New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-28
WORDS WITH Mr.. APPELBAUM
Replies to His Structures
on Feminine Vanities.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Mr.. Eli Appelbaum has hit upon one
of the great fundamental facts Of existence
Ever since the world began" he declares,
"women's highest aim and ambition in life
has been TO attract man. and goes on TO re-
mark that they have frequently changed their
faces shapes, colorlng and clothing 20 their
efforts to 90 so. Or course they have. That
is one of the most important things they are
here for | wonder if Mr.. Appeibaum ever
stopped TO consider what would happen
they didn't do these things? Suppose women
suddenly ceased to care about the admiration
Of men? Suppose they never had cared for
it? What would have become of the world?
And yet Mr. Appelbaum is quite manifestly
condemnng women for behaving nature
intended them 20.
Moreover, while he recognizes one Of the
fundamentals of feminine nature, he entirely
overlooks another which is quite as impor-
tant; the quality which we term "modesty'
Now modesty is very interesting quality
Like morality, it is greatly Influenced by
training and environment. As result. there
is no universal standard. The people az
Japan for instance, look upon many things
as modest which we would cali immodest
Then there is strong "trade unionism
among women which causes them instncfve-
ly TO turn from any woman VINO breaks ie'
established rules and uses unfair methods
of attraction. And, lastly, too sudden
change in women's dress, such as Mr. Ape
baum suggests, would shock mans modesW
and produce disgust and aversion instead 81
pleasure and attraction. These things "l"
act as checks on TOO rapid changes %.
fashion. And gradual changes do not "ofn
havoc. Think how little THE Black CfooA
and "Mrs. Warren's Profession would 'hocA
Us if they were produced to-day. why VIZ
are less affected by the bare legs OF ,n'
Winter Garden chorus and by plays IKE LIZ
Song of Songs" than our fathers we're Oy wv
two plays have mentioned. Does W. Appe-
baum seriously believe, because this IS rug
that we are any worse than they were ~
seems impossible that any one could ne ~
absurd. All that has happened ., tnat our
point of view has changed. Fundamenla"y
we are no worse and no better than 'hey
were.
As for women bringing in an era OF NM
tarism, has Mr.. Appelbaum forgotten me SUI
trage leaders who are acknowledged ~"
cifsts? Personally, / Thoroughly agic' WIN
Mrs Batch Germany has given US won
derful practical demonstration Of the 'aIue
of universal military training and proper
preparedness for war. Since we cannot ~
sure of having peace until every single n'-
ton has scrapped her battleships ana as
banded her armies. it seems to me a 'iIhe OF
the NEST monstrous magnitude 10 ailo" our
own nation to 60 defenceless, an easy prey
and constant temptation 70 ambitious Iu'-
ers. / should like to think that most oil the
suffragists also agreed with Mrs BIatch ou'
| am afraid their influence will, on the "hoe'
! be in the other direction. toward lack OF prep
aration and dependence on arbitration
The question Of woman's moral obhgaDo"
to fulfil her promise 70 obey her husband as
interpreted by Mr.. Appeibaum, Is papaoH
absurd Would he expect a woman 20 OBEY
her husband if he ordered her to commit
crime? | cannot see her moral oblgauon 70
do so. And no more can ! see that she y
morally obliged 20 obey command TO N0,S
for candidate or measure ~ she het,e"
/ feels that to do so is to commit crime
against the nation.
JAMES R. KEENE TAYLOR.
/ New York. Aug %, 1915.