AMERICAN WOMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16359, 23 February 1921, Page 9

AMERICAN WOMEN.

Ali-s Elinor Glyn is visiting the United States and studying the “ problems ” that confront American xvomen. She is described by the inevitable interviewer as having “ subtle green eyes—a bit feline, and Titian hair.” On the subject of colour of eyes, she is made to declare “ that there are only two species in the xvorld—the canine and the feline, and the highest development of the canine is man and tho highest development of tho feline is woman.” “Tho particular problem of the American woman,” she says, “is to control the natural human vanity that lurks in tho feminine soul. The women of every country arc what their men make them, and here women are so petted that their very contentment is at stake. Do you think they are happy? The faces of these perfectly women I see around me are filled with discontent. And it is because xvomen ark not meant to have too much of their ori way. They are happier when ruled by wise and brilliant men. It is tho law of Nature, and xvhen we distort Nature she takes her revenge by destroying the individual.”

“Feed the brute, my dear,” she advises the young wife. “ Beautify and adorn yourself for the hours when yen are alone with Hejnry. Men’s senses take in everything, apparently unconsciously. An ungraceful position in sitting, an ugly personal habit of biting ; lips, or wrinkling tlie forehead, or fingering the face, subconsciously revolt them. At nil costs do not jar on Henry. There is rio use in giving sugar to a bird if sugar makes it sick and some other food would be more acceptable. Find out what does attract Henry and gix-e him that. Then, when the spark of interest is alight, the greatest, intelligence is required to bring in a little mystery. Drop a veil, so to speak, so that he must use effort to lift it: arouse his hunting instinct, in fact. And. above all, let him leave you at all times soothed and pleased xvith himself.

“ In America, where men arc in the majority, the women can give themselves what airs ihev please,” she declared. “ Their ingrained knowledge of personal supremacy giver? them magnetic Attraction, but in our poor old England there are six xvomen to every man. and the fight is totally unequal, for a fight it certainly has become. It is perfectly ridiculous lor people to sax this is unleminine and unladylike. It. is natural that a normal xvotnan should desire a mate, and the struggle in every country is regulated by the state of numbers. A career may solve things for a time, but unless tho nerves and desires of the working Lee are evolved in women the solution is not permanent. I find that women are. becoming a mass of egotism nnd less attractix'e all the time. This is a condition of numbers. The war is responsible. So many soldiers rushed iiito marriage xvith call tlio f jazz girls’ that the. race is going to be, set back a generation. “ Lot# as Airs Glyn sees it. depends not upon the xvill of the individual but upon the power of attraction born iii the other person. It is an intoxication that affect* the pulse like wine, brightens the ere, and causes the cheek to glow. Tf she fold the real truth about it. she says, people Would tear her to pieces for unset ting all their ic!oa«- of romance. The important thing to remember xs that malt is it hunter ”