The Forerunner Part 111

The age of domestic industry is really past; but a lone woman with no rent to pay ought to make good, unless too ill to work at all.

If there is any ground with the cottage she could raise some food perhaps.

Third possibility: take another woman to board: or a child, if competent to care for children.

As to the second question: Yes, one can; one often does. If by "loving"

one means "wanting." Love, pure love, strong giving love, does not exhaust nor injure. One can love a lifetime, without return--if it's that kind. But to hopelessly wish for what one cannot have is an illness. If that is the case it is time for a decided change of heart.

The world is full of people to love and serve; and a brave rational att.i.tude of living ought to cure and strengthen.

Sister--sit quiet in the door of the little cottage: say "I am here to serve; to work for the world. I am willing. My own life is desolate--well? So are the lives of many. That I must bear. There are many years before me to be lived through--bravely and lovingly. If I die--that's no hardship; if I live I will do the work I'm here for."

Then study out your case with dispa.s.sionate interest; _as if it were some one else's_; and do what is wise. When you are strong enough, if you are willing to do housework (a job always waiting) for six months, it should give you a clear $150.00, to live another six months without care, and to practice the art you like best. Plan _ahead;_ bear what you have now in the determined hope of what you like better in five years--ten years--for the rest of life.

And so enlarge your range of consciousness, thinking, talking, reading about big human interests, that your own trouble shrinks in proportion.

Problem 2d. "Several of my professors in the University have such a condescending att.i.tude toward women that most of us girls find it very hard to do our best. In some cla.s.ses, we are actually, as a s.e.x, marked lower than the men of the cla.s.s. We have found in every instance that the wives of these professors are of the lowest tabby-cat variety, gossipy, infantile, at times malicious.

_Q._ (a) Can you believe that these trained men would be as illogical as to judge us all by their wives?

_Q._ (b) Is there any way even to make a start to root out this idea that all women are cast from the same mold,"--Studiosa.

_Ans._ (a) "Trained" men are not necessarily logical men. Logic in some fields does not imply logic in all. No matter how logical or how much trained, most men are illogical about women. (As are most women also.)

_Ans._ (b) Yes. The way to start,--and finish--this idea that "all women are cast from the same mold" is to prove that they are not by being different. The likeness men see in women is the likeness of s.e.x.

Show them the difference in human personality.

Problem 3d. "It is almost impossible for married women to go on teaching. Just as I am at my best, my usefulness is nullified because I am married. Would you please outline a plan of organization among married women who wish to continue practicing their profession, thru which they may arouse other women, and also reach the authorities who have control over their work?"--_E. M. K._

_Ans._ The most suitable organization among married women, and single ones as well, whereby to "arouse other women and reach the authorities"

is political organization. That question is easily answered--by securing equal suffrage.

Problem 4th. "Several of us girls wish to a.s.sociate with our men friends as real comrades, paying our half of theatre tickets, suppers and the like, as we have as much money, or as little, as they. They are fine young men, decidedly worth while. Yet they make the most astonishingly stupid objections, as do most of the other girls. It is not 'polite' or 'customary,' it is a man's 'privilege,' etc., etc.

Could you not give us suggestions, perhaps in story form, of how to win the young men, and other girls too, without being too sharp-angled, over to our side?"--_College Girl._

_Ans._ I knew of a good arrangement between a man and a woman on this basis. If he invited her, he paid for both. If she invited him, she paid for both. If both went on their several initiatives each paid for him or herself.

As to how to "win over" the most conservative of beings, young men and young women, one can only recommend the trump card in any hand,--a sweet and winning personality;--not "feminine influence," but personal influence. If one's company is much desired, one can dictate terms.

Further; don't be stubborn about it. Ultimate principles are one thing,--personal application are quite another. Vary your att.i.tude according to the degree of intelligence and prejudice you have to deal with.

Problem 5th. "A person is condemned to die for a crime he did not commit. Should he as a good citizen submit peaceably to his own murder (legal) or fight for his life, killing jailors perhaps, till overpowered?"

_Ans._ "As a good citizen" he should submit. See Socrates.

"In answer to question under 'Personal Problems' in June Forerunner, 'Why don't people wake up and _live!_ World size?' Will submit:

_Ans._ (a) Laziness. If people knew that thirty minutes of a healthful regimen practiced daily would double the daily pleasure of living and add ten years to the span of life, nine out of ten would neglect it. And (b) thoughtlessness through faulty education; the primary function of mental culture being to teach people to think, a.n.a.lyze, and solve the problems of life, and cultivate the memory; but memory is too often given first place to the exclusion of the others."--_A. O. H._

This is an excellent answer. There are others.--C. P. G.

THE EDITOR'S PROBLEM

To pay its running expenses this little magazine must have about three thousand subscribers. It now has between eleven and twelve hundred.

We want, to make good measure, two thousand more. This is a bare minimum, providing no salary to the editor. If enough people care for the magazine to support it to that extent, the editor will do her work for nothing--and be glad of the chance! If enough people care for it to support her--she will be gladder.

Do you like the magazine, its spirit and purpose? Do you find genuine interest and amus.e.m.e.nt in the novel--the short story? Do the articles appeal to you? Do the sermons rouse thought and stir to action? Are the problems treated such as you care to study? Does the poetry have bones to it as well as feathers? Does it give you your dollar's worth in the year? And do you want another dollar's worth?

Most of the people who take it like it very much. We are going to print, a few at a time, some of the pleasant praises our readers send.

They are so cordial that we are moved to ask all those who do enjoy this little monthly service of sermon and story, fun and fiction, poetry and prose,

First, To renew their subscriptions.

Second, Each to get one new subscriber. (Maybe more!)

Third, To make Christmas presents of subscriptions, or of bound volumes of the first year.

[Advertis.e.m.e.nt]

Books by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Sent postpaid by

THE CHARLTON COMPANY 67 WALL STREET, NEW YORK

"Women and Economics" $1.50

Since John Stuart Mill's essay there has been no book dealing with the whole position of women to approach it in originality of conception and brilliancy of exposition.--_London Chronicle._

A remarkable book. A work on economics that has not a dull page--the work of a woman about women that has not a flippant word.--_Boston Transcript._

Will be widely read and discussed as the cleverest, fairest, most forcible presentation of the view of the rapidly increasing group who look with favor on the extension of industrial employment to women.--_Political Science Quarterly._

"Concerning Children" $1.25

WANTED:--A philanthropist, to give a copy to every English-speaking parent.--_The Times,_ New York.

Should be read by every mother in the land.--_The Press,_ New York.