CHIVALRY.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 21, 18 August 1894, Page 3

CHIVALRY.

(to the editor.)

Sir, —Lately we have heard many dark hints relating to the likelihood that the spirit of chivalry is about to perish. Women are told that if they insist upon obtaining what they call rights, they must submit to lose their privileges. What these much-talked of privileges are, no one seems to be able to say clearly. But is the loss of “ this nothing which many men so plentifully give ” to be regretted P The courtesy which is granted only because justice is withheld is surely a questionable good. Men with little minds like to imagine that women are dependent upon them. The mental attitude of nar-row-minded men towards women seems to be —“ Here, you women, listen to us. Now, mark you, if you submit to be unfairly used, we will treat you with the ordinary amount of civility (‘ if you are young, pretty or (well dressed,’ they add wee wee intae themsels) but, if you insist upon being treated as our equals, then don’t expect politeness or attention from us. We, your physical superiors, grant you courtesy as a bribe to remain silent. Nature has handicapped you in the struggle for bread, and be you very sure we will take ample advantage of the weakness kindly granted by Nature. It is absurd, it is monstrous, that you should endeavour to become physically stronger. Why, supposing you ever do really become our equals in strength, where Avill our advantage over you be then ? Should such a thing ever come, it would be no greater misfortune to be born a female than a male. Such a state of things would be horrible.” These moagre-souled men seem to forget that the woman’s cause is the man’s. If she be small, slightnatured, miserable, how shall men grow P Chivalry ought to be above all such petty considerations as whether the recipient of the courtesy is a being to be patronised or not, Beal chivalry is as considerate towards its equals as towards those over whom it has some advantage. It gives freely, counting upon no return. At the present time women have a good opportunity of distinguishing between men and mere imitations of those fe noble bipeds, since the latter will try to make women feel that they have lost as much as they have gained, while the liberal-minded men whose friendship and regard are really worth possessing, will still continue to treat women with as much courtesy as they do their fellow-men. When a man raises his hat to a woman she does not say to herself, “He does so because I am a lady.” No, she says to herself, “He raises his hat to me because he is a gentleman.” So now, if the eyes of all men are upon women to watch whether they will make good use of their newly-acquired power or not, so also may the eyes of all women be upon men to judge between those who are genuinely chivalrous, and those whose friendship is not worth having. It is a pity that there is not a greater spirit of camaraderie existing between men and women. Both sexes would be benefited were there more of friendship, and less of sentiment in their relations. Yet in the long years liker must they grow; The man be more of woman, she of man; He gain in sweetness and in moral height, Nor lose the wrestling thews that throw the world ; She mental breadth, nor fail in childward care. Yours, etc., Razzle Dazzle.