New-York tribune., 1921-11-20
Actress Takes Up Cudgel IN
Defense of American Wives
Newton Fuessles Portrayal, in Gold shod ),
of Women as Cold Materialists rs
Called Dangerous
By Marjorie Ramhean

THINK that American womer
III SHOULD nurse a. long grudge
i against Newton Fuessle for writ
= ing "Gold Shod."
This novel advances the thesis that
tseriesa wives are concerned. first Of
N with making successful business
rsn Of their husbands, entirely regard
sw OF whether their husbands are
sspersmentaily fitted or united for
.aSaess careers.
fhe novelist discloses his point Of
yleu 50 plausibly and convincingly that
i persuades most readers into agree
NJ with him in spite Of themselves.
n. danger in novel like Gold Shod''
& that it IS likely to be accepted as an
sarpretation Of American wives gen
! .rsIly instead of as merely the story
sfsertain isolated American wives.
! That American wives are intensely
/ smbitious for their husbands no OBJ
yver will deny. And it cannot be de-
zssd that intelligently ambitious wives
rIl usually employ all their cunning
md resourcefulness to promote the
saecess Of their men. This may not
mean so much a love for their hus-
unds as a satisfaction TO their own
rsnity and to their craving fer distinc-
:isn. In the case of MIR. Fuessle's char
sster, Beth it certainly was not love
for Fielding, her husband, that n.ade
he. so relentless driver
But cannot agree with the author
si 4Gold Shod" as to the general OBJ
jeesive Of wives ambitions for their
hasbands On the contrary. I believe
hat there is not cultured wife in
the world who does not harbor either
;seret CT open ambitions to see her
ashland develop talent for one of the
me arts. Primitive women used to
sy; "How strong you are!"
nat symbolized their love. When a
aedern woman says: why don't you
srite book??' 1t is a sure sign that
she adores her husband. 1t is amazing
sag b!indly woman will cling to a
ssnius. either with or without the
benefit OF wedlock. Let woman dis
tover artistic talent, even if only of a
feeble kind, in her husband. and she
sill usually make any sacrifice to nur-
surs il and make it expand. | think
one OF the reasons for this is that the
more artistic man is the more sym
ssthetic to, and understanding of,
Eoman's psychology he is apt to be.
In my present play, "Daddy's Gone
A-Hunting,' Zoe Atkins has developed
lust this theme. = The tragedy that
averwhelms the wife is motivated
salely by her determination to efface
asr own prejudices in a blind and
sbedient Difference to her husbands S
dances to attain fame as an artist.
She can even excuse her husbands
nhdelities to herself on the grounds
NJ his art.
Am merican commercialism may possi-
BY have developed a type of woman of
Ehich Beth Early in Gold Shod" is a
'air example-that is to say. type of
woman obsessed with purely CONNER
.ial ambitions fer her men folks; but
the woman in my play is much more
logical example of female psychology.
The other type, already vanishing, is
destined to disappear entirely, because
it is an unnatural type, in basic con-
aict with the creative function of wom-
ankind. For the creative function is
something very close to artistry.
cannot agree with Mr.. Fuessle's no.