During which process of "society" does the conversation which promotes the exchange of ideals and service best come about? Is it in the talk of women who are "paying calls?" Is it in the talk at a "tea" or reception? Is it in the talk at a luncheon or a dinner? Is it in the talk over the card-table, or while dancing? Is it in talk at the horse-show or opera? (The pressure of ideas in society is so great that its members do converse at the opera.)
Surely it cannot be "society" which Miss Tarbell means! She must mean human intercourse--the meeting of congenial minds. But no; that is open to the suffragist as well as to any; and no one ever called it a frivolous and unworthy inst.i.tution.
The meaning is clear enough, but the claims made are to say the least unconvincing.
PERSONAL PROBLEMS
My own, partly personal and partly professional.
Q. Why don"t people send questions to this department?
A. 1. Because it does not interest them.
A. 2. Because they have no problems.
A. 3. Because they see no reason to expect satisfactory answers.
A. 4. Because they do not understand that questions are asked for.
Now if any of the first three answers are correct, there is nothing to be said--and no use for this department.
But if its the last--herein it is stated that the purpose of this department is to seriously discuss real "personal problems" such as do arise in most lives; and to which neither the minister nor Ruth Ashmore do justice.
It is not proposed to furnish absolute wisdom; only comparative.
One question was considered in the January issue; and a very earnest letter of inquiry was answered at great length for this number but proved too long--will appear in July.
What has always been a problem to me is how people can be alive and take so little interest in the performance.
Here is Life--Death--and a discussable Immortality. Here is Love--of all kinds and sizes. Here is Happiness--so big that you can"t swallow it; and Pain--an unlimited a.s.sortment.
Here are Things Going On--all kinds of things.
And here are we--making b.u.t.ton holes in the back parlor--breaking our heads in a sham fight in the back yard!
Question. Why don"t people wake up and LIVE! World-size?
Answer ..........................
Some of you send an answer!
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THE FORERUNNER CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN"S MAGAZINE CHARLTON CO., 67 WALL ST., NEW YORK
AS TO PURPOSE:
_What is The Forerunner?_ It is a monthly magazine, publishing stories short and serial, article and essay; drama, verse, satire and sermon; dialogue, fable and fantasy, comment and review. It is written entirely by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
_What is it For?_ It is to stimulate thought: to arouse hope, courage and impatience; to offer practical suggestions and solutions, to voice the strong a.s.surance of better living, here, now, in our own hands to make.
_What is it about?_ It is about people, principles, and the questions of every-day life; the personal and public problems of to-day. It gives a clear, consistent view of human life and how to live it.
_Is it a Woman"s magazine?_ It will treat all three phases of our existence--male, female and human. It will discuss Man, in his true place in life; Woman, the Unknown Power; the Child, the most important citizen.
_Is it a Socialist Magazine?_ It is a magazine for humanity, and humanity is social. It holds that Socialism, the economic theory, is part of our gradual Socialization, and that the duty of conscious humanity is to promote Socialization.
_Why is it published?_ It is published to express ideas which need a special medium; and in the belief that there are enough persons interested in those ideas to justify the undertaking.
AS TO ADVERTISING:
We have long heard that "A pleased customer is the best advertiser."
The Forerunner offers to its advertisers and readers the benefit of this authority. In its advertising department, under the above heading, will be described articles personally known and used. So far as individual experience and approval carry weight, and clear truthful description command attention, the advertising pages of The Forerunner will be useful to both dealer and buyer. If advertisers prefer to use their own statements The Forerunner will publish them if it believes them to be true.
AS TO CONTENTS:
The main feature of the first year is a new book on a new subject with a new name:--
_"Our Androcentric Culture."_ this is a study of the historic effect on normal human development of a too exclusively masculine civilization.
It shows what man, the male, has done to the world: and what woman, the more human, may do to change it.
_"What Diantha Did."_ This is a serial novel. It shows the course of true love running very crookedly--as it so often does--among the obstructions and difficulties of the housekeeping problem--and solves that problem. (NOT by co-operation.)
Among the short articles will appear:
"Private Morality and Public Immorality."
"The Beauty Women Have Lost"
"Our Overworked Instincts."
"The Nun in the Kitchen."
"Genius: Domestic and Maternal."
"A Small G.o.d and a Large G.o.ddess."
"Animals in Cities."
"How We Waste Three-Fourths Of Our Money."
"Prize Children"
"Kitchen-Mindedness"
"Parlor-Mindedness"