New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-14
LITERARY CRITICISM
AND BOOK REVIEWS
Some Books on Feminism Here and Abroad
Mr.. Golfers Germany and the Ger
mans'-An Introduction to Literature.
FEMINISM.


THE OLD-FAsHIONED WOMAN. rim nm
tive Fancies About the Sex By Elsle
Clews Parsons. Svo, PIP. viii, 80. =
Putnam's Sons.
WAY STATIONS. BY Elizabeth Robins
l2mo. DIP 81. DOdd. Mead & CO.
THE WOMAN WITH EMPTY HANDS
The Evolution OF a Sufragette' 4oiho'
PIP rs Dodd. Mead q GO.
THE UNREST OF WOMEN. ny. Ed
ward Sanford Martin. l2mo, PIP. li6. u.
Appleton & co.
THE GIRLS FIGHT FOR \ LIVING.
How 10 Protect Working Women from
Dangers Due to Low Wages. B Nh, Tho mas
a Russell. A. NJ" LII ID, WIN POI
traits. l9mo PIP 200 Chicago: NJ. a
DonOhue & Co.
The literature of the woman ques-
ton" keeps on growing apace, although
the question itself. except in the matter
OF the suffrage. may appear to be merely
keeping step for the moment. without
further marked advance in any direc-
ton. In the economic field the world
is awaiting fuller results from the
equality with man claimed by women
I'm all branches of activity. but mean
while we are already confronted with
such perplexing problems as a legal
minimum wage for women ana the
rights OF motherhood VS. occupauonai
duties. The era Of readjustments APP
pears 10 be dawnng; we shall GER
tainly have to pass through il before
going much further complications are
increasing so fast. But the leaders OF
the cause continue TO pin their belief
TO the vote as the solvent of them all.
This is the age Of faith in legislation as
the sure cure for every evil that be
sets us.
OF the books here under consldera-
ton. Mrs. ParsOns's is retrospective
with an entertaining, interesting ana
suggestive trick of showing how age
old sex customs privileges. limitations
inhibitions and differentiations survive
10 this day in modified forms. the
work is, indeed. largely a study oil sex
taboos. with ample evidence TO snow
that such taboos were not directed
against woman alone. but were coun-
terbalanced by rules just as strict for
taboos." Mrs Parsons calls them'
Many of them we keep alive. H. ior
instance. the native woman or the
South Sea Islands may not use certain
words the same taboo is laid upon
our own women. and there is an anti
male taboo" concerning the use OF pro
family and loose language in their pres
ence. Even in the play of children sex
taboo survives. Until quite recently
at least. girls were forbidden 10 pla!
bows games: and one of the anu-male
taboos impressed upon boys from chllu-
hood is that they must not play Win
dolls. Mrs. Parsons traces curious
analogies between the customs of pu-
bertv. betrothal, marriage and maternit!
among the Andaman Islanders, the
Hindus. Eskimos. Russians, Bull
earians and other nations and our own
and she traces her subject in other
directions. such as sex and food sex
and dress. and even sex after death
widowers' and widows rites \ boo"
full Of curious interest, lightly ana en-
tertainingly conveying the results oil
an Impressive amount of study and re-
search.
And now for the present. Elizabeth
Robins gives us in Way Stations a
collection of her speeches and articles
IN favor Of woman suffrage, accom-
panied by chronology Of the progress
If the movement in England up 10 the
beginning Of the present year. To Miss
Robins the vote is even more a means
TO an end than right withheld She'
too. believes that the ballot in woman
hands will be the solvent of all prob
lens that confront us. And over her
cbanter on militancy she places the