Evening star., 1917-03-04

recently treated the question Of woman
and the war from an
Treated From giles quite different
ra from those usually ac-
New Angles. cepted. There is a
rude lesson for the woman and the
man in the article recently published
by Nine. Louise Amele Gayraud-
and it commands the serious attention
Of both sexes on both sides Of the At
lantic.
The argument Of the essayist is based
on the doctrine Of feminism, which
makes Of woman the absolute equal OF
man and accords to her the same
rights. But woman has a duty to per-
form. prepare herself for tho new role
imposed upon her by the war. after the
war. for tho war will have changed
both the woman and the man.
Before the war there was divergence
and even hostility between men and
women. singular situation. for man and
litical parties. They live together
they are not only friends. they cannot
be adversaries. The fault Of each is
to regard themselves az being sepa-
strangers to each other. Their com
mon life is the life even OF the coun-
try. II the work built up in their
hands is not work Of love and en-
bears within itself the fermentations of
anarchy. A nation which nourishes
discord under the roof Of each house
is q lost nation. =.
Tho feminine cause VIII be won II
from tho conflict there comes harmony,
II woman after the war suits-agrees
with man after the war" And the es-
sayist adds: II do not defend myself
from the simple Interpretations: woman.
will she return to the docile role of
slave? The time of slavery is passed.
And I would be in contradiction with
myself: that slave woman could not
suit or agree with the modern man"
mme % ssyrand G. simpsd and
matured by the war. After the war
woman should be transformed. The
feminist cause will be won II women
in place Of looking backward-in place
condition Of things. may place ali their
comprehensive power to foresee the
| morrow. to prepare for the morrow.
The history Of feminism will not re-
commence at the point where the war
interrupted 1t. 1t is
The Point of no longer by degrees
81. that it will proceed.
will leave the past far behind. Woman
is reproached always with being late.
The reproach is Just. The contrary is
difncult. They commenced he march
q long time after man. After they
make up the marches. step by step. the
road is filled with ideas. In turn. they
discover what enchanted them. but
already these things enchant them no
longer. They were conservative when
| men were revolutionary-they now
dream Of social demolition at the same
time they discover the force Of dis
cipline. Separated first from the field
| Of speculative politics they become the
men found the horizon of their books
limited they went into the street. Guard
| fans of the home by natural and ira
ditional ethics, women's imaginative
generosity made them ardent disciples
citizens Of humanity. The present
situation Of suffering has thrown them
violently toward the patriotic idea.
But it is curious. remarks Nine. Gay
violent patriotism is in unison with
| that of the grandfathers-those OF
1870! Masculine patriotism has done
| away with the seductive and dangerous
doctrine Of humanitarian. Neverthe-
less. it retains Of that delusion a no.
| bility: every sentiment is increased by
| generous deception. Grandchildren
| may not have in their mouths the
| lyrical gushing of veterans because
love of country, which is sentimental, is
burdened by tho sacrifice Of the loved
ones which condemn it. In the history
of humanity it is the grandchildren
| which are the eldest; the women have
r Il
That distance between the sexes. will
it never be closed? The occasion is
unique. The war places
Results of a gulf between the So
A. ciety of yesterday and
VIC "a1' that of tomorrow. Why
should the memory of masculine and
feminine Emergencies be retained?
Why-not only by generosity. but by
simple reason? Yesterday it was nee
essary to explain and discuss point by
point. Alas. Where are the men Of
yesterday? . : Where the spirits.
all the little miseries of yesterday?
Where are the vanities. the reserves.
the egotisms, the stubbornness which
prevented men and women from being
Of good faith? Tomorrow 1t will be
necessary to build together, raise up.
construct" Every individual effort will
be a necessary effort. One will not de-
value. There will be no time for that
Our direct feminist hope today is the
electoral vote-who knows but the
morrow will not give II to US without
conflict and under another form more
exactly adapted to the spirit of So
ciety tomorrow; legitimate bulletin in
the hand of workers? Why. then, are
we so obstinate in seeking this bau-
BILE? Our hopes of tomorrow-tomor-
row which will not be today-what re-
lation will our hopes of tomorrow bear
to our duties of today?
"The day when women will be in
corporated into the society Of tomor-
row-that is. when she has found her
harmonious place-feminism will have
realized its perfection-there will no
longer be feminism. Feminism was
ern woman and ancient society. of the
conflict of a 'nouveaute' with tradition.
Tomorrow the feminine effort will be
tndispensable-it Is already indispensa-
BILE in France. Facts speak louder than
theories. From today it is necessary
not to occupy a place long time covet-
ed with pride. but to study with all
conscience and foresight in what meas
ure that effort viii be efncacious: After
which, silently aach one will take her
place and her prerogatives will depend
upon her capacity. One will enter the
circle of the nation by the great door
The details of thec- prerogatives. we
shall know them later. I am shocked.
I confess, to hear of the 'recompenses'
demanded before the conflict is over.
Feminism unconsciously commits a
great wrong to itself"
And Nine Gayraud continues:
"I admire as It merits feminine work