The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-11

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- an who is
Cre,ta Palmer friendless and in
distress is more
tragic than man in such circums
stances. Perhaps in assuming that
women have TO be looked after. We
are taking for granted privileges
which We do not deserve. But per-
haps not.
For there is a certain essential
fitness in a mans being on his own
in his wrestling a living from diff
ficult situations, IN his living the
hard. adventurous life Of the wan
derer OF the road Many father
has thrown his young cub Of son
out on his own with no desire beyond
the boys own good. Many a guar
dian has shipped a boy 70 sea in
order that ne might learn the les
son OF hardihoOd and self sufficiency
which il is fitting for all young men
10 know.
But If there is something comely
and proper in the sight OF a man
thrown on his own resources. there
is nothing comparatively attractive
in the sight OF a woman engaged in
the same hazardous form of life For
the qualities which such a difficult
career develops are often appro-
pirate 10 man. but distintegrating
10 a woman
We do not object TO aggressive
ness and a thorough knowledge of
the seamy thing in any man-we
find them singularly repulSive in a
woman.
ConservatOr of Past
This is not. I believe. because We
have been brought up IN the tradi-
ton which makes SoftneSs and gen.
tility a primary feminine virtue
Perhaps il goes deeper than that
IN the family role the woman acts
as conservator of the values which
have been inherited from the past
She Is the childrens educator in
the things which their ancestors
have discovered to be true. She is
the conservative element. holding
together the tried values.
Her husband may venture forth
to experiment with novel forms of
life ard thought, and she may sym
!, pathize with his efforts toward radi-
caliSm. But she is, essentially, the
repository Of the ancient experience
of the race. Between the two Of
them-tie conventional wife and
the experimental husband-they
strike a nice balance of wisdom and
progress.
But If We send our women out
into the byways to try out new
theories and TO cope with unex-
pected difficulties we simply leave
the home with no conserving infiu-
ence. We can not. without HARM
ing his essential being. demand that
husband shall develop the nurse
maid tendencies from which his
modern wife has resigned Nor can
we give our youngsters the properly
balanced spiritual atmosphere if
both father and mother are dab
bling IN new experiences.
our children need conventions.
if only to break away from them. "
a wise father said recently. And
these women who are leading the
masculine and untrammelled life of
the hobo are passing through an
extremely bad apprenticeship for
motherhood.
Aid or Guidance
Who is going to help them out
OF it2 There are many agencies
which are concerned with the prob
LEN. A recent column on this page
criticised the Greater New York
Federation o. Churches for its dis
crlminatorv tendency to help out
only ProteStantS. and asked what
was 10 become Of the Catholics and
Jews. Several correspondents have
pointed ont that both Catholic and
Jewish charities are doing splendid
work IN looking after members Of
their own faiths. This We gladly
recognize.
But there are. according to The
Nations figures. many thousands OF
women who are not being supplied
by any association. of any faith.
with that security and peace which
almost every woman needs if she is
10 develop 70 her best capacities.
And the social effects. we believe.
are apt 10 prove more serious than
even the worst calamity bowler
SAYS
To give a man a fling on his own
Is one thing To throw a woman
out on the road. 10 shift for her
self, is another and a far more seri-
Gus social experiment.