"In the duel of sex woman fights from a dreadnought and man from an open raft"

In H. L. Mencken’s sharp observation, the imagery is stark and evocative: woman occupies a dreadnought, a powerful, armored battleship bristling with guns, while man, in contrast, stands exposed upon a simple raft. The "duel of sex" refers to the timeless interplay and contest between men and women, whether in romance, power, courtship, or societal roles.

Mencken’s metaphor suggests a profound imbalance in the leverage and protection each party possesses in matters of intimacy and gender relations. The dreadnought, symbolizing the woman, indicates security, strength, and an array of defenses both social and emotional. Historically, women have held certain strategic advantages in the realm of romantic negotiation: the ability to accept or deny advances, to create boundaries, to cultivate allure, and, in many societies, to command respect or even pedestalization precisely because of their scarcity or the value placed upon feminine approval.

On the other hand, the man’s raft is exposed to the elements, vulnerable, lacking in both protection and firepower. Within this duel, he is at a disadvantage, subject to rejection and emotional risk, compelled to take initiative, undertake pursuit, and weather the consequences of failure. The image evokes the idea that, though men may traditionally hold more power in broader social structures, within the sphere of courtship and sexual politics, women often possess subtler and more commanding means of strategy.

Mencken’s wry humor underscores the futility of equality in this very old dance. The dreadnought can easily outmaneuver or destroy a raft, and so, in personal matters, men may find themselves at the mercy of women’s choices, preferences, and defenses. The metaphor does not claim that one sex is superior but rather that the tactics, protections, and vulnerabilities differ profoundly, shaping the dynamic between men and women in ways that are both perennial and poignant.