The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-02-07
El,,ancipated
Woman RlIslles To
Rescue "Ladies''
BY Cornwall Clements

BY Cornwall Clements
Sporting . stiff upper lip. .
demi-suitcase sluns from my semi
deformed left shoulder and cour-
age grasped firmly In both free
hands. hereby shall attempt to
refute Professor M. H, Bittinger's
implications that ladies prefer be-
ing women" in this era of En-
ancipation.
Ladvlike
First let me be ladylike enough
to avow that enjoyed Mr.. Bit
fingers thought provoking and
often amusing speech before the
members and guests OF the Farm
vile Womsn's Club anniversary
banquet last Wednesday night. He
made some telling points, which he
urged the members to keep secret.
Since a member Of the free Amer
lean press was present. and this
person being q woman further
more. perogatives in both re-
spects were exercised. and she
told" (Farmville Herald. Friday,
Feb. 3. 1856. page A..
Now that every vestige of that
evanescent pedestal has be en-
struck from me. must now as
sumo brave new front on equal
terms with Mr.. Bittinger, and
proceed upon my redress in the
only manner 1 know: the COM
pletely subjective mode of the fe-
male sex.
Have a Vote
So we have Emancipation! I'm
glad I can vote. 60 to work if
want to land many young hus-
bands are glad their wives feel
the same way, say what I think
in public Though most of US find
that too hazardous) and even put
my husband to washing the
clothes If I do so desire (Which I
don't. because his gripping about
dishpan hands is something aw-
full to hear.
On the other hand. what have
done to warrant some of the
ill-effects of this Enlightened
Era? My delight knows no bounds
nowadays when a gentleman of
the old school tips his hat at me
in greeting as I labor down the
street of a morning encountered
no doubt by that shoulder
strap about which Mr.. Bittinger
made devastating remark l am
becoming outwardly immune to
the stony-faced indifference to my
plight on bus when all the men
have seats and I have none.
can't even drag out my pedestal in
such extremities and sit upon it
any more.
Labor Saving Machines
What has Emancipation and its
labor-saving machines brought
me? Greater inducement to widen
my knowledge and enjoy the
riches Of mans artistic achieve
ments? Or more time to watch
television soap-operas and read in
two dozen magazines why I'm
a neurotic or hypochondriac or
friendless or emotionally over
weight or driving my children to
delinquency and my husband to
drink?
What has Emancipation and its
equal intellectual opportunities
meant to me and other women?
Little could not have done. some
how. some way. before. And be-
sides, we're now called the Silent
Generation because they say. tele-
vision is doing the talking for us.
or because there's nothing left
to say after the last generation
got through saying it and not
very well at that. or because the
cat got our tongues. or for all
sorts Of reasons including the
fear Of being branded as intel
lcctuals" and being investigated.
Maintain Approach
There's a good solid block of us
women who wish to maintain the
feminine approach to life. We
desire and appreciate fair re-
Enumeration for our efforts in the
business world. but most Of US
abhor aggressive tactics to achieve
recognition. With the heyday Of
the feminist leader long past.
there are now few of US who resort
to outshouting and outpounding
the unjust male and belaboring
him with our shoulder strap sat-
chefs. Most of us enjoy our femme
right to the illogical conclusion
and the endearing look of bewild-
erment on the face of the male as
he condeScendingly crows: Said
just like WON AM" We still
Stoutly defend our claim to oc-
casional i'll health and general in
disposition with out the necessity
Of psychiatry. and although the
mojority of us have never learned
at all how to faint let alone with
.grandmother's charm and grace.
! believe my life shall be incom-
plete without the experience at
least once.
We're longing to be individuals.
but all this education we're getting
after Emancipation is making us
as alike as peas in a pod.
1. like many others l suspect.
adore to be treated like piece of
fragile bone china. a rare hot
house plant. a WiSpy piece of fluff