Ed
The burgeoning feminist movement was already stirring in various Western nations. By 1903, in Britain, it would unleash considerable unrest, with public parades descending into property destruction under the leadership of its fervent proponents. Later, in 1913, a radical act saw a suffragette directly rushing beneath the King's horse, tragically perishing beneath its hooves.
From Dutch's perspective, such methods were utterly misguided. The true triumph of feminism, he believed, hinged upon the gradual accumulation of income, granting women increasing control over the discourse within their families and, by extension, society itself.
If a wife commanded a six-figure salary annually, matching her husband's earnings, her confidence would naturally soar. In short, money in hand was the undeniable right to speak. Therefore, Dutch's persuasive assault would target this very principle.
"Hello, Ms. Dorothea, my name is Arthur… Arthur Callahan." Dutch extended his hand, lightly kissing Ms. Dorothea's gloved fingers, a practiced charm in his movements.
Hosea, standing nearby, stepped forward. "Dear Ms. Dorothea, my name is John Tacitus."
Arthur glared at the two of them, a flicker of irritation in his eyes, before reluctantly stepping forward. "Hosea… Hosea Van der Linde."
"Hello, gentlemen, my name is Dorothea Wicklow," Dorothea replied, her expression stiffening with a subtle wariness. Though impeccably dressed, the presence of three men, surrounding her, made her uneasy. A prickle of suspicion suggested they might be thugs dispatched by her detractors.
"Hello, Ms. Dorothea." Dutch's gaze met her apprehension, and he offered a benign, almost fatherly smile. "Oh, don't be nervous, Ms. Dorothea. I merely have a few questions that require your… unique insight." He subtly guided her away from the bustling crowd, to a quieter corner. "First, do you truly believe your daily protests, like this, can be truly effective?"
A flicker of fierce tenacity ignited in Ms. Dorothea's eyes. "Perhaps it won't be immediately useful, Arthur, but if we abandon action because it seems futile, then we women will never rise. Any true change demands sacrifice. Why shouldn't I be one of those who gives it?"
In this era, feminism, still untainted by the manipulative influence of later generations' "white left" movements, lacked their bitter, self-serving flavor. Of course, this didn't mean its beneficiaries were solely women. In reality, American feminism, from its very inception, seemed less a grassroots movement and more a calculated conspiracy by politicians or the upper class.
Its primary focus remained fixated on gaining women's suffrage, with little to no genuine demand for equal job opportunities or profound shifts in social status. This was glaringly evident in the game: whether it was the feminists in Rhodes or Saint Denis, their rallying cry was always the vote, never the right to work or fundamental changes in social standing.
This glaring inconsistency, Dutch realized, was his ultimate leverage: You seek popularity? I shall grant you popularity.
Hearing Ms. Dorothea's impassioned words, a look of profound emotion crossed Dutch's face. He exclaimed, "Ms. Dorothea, oh, Ms. Dorothea, you are a true warrior, and I genuinely admire your spirit. But have you ever considered if your chosen direction might be… slightly mistaken?"
"Our direction is mistaken? Arthur, I see nothing wrong with our direction! We merely want the right to vote. We merely want to stand on our own feet. What could possibly be wrong with that?" Ms. Dorothea flared, a rush of anxious, emotional retort escaping her.
"Ho ho ho, Ms. Dorothea, please, do not rush to judgment. I am not denying your ideals. I merely wonder if you have ever delved into the study of social psychology?" Dutch remained utterly unperturbed, his composure unwavering.
"Social psychology? I apologize, Arthur, I've never heard of such a subject, nor do I have any inclination to study such things. The very status of us women is not yet guaranteed, and I fail to see how learning such… esoteric concepts could be of any use." Ms. Dorothea's demeanor had grown markedly cold. She was beginning to suspect that this man's aspirations and methods diverged sharply from her own.
Seeing her frosty demeanor, Dutch merely smiled, then uttered words that struck at the very core of Ms. Dorothea's convictions. "Oh, Ms. Dorothea, learning is the ladder of human progress. If you refuse to even acquire knowledge, then I fear your movement is unlikely to succeed. Indeed, it might be utterly impossible to succeed!"
"You…" Ms. Dorothea, directly provoked, was about to launch into a furious rebuttal, but Dutch spoke before she could.
"Because you simply do not comprehend how to fight for social rights, how to enhance your interests, or how to amplify your voice, Ms. Dorothea. And these things… these things I happen to know!"
Dutch's interruption quelled Ms. Dorothea's anger, transforming her previous coldness into a state of bewildered half-belief, half-doubt. "Oh? Arthur, will social psychology truly aid our feminist movement?"
"Hahaha, Ms. Dorothea, social psychology is the study of the collective mind, the thoughts, and the shifting trends of the general public within a social context. Only by truly understanding the public's desires and inclinations can feminism potentially harness the power of the people to achieve the rights you so desperately crave."
Dutch's words completely shattered Ms. Dorothea's skepticism. The academic precision of his language, the professional terminology that few in Saint Denis—or indeed, this entire era—could articulate, undeniably marked Dutch as a true master of "social psychology." Moreover, his captivating declarations about increasing social rights, improving one's interests, and amplifying one's influence had utterly enthralled her.
"Arthur, I am truly sorry, Arthur. I should not have grown angry with you just now. Please, forgive my ignorance, Arthur. I desperately need your knowledge. I desperately need your answers. All of us women… we desperately need them. Please… please tell me! Please, teach me."
As cold as Ms. Dorothea's initial attitude had been, her current fervor matched it precisely. She even reached out, taking Dutch's hand, her expression alight with an almost desperate eagerness.
"Oh, Ms. Dorothea, how could I possibly refuse you?" Dutch's smile was one of pure, benevolent cunning. "Come, let us speak upon the bench." He led her towards a secluded spot in the park.
Hosea and Arthur followed behind them, Hosea listening intently to Dutch's masterful manipulation, while Arthur's gaze drifted left and right, wondering if he could simply stretch out on the bench and pen a letter to Mary. Oh, poor Arthur. He had finally glimpsed the dawn of hope, and his entire being had been irrevocably captured by Mary. As the saying goes, old trees can blossom, and this old tree was blossoming with a passion that shamed even the young.
Dutch and Ms. Dorothea settled onto the bench, their conversation immediately resuming.
"Arthur, can you tell me now?" Ms. Dorothea pleaded, her voice barely a whisper. "Please, tell me. We will all be eternally grateful, or if you desire compensation, I will pay you a most satisfactory reward!"
"Ms. Dorothea, do not rush, Ms. Dorothea. Let us begin. First, we must clarify a fundamental question: what truly determines social discourse and, indeed, social rights? You must understand this."
"Is it the right to vote, Arthur? Or is it individual force? Perhaps labor capacity?" Ms. Dorothea, a product of her time, possessed a remarkably narrow perspective. She could plainly see that men's labor capacity surpassed women's, generating more value, and thus concluded this was the root cause of men's superior status. But she failed to grasp the deeper, underlying economic currents. Or perhaps, she saw it, yet accepted it as immutable, a worldwide truth. However, these limitations were not the true impediment to their struggle. The real reason women faced such formidable challenges was that the very leaders orchestrating the struggle were not women themselves, but rather the calculated machinations of politicians.
"No, Ms. Dorothea. Your view is not entirely correct. Think carefully: women's diminished status is not merely manifested in society, but also within the family. They often wield little power within the household, frequently controlled by others. And there is, in fact, only one single reason for this: money!"
Dutch exuded an almost magnetic charm, captivating Ms. Dorothea. She instantly believed his words.
"Money? Arthur… well, what you say makes sense. If women can earn money, their status within the family might indeed improve. But what does that truly have to do with the right to vote? Besides, our job opportunities are pitifully few right now."