Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-07-03
From the New York American
CARRY ARMS.

ut is really abominable /" said Miss Sophia
Singleton.
"Oh shocking" chorusscd number Of young
ladies' who were sitting around.
spray, ladies', what is the matter !" said Henry
Jones as he joined the coterie.
"The matter!" replied all at once "why-"
Zone at time, ifyou please ladies'; really it is
too hard that so many sweet voices should COM
| bine to attack mortal like myself who, having
but one pair Of ears, can attend to no more than
| one at time. Come, Miss Singleton will YOU
tell me what causes so much Indignation!
"Why, this morning Helen Clarke walked
down Broadway with Mr. Stone and took his arm
| md in the evening she was on the Battery with
Mr.. Lewis and took his arm alSo!''
Sand is this all y said Jones quietly.
"AH!" exclaimed the young ladies' aghast
with horror.
"Wel ladies', think Miss Clarke was per-
ectly right: shall state my reasons and try to
convince you!"
| "Oh! you can never convince u.s."
"At least can try. l believe you will grant
that when lady walks with gentleman, it is
for the sake partly Of his protection. Am Irgh; 2
"Perlectly."
SWELL unless she takes his arm, she can en-.
Joy neither. in the first place, they cannot
carry on a conversation unless the man bends
forward, in which Gaze the least inequality I'M the
pavement may cause him to stumble against her
and down they must both go; or if passer BY
brushes against him, the result is the same. In
the second place, they may be separated by a
crowd and the lady be severely hnr while her
companion can afford her neither protection nor
assistance, and may even remain unaware that
any accident has happened! Again the cross
ings are often muddy, and then gentleman
arm would be useful; moreover, when lady is
fatigued, she would find the support of an arm a
very great relief; SO that whether for safety,
pleasure or support, a lady should always take
the arm OF her companion"
"You are right" said Miss Singleton, "but is
is not the CUSTOM
"Then make it the custonl-nothing is easier
Let every lady who has mind enough to Judge
for herself, make it a rule never to walk with a
man she does not respect, and when she does
walk with one, let her al'cays take his arm.
know that when lady takes a mans arm, PEG.
pie say they are engaged, but surely, no one
would suppose her engaged to a dozen different
men at once, and they must either believe sc
palpable an absurdity, or grant that she may moi
be engaged at all. This once settled, other
ladies' would follow her example, and in q
short time Garry Arms !! would be the word.--
at ball or at the Springs, and refuse it in the
street, because at one place it is customary, and
at the other it is not. Now customs should al.
ways be consistent, yet this is not so in large
crowd in one place, 0here ii is not needed, you
take my arm: in large crowd, consisting per.
haps of the same indiriduals, you refuse It be-
cause you are IN another place, and in the last
lnstancesit is absolutely necessary; there's con-
slstency for you! Miss Clarke has set a good
example, and hope all ladies' will follow it.
Come, Miss Singleton, you are young and pretty
suppose you walk arm-in-arm with me to.mor-
morning people will say nee are engaged; in
the afternoon, walk on the Battery with your
friend Harris, and Miss Reynolds and myself will
be there we will all walk rm-in-arm; they
will then say you are engaged to Mr.. Harris and
/ to Miss Reynolds; the next day take some one
else then they will say none of us are engaged
in few days the oddly will have worn Off and
no lady will walk with man without taking his
arm, and no man will walk with woman who
refuses it. Is Miss Clarke right, and will you
follow her example 7"
"Yes," replied all the young ladies'.
"Then have convinced you. Garry arms ="
ave will"
"To-morrow, Singleton"
~ will walk arm in arm with you ; and al,cays
make the gentleman who accompanies me, be he
,cho he may, give me his ARM WIS