women in public life. They are afraid, afraid for their masculine prerogative, afraid (as I have heard it expressed) that women "will legislate men out of existence." Well, the antidote to that is surely more co-operation between men and women, not less; more knowledge and understanding of each other's point of view, not less. So many men are at present greatly concerned to keep women to their duty; perhaps many women are also too much concerned to keep men to their duty. There is all to be gained by putting together these aspirations for the improvement of—other people!
In an earlier chapter I have shown the danger that there lies in the low status of women in their not having pride in themselves and confidence in their work. The clinging dependence, the softness, the approachableness, the complaisance which men find so attractive in women also have their very great dangers. Women who have devoted themselves to the salving of the wrecks of womanhood know that often it has been this very softness of fibre which has been the cause of a girl's undoing. "Be weak!" men cry; "we love you for it. It makes us feel superior!" And when they have "loved" after their fashion, they leave the human wreckage their "love" has made and pass on to "love" again elsewhere. It is as you love duckling, and cry, "Dilly, Dilly, come and be killed!" Now women are increasingly feeling that it is not womanly to be weak, it is womanly to be strong, strong for work and love and understanding.
