Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-01-27


press, II they can suppress. III their
own people, Either road vii bring you
here at last to the eternal search for
knowledge and the great adventure Of
power"
But incidentally" said Rachel Bor-
ken, incidentally you have half Of hu-
manity, you have womankind. very
much specialized for-for this love and
reproduction that Is so much less need
ed than it was"
Both sexes are specialized for love
and reproduction" said Karenin.
And surely" said Kahn. "when you
speak of love as a phase isn't 1t a nee
essary phase? Without that stir. with
Mt that impulse to go out from our
! Ives. to be reckless Of ourselves and
wonderful, would our lives be anything
more than the contentment Of the STALL
ed ox?''
The key that opens the door," said
Karenin, lis not the goal of the jour-
ney."
But womenv' cried Rachel. Here
we are! What Is our future-as wom-
en-? Is it only that we have unlocked
the doors of the imagination for you
men? Let US speak of this question
now. 1t is thing constantly in my
thoughts, Karenin. What do you think
Of us? You who must have thought
so much Of these perplexities.'
Karenin seemed to weigh his words.
He spoke very deliberately. II do not
care rap about your future-as wom-
en-. l do not care rap about the fu-
| ture Of men-as males. l want to de-
stroy these peculiar futures. l care
for your future as intelligences, as
| parts of and contributions to the uni
versal mind Of the race. Humanity
Is not only naturally overspecialized
in these matters. but all its institu-
tons, its customs, everything, exag-
gerate, intensity this difference. I
want to unspecialize women. No new
idea. Plato wanted exactly that. I
do not want to 60 on as we 90 now,
emphasizing this natural difference. I
! do not deny it, but want to reduce it
and overcome it,
And we remain women" said Ra-
chel Borken.
Need you remain thinking of your
selves as womsn?
1T Is forced upon u.s." said Edith
Hayden.
II do not think woman becomes
| less OF woman, because she dresses
and works like man." said Edwards.
You women here-1 mean you scien-
tific wOmen-wear white clothing like
the men. twist up your hair in the sim
plest fashion, 60 about your work as
though there was only one Sex in the
world. You are. just as much women,
even II you are not so feminine as the
fine ladies down below there in the
plains, who dress for excitement and
display. whose only thoughts are Of
| lovers, who exaggerate every differ
| ence. Indeed, we love you more"
! but we go about our work." said
Edith Hayden.
80 does it matter?" asked Rachel.
IF you go about your work and If
the men 80 about their work, then for
heavens sake be as much woman as
you wish," said Karenin. when |
ask you to unspecialize l am thinking
not OF the abolition Of sex, but the
abolition Of the irksome. restricting,
obstructive obsession with sex. 1t may
be true that sex made society. that the
first society was the sex cemented
family, the first state confederacy Of
blood relations, the first laws sexual
taboos. Up to within a few years of
us the chief interest and motive of an
ordinary man was to keep and rule a
woman and her children, and the chief
concern of woman was to get man
to do that. That was the drama, that
was life. And the jealousy Of these
demands was the master motive in
the world All that may have been
necessary, but it is necessary no long
er. All that has changed and changes
still very swiftly. Your future, Ra-
chel, as women. is a diminishing fu-
ture''
"Karenin," asked Rachel, do you
mean that women are to become
menu"
Men and women have to become
human beings"
"You would abolish women? But,
Karenin, listen! There is more than
sex in this. Apart from sex we are
different from you. We take up life
differently. Forget we are-females,
Karenin. and still we are a different
sort Of human being with a different
use. In some things we are amazing.
~ secondary. Here am in this place
because Of my trick Of management,
and Edith is here because of her pa.
tent, subtle hands. That does not
alter the fact that nearly the whole
body Of science is man made; that does
not alter the fact that men do so pre-
dominatingly make history, that you
could nearly write a complete history
Of the world without mentioning wo
mans name. And, on the other hand
We have gift Of devotion, of inspira
ton, distinctive power for truly low
ing beautiful things. care for life
and a peculiar, keen, close eye for be
havior. You know men are blind be
side US in these last matters. YOU
know they are restless-and fitful. W.
have steadfastness. We may never
draw the broad outlines nor discover
the new paths, but in the future ISM
there a confirming and sustaining anG
supplying role for us? As important
perhaps, as yours? Equally important
We hold the world up, Karenin. though
you may have raised it,
you know very we'll, Rachel, that