The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-11-04
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PreIIlarita| !:
1t Was Not a Settlement
of Property, but
Of Principle
BY EDITH v. ROSS
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pies are not fitted to govern themselves
no people are fitted to govern them
selves is a non sequitur-that is, the
conclusion does not follow the premise.
Because some women are so interested
in home, husband and children that
they do not care to take part in poll
tics we are not justified in assuming
that women had much better let poll
ties alone. Differences of opinion, of
fitness, are the wheels of progress. A
people Of one mind on all subjects be-
comes stagnant.
Elsie Harbeson was an example Of a
girl who was tempted to enter the fray
for the rights Of women without fit-
ness therefor. She was a lovable crea-
ture, very feminine and not especially
gifted in scholarly way. At any rate,
while in college she had received the
lowest possible rating, especially in
logic. She was neither an officer of her
class nor on any Of the committees.
Indeed, Miss Harbeson was not in any
way fitted for leader in the great and
absorbing struggle for the political ad-
vancement of her sex.
When Elsie met cher fate'' she found
man who was drawn to her OH &C.
! count Of the feminine mold in which
she was cast rather than her aspira-
tons. The Scotch saying that we
would be blessed at being able to see
| ourselves as others see us pertained
especially to her. To Herbert Win
ston, her lover, it was plain that the
cause Of women would lose nothing by
the detection Of the girl he loved. He
had no preferences for or against the
cause, but he was opposed to Elsie
wasting her time in a-matter which
other women were far better fitted to
push than she. But Herbert was CIV
en- to diplomacy rather than to open
opposition and had no mind to fly in
the face of his iancee's views. He
| made no comments whatever on these
particular opinions. Elsie believed
that matter in which she was inter-
ested and upon which her fiance SEEM
ed Indifferent should be settled be-
tween them before marriage and, brac-
ing herself for a struggle. opened the
subject.
"Herbert," she said, there is one
matter for us to consider before our
marriage, matter on which my heart
is set, upon which you seem to be in
different, but which is liable to make
trouble unless there is a distinct un,
derstanding while we are still free'
''There is nothing to settle before
marriage, because l propose to give
! way to you in everything"
''That's very sweet Of you But you
don't seem to realize as do that there
is good deal that is practical in mar
ried life, that romance changes to COM
partnership, which is far more endur-
ing, and that companionship is de-
pendent upon a husband and wife
having the same views"
"That doesn't cut any ice In our
case, because, as have told you, your
views shall be my views"
There was rather too much subservi-
ency in this to suit her; but, since she
| could not find fault with it, she took
refuge in a side issue.
Il am sorry to see that you are be-
coming slangy. It would have sound
ed better for you to say make any
difference But, to take up a far more
important matter, am very much in
terested in the struggle for the enamel
patton of women that has been going
on for many centuries. 1t is one Of
the elements that have entered into
the civilization of Europe and Amer
ica."
"How?"
"How? Why, Professor Rowland
mentioned it in his lecture on civiliza-
tionr'
"It seems to me we are getting away
from the subject which you consider
Of so much Importance. don't think
it would pay us to enter upon dis
cussion of what goes back several
thousand years. We'd have to put off
our marriage indefinitely in order to
get down to modern times. How would
it do for us to make a compromise on
this matter of the emancipation of wo-
men-I to have no opinions concerning
| it, you to have whatever opinions you
/ like?''
"And express them?'
certainly"
And act upon them?" " .--.-
"Of course
That's lovely Of you. l didn't think
you would be so liberal"
"I'll be more liberal yet. II you like
I'll coach you on the arguments per-