“J.C. Haddon once more discusses the question of women composers. He declares that the reason why women cannot compose great music is because they have been and are even yet are not allowed to devote hours the study of music, the time that is indispensable. But this is nonsense. Clara Schumann, Augusta Holmes, Chaminade and other women have had all possible opportunities, but their work has remained mediocre. The real reason why women cannot compose is because they are women. That’s why. Men are intended to be the creative sex, women the beautiful sex. Mr. Haddon himself accepts beauty as a woman’s sphere when he says that it is not easy for one to imagine a woman struggling with a bassoon, or the ophicleide or the saxophone, adding: ‘A woman must look very charming indeed to look nice when she is throwing the whole strength of her lungs into a wind instrument.’ When a man blows no one cares how he looks as long as he plays well. String instruments are all right for women, as they are not incompatible with grace and beauty.”
Courtesy of The Salt Lake Herald, July 12, 1903. I personally find it difficult to imagine anyone, regardless of gender identification, struggling with an ophicleide (unless maybe experiencing the time before the tuba is important to you, in which case, that’s your prerogative).
Other fun things, totally unrelated to my actual topic of inquiry, that I have found while digging through old newspapers include ad after ad for a certain vaginal syringe with whirling spray action that every woman should know about; ads for Talk-o-Phones, featuring a rather charming parrot; and intriguing claims regarding the medicinal properties of malt whiskey.
In sum, this paper is never going to get finished.
Um, what about the headline “Charming Singer to Study Abroad.” Clearly that is the best and truest piece of news!