The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-15
By the Countess of Warwick

lie has not watched the slow awakening OF
women In the countries around him: he has
not Noted how bonds OF sympathy. light as
gossamer yet strong as steel. have stretched
from country 20 country. binding our sex in n
large and ever widening sisterhood inarticulate
now. or at least hardly coherent. but only
waiting for their appointed hour to assume
fuller share Of the glories. the burdens and the
responsibilities OF life. woman's influence.
silent world wide. pervasiye. has been treated
by the evangels OF Kultur though II were
non existent. and in the hour Of crisis woman
"a a united force has avenged herself for years
u neglect. scorn and brutality. She is every
where n belligerent
do not know the country In Europe where
women are treated as they are In Germany
Not many countries vie with the United
States In the attention bestowed upon the
gentier sex. but have endeavored TO show
they respected more In every beligerent
country than they are in the that sought to
rest supreme in Europe. Even in Italy. Spain
and Portugal. where must often work as
hard as men. they stand upon a secure footing
OF affection and respect. The smaller courtesies.
the greater services OF life are theirs. In
some definite measure they complete the home.
You cannot bring indictment against
whole nation. and do not seek to do so.
In tens OF thousands of German homes the
wife and daughters are loved and honored. but
in the rank and file OF military circles. even
among the men who hold official positions and
boast a certain standing. woman has been de-
throned-she is regarded as incumbrance
necessary for the production OF further genera
tons OF supermen. who shall subdue the earth.
This attitude Of mind reveals itself in the action
that speaks louder than words The liberation
and the contempt to which l refer are every
where apparent. No good looking woman is
safe in Germany from the ill-bred stares and
comments OF the with whom she must
travel In train or tram.
II women enter a theatre restaurant their
own friends and relatives do not rise to receive
them. They are liable to be elbowed into the
road II men walking abreast occupy the
whole OF the pavement. The politeness Of the
few cultured Germans pardon the discredited
adjective) merely emphasizes the boorishness
OF the vast majority. 1t might be that the
German is waiting for women to be officially
recognized human beings to whom some
measure OF courtesy even Of decency is due.
Only when rudeness is "rerboteH' will rudeness
cease.
The country IL governed by men for men and
women. but according TO the marriage rubric
woman is actually mans servant. The effect Of
these conditions upon the morals Of the country
is deplorable. They give a cachet to vices. even
the most odious. and the rate OF nlegitimacy.
about 10 per cent for the whole empire. is about
doubled In Berlin. where the military caste is
supreme The morals OF the army are the
morals of Berlin and account not only for the
hideous stories published about what has taken
place in Belgium and northern France. but for
the recitals not less appalling that one gathers
from officers home leave who have seen
sights I'm the area of German occupation that
cannot be set down in print.
Undoubtedly these recitas. II they could
reach the heart OF Germany. would thrill tens
OF thousands OF honest men with indignati1 IN
and disgust ! do not believe for moment
that they represent the inclinRtions OF the
whole nation. They are rather the action OF
that section OF the nation which. while war
endures. must have the upper hand. and dur
Ing all the years OF warlike preparations has
reigned supreme. Against this aspect OF Ger
man national life the women OF beligerent and
neutral countries alike are arrayed. Whatever
their resources or their influence In the coun-