The Washington herald., 1915-06-10


tons in life sustained and encouraged by men
The woman married to successful man, lv-
ing in we-appointed home. is very remark
able character. She believes that she belongs
to the superior ones pf the earth. Her path is
made easy. 1t is almost inevitable that she
should consider herself essentially different from
those other women who possess few or none
of her advantages. On all sides she hears talk
that expresses unquestioning belief in inequality.
She is encouraged to think that it is not only
right, but absolutely necessary for her to draw
social lines. On the drawing OF social lines NAV
depend the future wcll-bcng of her children!
No wonder that in many instances, she be-
comes selfsatishcd, snobbsh and, with serene
Inconsistencies, narrow and selfish
There some homes that seem like hostile
camps. The members speak and act as if thew
cared only for themselves, if they did not bear
any essential relation to the community. Natur-
ally. such homes arc foes OF democracy and hot
beds OF the arrogant spirit of self-satisfaction
But there is ono thing to be said in behalf OF
such homes. Compared with the homes OF the
poor. they arc very few. Moreover. their in
fnencc in the world is comparatively slight In
the FIRST place, the women in such homes will
be sept by their very superiority from exercis-
ing their share in the suffrage. That is, they
will he held back Tor a time Those homes will
he the last places to feel the new spirit of de-
mociacy with all its responsibilities and privi-
leees
1t is made a reproach. by the very women
whose snobbishness Mr.. Howells fears that the
vote will be eagerly accepted and used by the
women OF the ignorant classes"
In expressing this fear the superior women
are patheticav unaware OF their own confess
sion OF infcriorty
The explanation is, of course they have not
as yet become sufficiently enlightened to realize
that the Willingness to vote is an expression of
a desire to have share in the management of
the State, that, in other words, it is willingness
to- perform service. Those superior women actu-
ally confess that the women OF "the ignorant
classes have readiness to serve which they do
not themselves possess. Moreover, in speaking
of millions OF women less fortunate than them
selves Ignorant" they show a curious Iacl,
Of knowledge. AS matter of fact. for cnlighten-
ment, those ignorant women compare favorably
with themselves. The ignorant vote is lust as
intelligent as the vote OF the well-to-do, and no
less prcjudiccd.
We all need enlightenment in this matter of
voting, and We arc not going to secure enlighten-
nent by denying to class or 10 one sex the
light to express itself in the society of which it
s part.
have lately been interested in hearing the
opinions OF several men regarding in bus
ness In nearly every instance they complain
Of the women. They say that the women are
ussy. interfering, and full OF tricks always look
ng for small advantages. They profess to be-
ievc that these qualities express the fundamental
nature OF women. They don't stop to consider
whether women have these qualities developed in
hem by the narrownesS OF the life imposed on
hem for generation after generation and BY the
disadvantages women have had to bear in their |
citation with
AS matter of fact. in business women nearly |
lways feel themselves TO be in danger They !
AVE learned from experience that in the world i
II competition, they can expect mercy. Be- |
ides, in most cases their training has not been |
broad to enable them to see how un- |
wise it is to sacrifice the larger considerations |
or the petty victories.
But there is argument in this world capa-
lie OF proving that women unable to learn! |
And the longer women remain in business,
he farther they advance, the more expert they
must inevitably become.
Among other things they will learn that. in
cry practical sense, they have always been in
olved in business usually the losing side
Similarly they have always been involved in
olitcs and always on the losing side.