the angel and the author-第32章
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in her life。 She was excited； and cried a little； but nobodyheaven
be praised！saw usthat is； nobody of importance。 And afterwards
she confessed the air was pleasant。
〃Be not the first by whom the new is tried； Nor yet the last to lay
the old aside；〃 is a safe rule for those who would always retain the
good opinion of that all…powerful； but somewhat unintelligent；
incubus； 〃the average person；〃 but the pioneer； the guide； is
necessary。 That is； if the world is to move forward。
The freedom…loving girl of to…day； who can enjoy a walk by herself
without losing her reputation； who can ride down the street on her
〃bike〃 without being hooted at； who can play a mixed double at tennis
without being compelled by public opinion to marry her partner； who
can； in short； lead a human creature's life； and not that of a lap…
dog led about at the end of a string； might pause to think what she
owes to the 〃unsexed creatures〃 who fought her battle for her fifty
years ago。
＇Those unsexed Creatures＇
Can the working woman of to…day； who may earn her own living； if she
will； without loss of the elementary rights of womanhood； think of
the bachelor girl of a short generation ago without admiration of her
pluck？ There were ladies in those day too 〃unwomanly〃 to remain
helpless burdens on overworked fathers and mothers； too 〃unsexed〃 to
marry the first man that came along for the sake of their bread and
butter。 They fought their way into journalism； into the office； into
the shop。 The reformer is not always the pleasantest man to invite
to a tea…party。 Maybe these women who went forward with the flag
were not the most charming of their sex。 The 〃Dora Copperfield〃 type
will for some time remain the young man's ideal； the model the young
girl puts before herself。 Myself； I think Dora Copperfield charming；
but a world of Dora Copperfields！
The working woman is a new development in sociology。 She has many
lessons to learn； but one has hopes of her。 It is said that she is
unfitting herself to be a wife and mother。 If the ideal helpmeet for
a man be an animated Dresden china shepherdesssomething that looks
pretty on the table； something to be shown round to one's friends；
something that can be locked up safely in a cupboard； that asks no
questions； and； therefore； need be told no liesthen a woman who has
learnt something of the world； who has formed ideas of her own； will
not be the ideal wife。
＇References givenand required。＇
Maybe the average man will not be her ideal husband。 Each Michaelmas
at a little town in the Thames Valley with which I am acquainted
there is held a hiring fair。 A farmer one year laid his hand on a
lively…looking lad； and asked him if he wanted a job。 It was what
the boy was looking for。
〃Got a character？〃 asked the farmer。 The boy replied that he had for
the last two years been working for Mr。 Muggs； the ironmongerfelt
sure that Mr。 Muggs would give him a good character。
〃Well； go and ask Mr。 Muggs to come across and speak to me； I will
wait here；〃 directed the would…be employer。 Five minutes went by
ten minutes。 No Mr。 Muggs appeared。 Later in the afternoon the
farmer met the boy again。
〃Mr。 Muggs never came near me with that character of yours；〃 said the
farmer。
〃No； sir；〃 answered the boy； 〃I didn't ask him to。〃
〃Why not？〃 inquired the farmer。
〃Well； I told him who it was that wanted it〃the boy hesitated。
〃Well？〃 demanded the farmer； impatiently。
〃Well； then； he told me yours；〃 explained the boy。
Maybe the working woman； looking for a husband； and not merely a
livelihood； may end by formulating standards of her own。 She may end
by demanding the manly man and moving about the world； knowing
something of life； may arrive at the conclusion that something more
is needed than the smoking of pipes and the drinking of whiskies and
sodas。 We must be prepared for this。 The sheltered woman who learnt
her life from fairy stories is a dream of the past。 Woman has
escaped from her 〃shelter〃she is on the loose。 For the future we
men have got to accept the emancipated woman as an accomplished fact。
＇The ideal World。＇
Many of us are worried about her。 What is going to become of the
home？ I admit there is a more ideal existence where the working
woman would find no place； it is in a world that exists only on the
comic opera stage。 There every picturesque village contains an equal
number of ladies and gentlemen nearly all the same height and weight；
to all appearance of the same age。 Each Jack has his Jill； and does
not want anybody else's。 There are no complications： one presumes
they draw lots and fall in love the moment they unscrew the paper。
They dance for awhile on grass which is never damp； and then into the
conveniently situated ivy…covered church they troop in pairs and are
wedded off hand by a white…haired clergyman； who is a married man
himself。
Ah； if the world were but a comic opera stage； there would be no need
for working women！ As a matter of fact； so far as one can judge from
the front of the house； there are no working men either。
But outside the opera house in the muddy street Jack goes home to his
third floor back； or his chambers in the Albany； according to his
caste； and wonders when the time will come when he will be able to
support a wife。 And Jill climbs on a penny 'bus； or steps into the
family brougham； and dreams with regret of a lost garden； where there
was just one man and just one woman； and clothes grew on a fig tree。
With the progress of civilizationutterly opposed as it is to all
Nature's intentionsthe number of working women will increase。 With
some friends the other day I was discussing motor…cars； and one
gentleman with sorrow in his voicehe is the type of Conservative
who would have regretted the passing away of the glacial period
opined that motor…cars had come to stay。
〃You mean；〃 said another； 〃they have come to go。〃 The working woman；
however much we may regret it； has come to go； and she is going it。
We shall have to accept her and see what can be done with her。 One
thing is certain； we shall not solve the problem of the twentieth
century by regretting the simple sociology of the Stone Age。
＇A Lover's View。＇
Speaking as a lover； I welcome the openings that are being given to
women to earn their own livelihood。 I can conceive of no more
degrading profession for a womanno profession more calculated to
unfit her for being that wife and mother we talk so much about than
the profession that up to a few years ago was the only one open to
herthe profession of husband…hunting。
As a man； I object to being regarded as woman's last refuge； her one
and only alternative to the workhouse。 I cannot myself see why the
woman who has faced the difficulties of existence； learnt the lesson
of life； should not make as good a wife and mother as the ignorant
girl taken direct； one might almost say； from the nursery； and；
without the slightest preparation； put in a position of
responsibility that to a thinking person must be almost appalling。
It has been said that the difference between men and women is this：
That the man goes about the world making it ready for the children；
that the woman stops at home making the children ready for the world。
Will not she do it much better for knowing something of the world；
for knowing something of the temptations； the difficulties； her own
children will have to face； for having learnt by her own experience
to sympathize with the struggles； the sordid heart…breaking cares
that man has daily to contend with？
Civilization is ever undergoing transformation； but human nature
remains。 The bachelor girl； in her bed…sitting room； in her studio；
in her flat； will still see in the shadows the vision of the home；
will still hear in the silence the sound of children's voices； will
still dream of the lover's kiss that is to open up new life to her。
She is not quite so unsexed as you may think； my dear womanly madame。
A male friend of mine was telling me of a catastrophe that once
occurred at
