THE WOMAN OF EVOLUTION AND PESSIMISM. 



327 



the lines of action which Schopenhauer suggests. The 

 social problem of any society worthy to be called civil- 

 ized will not be solved by the regulation of polygamy 

 nor by the perpetuation of masculine selfishness. 



We may note, too, that the " lady-nuisance " which 

 distresses the philosopher is only a phase of the "lord- 

 nuisance " which has temporarily stood 



in the way of the progress of European 

 nuisance." '. 



democracy. If the " lady-nuisance is 



ridiculous to-day, the " lord-nuisance" will be equally 

 absurd to-morrow. Pomp and fatuity know no sex. 

 The dry rot of life without effort affects men and wo- 

 men alike. Schopenhauer's attitude throughout the dis- 

 cussion of woman is that of a blase collector discussing 

 his neighbour's bric-a-brac. He finds it out of taste 

 and out of harmony not worth half it cost. But it is 

 none of his business, and he has no responsibility for it. 



But, waiving all minor criticisms, we find in this 

 harsh review many elements of truth. 



It is an expression of the results of an attempt to 

 " see things as they really are." But to see things in 



such fashion is not to see the whole 

 Blindness of ^^ The test truth Hes j n what 



pessimism. 



shall be, in the flow of the underlying 



stream of tendencies. Why are things as they are ? 

 From what condition have they come, and what is the 

 movement of the forces which govern future conditions ? 

 If the work and the life of woman seem less impor- 

 tant than those of man, it is because we measure them 



which is peculiarly her own. Having got there, she stays there ; 

 she dies there. The boy passes her as the tortoise did the hare. 

 He goes on, if he is a philosopher, and lets her remain in the dark 

 ages, where she belongs. If he happens to be a fool, which is 

 customary, he stops and hangs around in her vicinity." (Dam- 

 nation of Theron Ware, p. 324.) 



