Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-08-21
The Bees Home Magazine page
Double Code of Morals
1t is Being Welded Into One

A young girl in Naples eloped with her
lover who deserted her without legalizlns
the tie that bound them. she had rc-
turned 10 her home and was forgiven and
received by her parents. But her brother
insisted that only by her death could the
family honor be cleansed. and when the
unhappy girl refused TO commit suicide
the brother stabbed her and then reported
his act TO the authorities, followed by an
Rdmiring thrOnE.
This Is the result OF old world tradition.
and very mouldy and ancient the ideas
are which underlie Il.
IL IL the groundless and foundlesH
theory OF mans superiority over woman
In making two codes OF morality-one
which renders his own moral derellctions
mere incidents In his career. and one
which renders a lapse OF virtue on her
part crime TO DO paid for only by her
death.
This double code Of morals has kept
morgues and potters fields ana insane
asylums and the ranks OF erring women
fun for centuries; Il has been the rock
IN woman's path TO progress.
II has hindered many a weak-wflied
but good and loving-souled woman from
turning her ono error and living n worthy
and useful life afterward. II has caused
the creed OF Christ 10 be a mockery in
thousands OF churches founded in Hts
name, yet violating His words to the
Magdaicne, Go and sin no mora" IL
stones the woman sinner with stones OF
cruel words and soorntul glances.
II IL a theory which has been put be-
fore the world by men and maintained
by them. In the old world Il stin pre-
walls but In our own land. thanks to
progress the errlng woman need not com
init suicide to prove to society that she
IL ropentant. She can Join the great
army OF tho worlds workers and make
herself useful and compel the respect OF
her fellow men and women.
She must suffer always with the scare
Of her mistakes, since Il is her nature TO
feel greater remorse than man feels for
his errorss Il IL seldom she reaches the
point Of boasting her sins and follies as
he Is prone 10 do. But tho avenues OF
labor and forgetfulness arc open 20 her
here. and as nowhere elsa In the world
and the freedom OF her environment
helps TO sink hsr mistakes under the bill
lows OF time, Meanwhile In America. as
nowhere else on earth. men arc begin
ninN 70 De mAoe 10 tcet aenhineu OF
Iicentious conduct
Recently two men OF wealth and high
social position were ostracized by clubs
and driven from society for betraying
two young. trusting girls, Al a seashore
resort younR man found himself coldly
received because Of some unsavory es-
capades in which he had figured. So
little by little the two codes OF morals
are being welded into one
Men are coming 10 realize that some
thing resembling deoency is demanded
OF them. and women are coming to real
lie that one false step does not deprive
them OF the right TO live and work and
repent.
Suicides from despairing love and bitter
sorrow will continue to occur a. long al
women Of intense temperaments and
weak will power continue to exist In the
world. but when a woman wants to live
and begin life over the whole world will
In time reach a standard of enlighten-
ment and humanity which will render
such situations as the one under diScus-
sion impossible.
America has taken the first steps for
ward IN this new code OF morals, and
older lands win gradually follow. a. in
all other reforms. II will be slow. az
great reforms In thought always are. but
II will come as surely as the change has
come which makes the burning OF witches
and the branding OF tho scarlet letter
impossible today