Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-15

auction, bridge tournaments or sinfiar
social events give him the opportunity.
As to the broadening sphere OF tha
women and their interest III matter
which formerly were no. supposed TO
concern them. he may In the abstract
condemn. but in practice 70 .oes nos
object and seems rather 10 Ike It.
Theoretically he viii discuss woman =
sphere along the old lines and depioro
the effect new ideas are sure 10 have.
but after doing SO he Will arrange some
function for his wife and daughters ana
VIII enjoy bringing them out or their
seclusion. I have seen so many ind!-
vdual instances of this 20 TO feel wal
ranted in characterzing Il the att
tude Of the great majority OF the rnea
In South America. though tiley Will nnr
openly make confession.
IN other respects tho snsnsed posi-
ton OF women is beneficial IN breaking
down certain customs which 10 men OF
northern blood were intolerabie In a
few towns and cities of South America
the once harmless practice OF old Spaiii
still obtains. That is. the audible com
nlents. complimentary. OF course. Of men
on the women they may pass in pub
lie places. In a faw towns the young
men still gather IN front OF the church
before mass and make their ''pircpos
or compliments as the seroritas go in 10
mass. This WAS considered ailowaUi,,
even when the young women were ac-
companied by the duennas or chaperons.
but the practice Is dissip pear.ng and this
disappearance is recogn'zed In the free
dom which women now exercise III going
about the streets unattended.
Buenos Aires Notwithstanding its Eu-
ropean traditions and its claims To- he
the Paris of South America set the eA-
ample in this respect.
Not many years ago l. was rs dis
agreeable for "A woman or women To 20
about the streets of the Argentine metror-
oils unattended as II is today In Paris.
A progressive chief OF police backed ~
public sentiment gave them their free
dom.
The police force of Buenos A!res IS
young men of good families who did not
care for regular military service entered
it. These police officers were detailed IN
pairs. They We're not ohtrusive. but
before long il became known that an
woman who was subject to annoyanc.
could quickly lind pair OF policemen -
whom to appeal. This mere fact mad.
the appeal rarely necessary. Buenos
Aires. like any great city, still has IL
.,mashers' and men of that ilk. but TIL
women Of the city, whether working
girls or women of society, go about free
ly and unmolested.
The part of the foreigner in this eve
luton among the South American nom
en- is not to be entirely ignored. Th.
North American. the Englishman or tll.
German who IS part Of it is not hin
self conscious Of his own position. He
has. however, an influence which indi-
rectly is affecting the movement.
1t is question of husbands Foreign
ers of nom Latin-speaking countries do
not rule marry into Latin A'neIi-
can families. Yet there are many OF thcs.-
marriages. The Germans generally en-
ter most completely into the lives OF III,
families into which they marry. This
is. perhaps. partly due 10 the simiiaTits
of some social usages and customs
The German does not entirely sink ms
individuality. but he merges il NOR.
completely than the Englishnan or In.
North American.