The Washington times., 1921-09-04

me HobdOnsGddfre and tydnslated br
the academy to,oard this startling
art nor In prduence. but II is OBJ
vious: II women find themselves
barred from the academy they owe
1t to nothing except the incurabIe
inferiority of their nature.
OLD PREJUDICE LIVES ON.
The old prejudice lives on. We
are pleased because the huge ma.
jority Of women devote themselves
to easy daily. iabors which we con-
slider inferior. AS for the others
let them set their teeth on edge
with the fruits OF science and art.
We love them as long az they have
enough charm to distract us and
wit to understand us. Our humility
toward them is such that we allow
them even to assist our regulations.
Then, through good nature, we
often tell them. and sometimes pub
hcly, that they have genius.
Yet. in truth, we fear to discover
rivals in them. and the thought OF
feminine superiority makes us
shrivei up with spite. In the best of
men there II q constant fear that
the vanity Of the male will suddenly
crop out.
This vanity. which q gentleman
conceals or curbs. has full rein the
moment two score men. be they OF
letters. Of the sword. . the robe or
OF the church, find themselves to-
sether. A common dread produces
perfect agreement among them,
which they do not betray, ana their
politeness toward women Of talent
becomes 80 much the more exquisite
AZ they resolve to reject them is
,.r.. -
> Shame on those who criticise
them! In their position. which OF US
would do otherwise?
To tell the truth. masculine vanity
aside. we know perfectly well that
women are <as good as we are in
every particular.
TRIBUTE TO BRAVE WOMEN. Il
As for their courage. It would be
delicious to reproduce the ardent
pages which certain writer's have de-
voted TO them. Severe, stiff-necked,
moralist authors? Not In the least.
Writers Of the gay world. who know
women. who amuse themselves with
some. but know how to show the ut.
most respect to others who deserve
II. Shall mention. in passing, Tel.
Tenant dss Reaux or Brantone7 But
why take the trouble? Not only is
our popular history ennobled by
deeds Of women in battle. but we
have too close to US the memory of
the brave attitude of our mothers,
our sisters. our wives during the last
war to have to carry on the argu-
ment.
Women. are as good as we are In
high-spirited qualities. In intuitive
brains they often surpass US. The
surge Of their fancy 10 less vigorous
than ours. but their charm capti-
Yates US and their precision often
astounds us. They climb AZ high as
we do with less effort, and a. II by
an instinct. almost without training.
and solely because 1t murmurs TO
them to think clearly. to write well
or to speak pleasingly.
I do not believe that they infect
society more than we do with the
germs Of anarchy" and danger
Gus excess Of individualism." II Ii
true that always their feeling car
rics them Ear from the usual disci-
pline; but the emotion which leads
them on also knows how 70 check
them. The gift Of the heart. the
sacrifice of themselves. abrosation.
are In fact, for them more than for
us, necessity. They 80 very Tar
indeed In this direction.
They frequently lose themselves
in those they love. Then their writ
ings reflect only their love and the
ideas OF the man. It 10 here. not
elsewhere, that danger lies, FOR
women writer's. And II 10 strange
that having run out OF reasons We
reproach them for absolutely oppo-
site faults: rampant individualism.
excess Of personality and twenty
other absurditiss equally false.
THE PLACE WAS VACANT.
But why speak Of these matters.
Simply imagine what the Academy
would have gained, In honor and
strength, II she had long ago taken
to herself the fineness Of La
sabiiere. the vivacity of sevigne,
the delightful d'Auinoy, the wise
Lambert, Deshoulrieres the adora-
BILE. I purposely do not mention
the immortal Mime. de staei and
George Sand.
II is told how Piron related n
fable IN tho open Academy ono
day whau his coIloa ctfeo Ureforrod