughout the
country who are laboring for the prac-
teal dollars, even as men, would not
interest the distinguished Frenchman at
all, for they have not the time for mys
terry.
And women who are wives cannot APP
peal to him so very much, for when the
curtains drop on the festivities OF the
wedding day they learn that there are
realities behind the scene, realities that
must go on to the end of life, and
that to be as useful as they ought to be,
they must grow strong and dependable
and drop the childish air of mystery, il,
indeed, they ever had it
1t is a real pleasure, too, to observe
that the average woman with an abund-
ance of wealth at her command wants,
and generally finds, some useful outlet
for her money and her leisure. And
then her mystery fades away.
The fact is, every once in while we
hear strange voice calling women back |
10 the wells and back to the shelters that |
would protect them. from every wind !
that blows. 1t is a voice from the CEN
turtles that are gone, and it would be !
a real tragedy if women heed it.
Not Possible.
For it is not possible to sit back of |
hedge. dreaming the hours away with |
bit of soulful poetry, learning to be mys-
FERROUS, and still to grow into woman |
fit to be a companion and a help to man |
and to all the world. 1t is not possible |
ard il is a happy day for the world that !
women have passed out from the shipper |
ing, useless stage Of utter dependence |
to the better point of thinking and acting /
upon their own initiation, without the /
recourse to mystery.
1t may be sort of childish. but some |
how there is a sort of protest that comes |
to life when one hears a man. active, |
and at least fairly useful |
himself, set such a narrow woman-pace.
OF course, it does not affect things at |
all. but, for the time, when the voice |
is heard, il makes it seem that we must |
be living in old age, and in an ORR
entail world where women grow so big
and not one inch bigger.
And as for me, / am glad that the
woman clear of mind, quite open and |
frank in her ways, the woman with a
hand and a heart for service, has been
given a welcome from the practical |
world, and that she has come to stay.
And / believe that she is far more
more useful and more
lovable than the yelled woman of mys-
terry whom she has dethroned forever.
in France 2l4 per cent of the population is en-
a.. !