Lady Jeune and Sarar Grand.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

Lady Jeune and Sarar Grand.

- ■ ■' ■■» There is in the current Lady's Realm a rather lively reply to Sarah Grand on the subject of the New Woman by Lady Jeune. Her ladyship, of course, defends the Old Woman. Here is an extract: — 'We think the Old Woman can smile serenely at the coarse abuse Sarah Grand heaps on her with regard to what she considers is her view of the (marriage) question. Her ignorance is as amusing as her language is deplorable, and it is not worth while to discuss it. The lives of the wives and mothers of our country are a sufficient refutation of her assertions, and we cannot but regret for her own sake — and that of the New Woman — that she imputes actions and thoughts which are notv only absolutely unjustifiable, but which in all she has written on the subject appear to colour and bias her conception of the feelings of ordinary women.' The assertion of Sarah Grand that the Old Woman is not 'so sensitive as to the purity of her husband and sons ' as the New Woman is characterised by Lady Jeune as * monstrous.' Later on in the same article Lady Jeune says : — < We are really soiry for the New Woman, for she is better than her champions — not because she knows more, or is wiser, but because dear old mother Nature will always keep her straight. She may cry out, she may talk herself hoarse, she may sport the cidotte, she may smoke, ehe may protest as loudly as she can at the injustice of her pdsition and the hardship of her womanhood. But in her etrength our wily old parent sits and smiles, and watches her bruise her wings against the cage from which she can never escape. Motherhood will save the Mew Woman from her impossible and ridiculous pusition.' Lady Jeune pictures her ' walking softly like her captive

sisters by the husband of her heart, leading her children by the hand, content and happy with her lot. And if, in some spare moment of her life,' Lady Jeune concludes, ' she opens the old drawer in her room and tenderly takes out the pair of "rationals" she once wore as the sign of her youthful aspirations, we know that the sigh which escapes her lips is not one of regret, but of deep contentment at the salvation she has found.'