The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-08-26
Their Engagement
Was Not Broken
BY F. A. Mitchell


was very bright She distinguishes
herself at college and after belnI
graduated engaged herself TO Professo
Ernest Balllnger, young man equal.
brilliant and whose specially was bi
ology. They had been engaged som'
time when the professor received |
note from his fiancee asking 10 be re
leased from her engagement for thu
reason that she had decided 10 stud,
profession and she considered
profession for n woman incompatible
with married life. Professor Ballingei
called upon her
Il think IL best" he said. that
should release you"
There was a slight contraction OF
Doras brows at this. She had asked
TO be released. but preferred that she
should be required TO struggle for her
freedom
"You agree with me, presume. that
a professional woman has no business
TO be married."
'My reason lies deeper than that"
replied the professor, unconsciously
falling into a tone used In lecturlng 10
his classes. You are aware, | pre-
sumo, that there are cases OF effem-
macy In men. Some psychologists hold
that this occurs from environment.
do not admit this. | consider Il the
result of birth accident. Such men are
born effeminate-that Is, they partake
mentally OF the nature OF the opposite
Eek"
81 cannot see" interrupted Dora,
what that has to do with the matter
between u.s."
BE patient, and you win see. The
corresponding accident TO this In wo-
men, viraginity, renders a woman as
much Of freak OF nature as a man
who is born effeminate Viragints take
up mems occupations naturally
do you mean TO assert that all wo-
men who enter the field Of law, medi-
cine, business. are virag ints?"
No, but | mean that viragints natu-
rally turn to mems occupations"
The views promulgated by her fance
were evidently not acceptable to Miss
Atterbury. In her features was ex-
pressed opposition to his theory. min
gled with pain at foreseeing that he
was about to apply 1t to herself.
II do not agree with you in referring
these things to birth accident" she
said. Il know a young man whose
only companion as a child was his sis
ter He is very effeminate.
In this case possibly his effeminacy |
came from environment, but / doubt |
it. In the case Of women who possess
traits Of men we have analogous cases
In certain birds. After certain age
the female assumes the plumage of the /
male and will destroy the eggs of her
species. This cannot result from en-
vironment, because environment could
not alter her plumage"
Miss Atterbury did not at all like
his result OF her announcement of the
of her engagement and the
reason she had given for breaking It,
She began to look troubled
The upshot of all this she said. 81
presume, is that l am a freak of ma
.ure.'
'That does not necessarily follow"
'eplied the professor imperturbably
Not necessarily, but it is evident
rom what you have said that you con-
ider me such"
MY views are not the views of all (
psychologists, and not all women who (
dept mems pursuits are viragoes
hough / believe that most of them
re"
You have not answered my ques-
ion."
What question 2"
whether or not you regard me as a
reak'
"You did not ask such a question.
'ou said that you presumed the up y
hot of my theory was that you We're a ,
reak of nature" [
DO you or do you not so regard h
le?'
My opinion can have no effect on C
lie truth. If your intention to take up o
profession is the result of birth acct
ent, so be it. Ny dictum would not d
rove or QlSpr0Ve the fact. y
There was silence for some moments,
lring which the young lady was alb
orbed in thought
Gould you love such woman
'eakT' she asked presently. :,
Men love their opposites. No man !,
In feel toward another man as to- =
ard q woman" u
1T seems impossible" replied Dora,
18th quivering lip, ito pin you down
anything. If | am one of these hor-
d freaks you speak of, how is it that
~ could have loved me thus far?' ia
"You forget that heretofore I have in
It so considered you" nc
But you do now?" NJ
"Not at all. Your desire to take up ds
mans profession causes me to sus-
ct. Your taking up the profession
ould be additional evidence. Your /
acticing the profession would-in
y opinion, mind you-be as good
oof as it Is possible to attain in your
iividual case"
You suspect on the verge of tears.
The professor took her in his arms
fence gave way to tenderness. and
e debate ended IN a multitude of
sses.
Miss Atterbury preferred. to do away
th all suspicion that she was a
FAX by taking a husband instead OF
profession He afterward coD fesSed