Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-11-14
REASONS WHY
| MEN SYMPATHIZE
Because They Laid Down
Moral Code For Women to
Live Up To
By ELLA WHEELER WILCOX
Copyright, 1915, Star Company.

Copyright, 1915, Star Com pany.
| why is it," asks a friends of this
column. that judges and jurors al
most invariably endeavor to acquit a
woman criminal and endeavor, with
just as much persistence, to convict a
| man accused of crime? A lawyer de-
Tending a woman lays great stress
upon the fact that the jurors have
mothers and sisters. But have they
not also father and brothers?
why Is a womln who deceives sew
eral men admirers less reprehensible
in the eyes of the law than a man who
wrongs a woman? L cannot under
stand this thing. Can you explain?"
1t is not necessary to look far to
md the explanation of mans mental
attitude in such cases. My questioner
(who seems from his penmanship to
be man) ought to look in his own
heart for the answer. Man, since the
beginning of history up to the last
quarter of the last century, has been
woman's ruler, teacher, guide, mentor
and critic.
1t is he who has laid down the moral
code for her, and it is he who has
taught her to consider him her supe-
rior in all things and all vocations,
save that of child bearing.
1t has been mans greatest mental
recreation to muse on the inferior,
clinging and helpless qualities of wo-
man.
The last quarter of a century, the
last helf of century. in truth, has
disturbed him somewhat in these rev.
cries, but he still regards her with that
protective and paternal feeling which
is the result of mingled inherent and
acquired habits of thought.
Added to this he has the indisput-
able facts before his eyes of the physi-
cal handicaps which Nature put upon
woman.
When woman is behaving herself,
when she is ruling society and the
home, and even interfering in mans
domain in business, he for the time
forgets her weaknesses, her helpless
ness and her handicaps and becomes
her tempter and her critic. But when
| she is in trouble, the trouble that men
aces reputation and life, he recalls
all these conditions and is again her
protector and defender.
However appearances and circum-
stantial evidence may be against her,
he knows in his heart that. as a rule,
some man first took the woman's
hand and led her toward the path of
folly-that ofttimes flower-hidden ave-
nue. to the dark road of crime.
1t is the egotism, the vanity, the pity
and the reverence in mans nature all
combined which make him so much
more sympathetic toward a woman
criminal than toward a sinner of his
own SEX
1t is quite true that were the life of
many an immoral woman investigated
ii would be found that she made the
first advances to her victim. There
are woman libertines and moral out
laws in the world.
Yet even then a just judge or jury
realizes that the man knew what he
was about when he responded to her
advances, and that he had less to sacri-
flee in the eyes of the world than the
woman. Being the stronger, fortified
behooved him to try to put her in the
path of rectitude.
If men would show the same spirit
toward woman at all times which they
exhibit on the judges bench and in the
I jurors box few women criminals
would be brought before them
Hundreds of men forget that they
have mothers and sisters when they
tempt innocent women acauaint-
ances and employees in folly, but
they remember the relationship of the
hardened criminal to their dear ones.
1t is a peculiar fact that while man
will do all in his power to defend a
woman of blemished reputation when
her life is in danger, he will object to
having the good women of his family
champion her cause.
They may express sympathy, but
they must not give personal strength
or consolation.
Woman Is rapidly pushing herself
to position where man will regard
her with less consideration in
her time of trial. This fact is already
shown in public conveyances, where
he is no longer solicitous for her com
fort and health.
One man gives woman a seat now
in crowded vehicle where one hun
dred SDrang to their feet On yaarc ago
The day will come, l doubt not, when
the partiality of which my questioner
complains will no longer manifest it.
self.