Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 277, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1912 — ARE WOMEN UNDERSTOOD? [ARTICLE]

ARE WOMEN UNDERSTOOD?

Le Matin of Paris Gathers Answers from All Quarters —Woman Hits at Coquettes. Paris. —Le Matin Is at present engaged in gathering together one of its periodical symposiums on burning questions of the day. The question that everybody Is just now trying to answer is “Are Women Understood?” Every day two or more columns of the papers are filled with the answers, 'from which the following selections have been made: According to you—a man who, seeing women as they are, lets them believe he sees them as they would like to be. According to us —simply a man who loves them. “A rr.aa who understands a woman Is he who considers her not as an Inferior. but aB his equal, at the same time recognizing in her certain superiorities of tact, delicaby, devotion and courage, without proudly showing his consciousness of his own personal superiority In physical and Intellectual power.’’ “The man who understands women Is one who thinks it charming that we should be coquettish, fond of dainties, money and flirting, and who thinks and tells us that all our caprices are adorable.” “Young men have gifts to fascinate women, but they do not understand them. The man who does Is he who no longer tells them untruths, having nothing more to hope or expect from them." “Such a phenomenon as a man who understands women does not exist. It wonld be preferable to be set to square the circle than to understand a woman.” A woman signing "herself “One Who Is Not Proud of Being a Woman” writes: “The man who fancies hq under-

stands women Is he who fiatterß their foolish whims. For a woman • who wishes to be a serious and faithful friend the position is not so complicated, and she does not need to reflect whether she is understood or not. The only true women are those who are good mothers and good wives — all the rest are superfluous. They are odious talking figures, everything with them false —physique and morals alike —they Interfere with life. Ah, if I were a man I would not spare the coquettes. They should see whether I understood them!" ■■ A woman signing herself “Incomprlse,” relates how only once she met a man on board a Mediterranean steamer who was able to please each and all of the ladies. "He joined In our conversations without leading them. With him one felt perfect safety, a charm infinitely rare, which allows a woman openly to express the sentiments of her heart without the perpetual fear that a man will take advantage of their Innocent sincerity to attack them. Believe me, every woman appreciates this pleasure of 1 confidence. We are sometimes weary of attacking and defending. The mam who is not watching us always gives* us a feeling of rest.”