Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-10-19
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
!: PreI1larital;
1t Was Not q Settlement ;
|; Of Property, but
Of Principle
BY EDITH v. ROSS

pies are not fitted to govern themselves
no people IRE fitted to govern them.
selves Is non sequitur-that Is, the
conclusion does not follow the premise.
Because some women are 80 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
tics alone. Differences Of opinion. OF
fitness, ure the wheels Of progress. A
people Of one mind ON all subjects be-
comes stagnant
Elsie Harbeson was I'm example or
girl who was tempted to enter the fray
for the rights Of women without Mt
ness therefor. She was IL 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 OH 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 "her fate" she found
q man who was drawn to her on &C.
count OF the feminine mold In which
she was cast rather than her asptra
tions. The Scotch saying that we
would be blessed at being able to see
ourselves us others see us pertalned
especially to her. To Herbert Win
ston. her lover. 1t 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 matter which
other women were far better fitted to
push than she. But Herbert was CIV
ell to diplomacy rather than to open
opposition and had no mind to fly in
the face Of his fiancee'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 struggle. opened the
subject.
Herbert she said. there Is one
matter for us to consider before our
marriage. q matter OH which my heart
is set. upon which you seem to be In.
different. but which Is liable to make
trouble unless there Is distinct un.
derstanding while we are still free"
There is nothing to settle before
marriage. because 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 a good deal that Is practical in mar
ried life, that romance changes to com
partnership. which is fur more endur'
ing. and that companionship is de,
pendent upon u 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 u side issue.
II am sorry to see that you are be-
coming slangy. 1t would have sound.
ed better for you to say make any
difference But. to take up far more
important matter. nm 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 1t In his lecture on ciyiliza-
tion.'
ut seems to me we are getting away
from the subject which you consider
of SO much importance. ] don't think
II would pay us to enter upon q dis
cussion Of what goes back several
thousand years. We'd have to put of
our marriage indefinitely in order to
get down to modern times. How would
1t do for us to make compromise on
this matter of the emancipation Of wo-
NELL to have no opinions concerning
1t. you to have whatever opinions you
like?"
And express themT"
Certainly"
And act upon them"
"Of course"
That's lovely Of you. didn't think
you would be so liberal"
"l'li be more liberal yet If you like
I'll coach you on the arguments per-
tanning to the cause you are TO advo-
rate"
Twill your"
Certainly"
when shall we begin?"
"Any time-now If you wish It."
VERY well: mention some Of the
main arguments"
This was very mean Of him. He had
no business to lead her into such q
trap. Having embarked in q struggle
to wrest from man the rights Of won.
In. she now signified her reliance on
man by accepting his services to in.
struct her as to how to 60 about her
work
MAN." he said. when left to him.
self. without woman's influence. be-
comes brutal Ergo. he has in him the
nature Of brute. which can only be
kept in subsection by bis wife. Seer
The conclusion to this argument was
somewhat startling. Elsie could not
follow 1t all Mt once, so again she took
refuge in side issue.
"Please don't use that word See?
Why not say. DO you understand
meY"
Just SO. think 1t will be admit.
ted by any woman who is or has been
married that keeping her husband in
subsection requires lot Of time. Then
there Is the household to look after,
and the children. and a lot Of other
things
Il thought you were going to give
me arguments In favor Of the emanci.
patton Of women. You are proceeding
to prove that wife Is too busy look
Ing after her domestic affairs to- She
hesitated.
ITO keep her husband in subjection".