Chicago Tribune
THE TEMPEST IN THE TEAPOT
More matter for idle discussion was created when Prof. Thomas brought forth his book in critical analysis of society and sex. Let it be conceded in advance that the book was the result of much thought and close study, that it reflects the opinions of a man of serious purpose, and that it is an interesting contribution to the literature indicated by its title. Is there any sufficing reason why the ordinary affairs of human existence as at present regulated should be neglected or why clubwomen should tremble with indignation? A statement that they are in any respect inferior to men does not make them so.
The world has been jogging on more or less comfortably for a great many years. Various theories have been advanced touching the condition of society and the place of woman, various experiments have been tried, and in the world at large various ideas have prevailed and still prevail. In our corner of the globe society has settled down to an accepted regulation of life, and bad as it may be or is no indication that a violent upheaval of conditions is close at hand. Then, with this almost positive assurance of the continuance of the comfortable jog, why are we so excited because a college professor has written a book or a few women have manifested their agitation in newspaper interviews ?
If romance and married life do coexist the professor’s assertion that they do no is a mere obiter dictum which is not worth fighting about. Nobody’s theories can alter facts. But if romance does spread his or her wings and fly away after the honeymoon women cannot alter the fact by denying it. Sometimes romance departs and sometime lingers. There is no hard and fast rule. No sociologist can accurately define and regulate the mysterious ways of love and romance.
It is through books that we get interesting and often highly diverting views of life. The fact that authors’ opinions are so widely at variance contributes to the charm of books. St. Paul does not entirely agree with the president of the Universal Suffrage association, Mr. Roosevelt and several women writers are present in the discussion of race suicide, and even the women themselves are not ??? it in the matter of the obligations of the sex. Books, books, books. They pour out from the presses and the binderies, treating in every way every problem of human existence, and still the old world jogs on quite satisfied with itself, with conditions changing slowly and only when such changes are the least perceptible. Let us be calm and leave the deluge to our descendants.
