THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XVI, 15 October 1898, Page 510

THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES.

The new woman is not gallant. She has laid that poor creature called man low in the dust. She has taken his work, his manners, even his cigars his hat,his coat, and looked with a fui five glance at other items of his clothing. And yet she is not content. She must tell the world of her triumphs. She points to her vanquished enemy, and then to herself, and then she crows. This is ungallant towards a fallen foe!

But who doubts her capabilities? Who doubts that she has high ideals of life? Why, she has hundreds of them. She starts with one in the morning, ami if she finds it does not work well out for her own advantage, this poor ideal is sent about its business, and a new one adopted. And so on, till dewy sleep shuts up the sweet eyes, and the low plaintive voice is heard no more.

Yet we love the new woman. And why? Well.becausethe world has made a bound forward since her advent. Everytning has improved. Look at the moral tone of the world. Ladies tell us that men won’t now propose. This must be owing to his new sense of culture and refinement! Perhaps he has become a little dazed with this brilliancy on the part of women, and may be afraid that he is not worthy of such a being. Or perhap he may be waiting till the women, if not the world, improve a little more and are able, with the help of a sandglass. to boil an egg correctly; or can. with the aid of a few books and mathematical instruments, cook a chop. But we cannot doubt that the world has been mightily improved by the new woman. To do so would be to doubt her own word. Why, of late our very houses seem, even on their outside, to be wreathed in smiles This is most noticeable in the evening or when it is dark. But enter if you wish to see happiness! Think of eating a dinner cooked by the latest developments of science, and punctual to the fraction of a second. The very eat is purring with delight, and can be easily heard —that is. when the new woman is not speaking. Is it any wonder that the ‘gudeman’ leaves his shoes just inside the door? At present, however, the new woman is wrestling with a mighty problem.. It is one in dynamics. Man is a force, but is far too much diffused, and not under proper control. If she could only get him into a cylinder. so to speak, all might be well; she could then stand in bloomer costume and pull the levers as she liked. But the evil is, man won’t go in! He generally gives her a wide berth. She has argued with him, and tried to educate him. and crowed occasionally, but all in vain. Man is still at large. This almost makes her weep, a thing she has seldom done since the day, now long ago. when she found out she could not lick her big brother. HOPE.