The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-05-21

n ~ ~
Such In one short sentence iss the
particular message of which Edwin
DAVIES Schoonmaker gives in his new
bpok, The World Storm and Be-
ypnd,, Just published by the Century
company
Poetopan1y, a New institution.
There are startling statements in
the book! For instance, on the first
reading &c might seem there was q
typographical error in the statement
that woman is the seeker after ex.
pertenceJ and man the protector of In.
stitntions. How long have we been
told Just the reverse Of that! But
ME- Schoonmaker when asked him
about that sentence, went on record
as elieying that man Is the congenial
conservative and woman the breaker
down of conventions in sex matters.
The sex problem is to be solved and
the answer-which is freedoms to
sbesWorked out by woman.
And how are we going to learn
that?s u asked. thought perhaps
Mr.. Schoonmaker would pause before
answering. or deal in glittering gen
eralities, but he did nothing OF the
kind:
Also when writing of poetogamy.
the new institution touching the re.
lations of man and woman, he says:
Does It involve the passing Of mono
gamy? Certainly not. VIII 1t stamp
certainly not Then what will 1t do :?
issthe logical question which comes
toEthe mind, and which put to Mr..
Schoonmaker.
The one thing which we must
learn about sex matters is that the
individual must do as he chooses;
that there can be no compulsion."
sWoman will be 1.-THE teacher" he
said. WHO else could teach the world
what love is and what are loves
rights q The two great universal pas
sionssar for food and for love. Man
as attended to the question of food
and has left love for woman. But, of
course, being man, he has made lot
ofsrn1ess and conventions and laws to
govern love, of which he has known
sof1ittle. No wonder that things have
gotainto the mess they have!
Woman Mans Last Slave.
aButs does woman want the freedom
% which you speak? Does she, any
more than man, believe that In sex
matters each Individual should do as
heSchooses?"
sWoman's has been mans last
slave, came the quick reply. Long
ago man had to give up possessing
other human beings. But still could
and oes-possess his wife. 1t has
been CLOSED over with sentimental
ttys8 Of course, but the fact remains
that the wife has belonged to tho hus-
band. He has belonged, more or less,
tolhtmself. But she has not been free.
Now she is saying-and she is going
to say It much louder and clearer
that she belongs to herself and that
she8wflls not belong to anybody: else. Il
Why on earth should anybody but
theEtwo gpersons concerned have any
thing toRsay about the sex relation
ship The answer to that, which
that nobody should. Children must
society's business. But the persona!
affairs of men and women are not.
Where there are no children it Is no
more the business of society to inter
fere In the relations OF man and
women, freely entered into, than 1t is
fta business to interfere in their
choice of occupation or the clothes they
wear.
4There are many women who are
SEEING this. They are the defiant ones
who sare neither Divorces nor NADIA,
1enes. They are not loose lfvers nor
Shallow thinkers. Instead, they take
their stand upon this matter as upon
asgreat principle"
And monogamy? And polygamy?"
I8asked.
Men and women will be what they
areSwheni we have torn away from the
ettlylaws of today. Some men and
women may love but once in a life.
time. Some may love more than once,
And the one will not be scorned any
more than the other. Cling as we
may to the pleasing fancy of static
relationship between man and woman,
as In the long ago we chung to the