The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-29

expect to be controlled. After the
first strong outburst OF fury has spent
itself they are likely to yield with
comparative complacency With the
policewomen, on the other hand, they
feel that they are contending With
their equals in the matter Of
strength. Their chances of success
ful resistance are therefore good, and
they keep up the fight. Resentment
at the thought that they are being
coerced by women who are appar-
emily their equals and who should
naturally be their allies lends an
additional impetus to their fury.
But there is yet another and more
fundamental reason why women are
not likely to prove successful in this
particular field OF activity. This is
Ia be found in the well-established
fact that women are physiologicaliy
more irritable or excitablo than men.
That is to say, they respond more
readily and directly to stimuli,
whether physical or psychical.
The question need not be raised
here whether this is a mark OF in
feriority or superiority. If any one
IS disposed TO raise the question. the
answer is that 1t is neither. 1t is I'M
fortunate that the matter of relative
superiority is implied In almost
every discussion Of differences OF
the sexes, for it is just this mpli-
cation that prompts so many femi-
nists to maintain that sex differences
do not exist at all. The fact is that
and immutable differences, and the
only wise course is to recognize their
existence.
Thiu nnfpf ic en- x-tf al In I,o
ent day discussion of the woman
movement and SO much overlooked
that we feel justified in going just
little out of our way to quote from
recent article by Miss Ida Tarbell,
woman who certainly cannot be
accused OF being an "old fogy" on the
question OF woman's place in modern
life:
Doing a mans work in a mans
way almost invariably means for a
woman self-consciousness. friction,
self-suppression. 1t is costly to
society and TO the individual. for 1t
means at least the partial atrophy of
powers and qualities peculiar to
women and essential to the
harmony, the charm, and the vigor
Of society. Her differences are her
strength. Their full growth com
pletes the human cycle. To sup
press these differences is to rob MOI
merely her individual life, but thu
life of the world OF it's full ripeness
There is grave need. in thi
country particularly, Of lifting tn,
suffrage debate from the narrow
lines it has followed, stripping it O
false assumptions and OF impossible
claims, and centering ii about {
woman more nearly typical than the
served it. Woman is no
asked to prove her equality to mar
BY doing In his way the things he
does. She proves it by doing the
things for which she is fitted ant
which the world needs from her."
This greater excitability or affect
ability of women, which is perhap!
the characteristic by which she diff
fers most from man. is the source o
her greatest weakness as we'll as he
greatest strength. Women as
class are noted for their tact, 70
their ability to sense a situation I'm
mediately and to adjust themselve
promptly to varying conditions
Their intuitions with respect to i'm
portant problems that are incapable
OF logical analysis are more likely t
be accurate than those Of a man
These are a few of the advantage
accruing from this heightened sus
ceptibility.
On the other hand, this same qua
ity tends to certain degree of In
stability in life and conduct.