The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-20
PUT DOWN THE GUNS

COMEBODY is always spelling our illusions.
Now Roger Shaw has done it in his
Handbook of Revolutions" Women have
formed the habit of using their physical weak
ness as an appeal to masculine chivalry. They
have held a mans strength before him as a
blazoned shield and he has pushed revolving
doors, laid fires changed automobile tires and
pulled galosh zippers to show that his strength
was as the strength of ten because he was
man.
Now Mr.. Shaw informs us that women are
capable of removing their own Arctic boots and
assisting with roadside punctures. 1t really
isn't Mr.. Shaw'S fault. He is just recording
what he has learned about women from study
ing history books.
Ever so long ago let's be glad that it
was d. A.. D.. he asserts that the Anaazons who dwelt
in Pontus, near the Eurine seashore, waged
battles. It was a women-only land, but once
year the women visited a neighboring kingdom
for breeding purposes, and returned home
hoping that all daughters would be born. Sons
were killed.
That isn't all, either. The Bohemian
women Of the eighth century had happy sis
terhood that killed any man who fell into their
muscular hands. Early Spanish explorers dis
covered fighting women in South America; and
in African Dahoney. even in modern times
warrior maidens padded their own canoes and
shot their own bows and arrows.
And we thought we were descended from
race of ladies. 1t shows how mistaken we can
be. doesn't it? Maybe this past history is
responsible for a woman's desire to throw
things on certain occasions 1t is usually when
some man has displeased her that the urge
comes to turn toward the plate rack and break
the pattern in a set of dishes that can't be
replaced
Men do not like women who throw rolling
pins That is, unless they are partners in
vaudeville act. It seems inconceivable that
any woman, for any reason should become
physically combative unless of course, she had
something that needs protecting. A well-pre-
served virtue. pocketbook, or a child. Now
maybe the tendency of some of our sex is
explained. Their great-grandmothers may have
been captains or majors in the militaristic
league.
Suffragettes hurled bricks, we are reminded.
We might add that Carrie Nation threw a
Ratchet. When women fight for a definite
purpose they do not stop with soap-box ora
tionS.
Fortunately, in the last few years, we have
learned that We won't ever be able to run as
far as men, to throw balls as high, to make
touchdowns or baskets with the same rapidity
and agility on a sports field. When 1t comes
to physical endurance, which is based on mus
cular achievement men win Let us be glad.
We need heroesl
And why shouldn't they win? Women who
don't want to be involved with men can live
in a womans hotel Join women's classes and
end up their days quite peaceably in an old
ladies' home.
1t isn't normal way of living. Men and
women need one another. Each had attributes
that are peculiarly his or her own. Those who
spend their days in mems colonies or womens
colonies grow warped. If Adam hadn't needed
Eve a perfectly good rib wouldn't have been
used for her construction.
Those who maintain that there is a combat
between the sexes are not quite modern Women,
as life has grown fairer, Mr.. Shaw tells us,
have turned their ability to humanitarian pur-
poses. Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton
went as nurses. Maybe the Amazonian women
wondered why they were so tired when night
came. Women who fight with mems weapons
can't win. Anyway, who wants to fight? There
is lot that men and women can do for one
another if they will put down their guns