DECADENCE OF MAN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2740, 19 February 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

DECADENCE OF MAN.

THE AGGRESSIVE iSEX

Mr Plowden is convinced that the doom of man has sounded, and that although Avoman may not eat him in the immediate future, as the femaie spider eats the male, she has already reached the stage of beating him. “It has become quite common for men to complain of the violence of women,” he declared at the Maryiebone Police Court recently, “and we shall ivery soon be able to say with -truth that- man is the weaker sex.” The case Avas one in Avhich Mr Arthur LoA r ell, of Elgin avenue, Maida Vale, accused Mrs Beatrice Taylor, a young AvidoAV living in the same block of flats, of attacking him. He asserted -.tuat as he Avas about to enter liis flat on November 30tn -Mrs TaylorComplained of his child keeping hers awake. Refused to let him pass until she had finished with him. Knocked his hat off. Struck him A\-itli a stick. Tried to gouge his eye out Avith tlio stick. Scratched his Avife’s face.

On the following Friday, a friend called to see Mr Lovell, but Mr Lovell would not go downstairs to open the street door until he had called a policeman to protect him, as he knew that Mrs Taylor was waiting in the hall. Immediately ho opened the door of his flat, he stated: Mrs Taylor attacked him with her fists and nails. Her maid hit him with a stick. Her two children kicked him.

“While I was waiting at the door I heard cries of ‘Murder!’” said the policeman who was summoned by Mr Lovell. “When the door was Opened I saw Mrs Taylor belaboring him yyitli a stick. She was white with passion, and was behaving like a wild beast.” “The case is typical of the change that is taking place day bv da.v in the sexes in this country,” Mr Plowden stated. “There was a time when it was almost unheard of for a man to complain of being attacked by a woman, but women are now becoming independent, aggressive, and anxious to protect themselves. “The honors of this fight rested with Mrs Taylor, who carried Mr Lovell’s coat into her flat and put it on her bed as a trophy. Hysteria goes a long way to describe the conduct of women of the present day, and I would not be sorry if hysteria was mado an offence.” ' "

Mrs Taylor was fined 10s and 4s costs, and a cross-charge which she brought against Mr Lovell was dismissed. ' . ,