WOMEN AND TEARS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16494, 3 August 1921, Page 11

WOMEN AND TEARS.

It is not given to man to understand the significance of tears to the opposite sex. Were woman suddenly bereft of this feminine prerogative, her plight would resemble that of the crew of tho hapless “ Flying Dutchman.” She would he as utterly lost on the sea of her emotions as ever stormtossed mariner without a port. For tears are a woman’s refuge, the impregnable fortress whereto sho resorts in her hour of need. In time of stress, animal instinct bids us seek solitude. The woman who locks herself in her room, that she may indulge in “a gqod cry,” is obeying this primeval law. For it is only when quite alone that sho experiences the full benefit of her tears. In addition to the mental relief afforded, weeping serves yet another purpose. "When the floodgates have !lx>on ojx'iied, and the storm has spent itself, the need for sympathy invariably' makes itself acutely felt. To satisfy this longing a woman must seek the society of others, which is Nature’s diplomatic way of bringing her back to a work-a-dav world, and thereby forcing on her yet another gift forgetfulness. The woman whom a great shock renders incapable of weeping endures agonies up to the hour when she suddenly “ lets herself go.” Then she sobs herself into a state of utter exhaustion, falls asleep, and wakes up feeling a new woman. Did sho not ultimately find this solace, she would sooner or later he a remunerative patient to her medical man. To “ weep for joy ” is a thing that passes tli© comprehension of the mere male. Yet women do shed tears of happiness. There are some joys that cannot bo expressed in words; they fill the heart to overflowing. It is on such occasions that a man is horrified by seeing a wisp of lawn and laeo surreptitiously applied to my lady’s eyes. And when she falteringly explains that it is because she feels so happy his consternation is greater than before. It is almost l>eyoml him to realise that she is speaking tile literal truth. When everything goes wrong, and the world seems upside down, man can always give expression to his feelings through the medium of languageßut good breeding forbids that a woman shall display the slightest sign of anger, annoyance or vexation. Undismayed, she retreats to her room, and there, in strict seclusion and with the aid of tears, she soothes her ruffled self in a manner that affords her every satisfaction. (By Hester Rowlett, in f ‘ Tho Daily’ Mail.”)