Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-21
Wasbington gmtinsI.
Elderly Ladies.


below, has ventured an essay on subject at
once novel and interesting. We say ventured,
because the contrast that he has been led to
make, in treating his subject, between Amer
can and European women, is not altogether
complimentary to the former, and must there
fore prove somewhat unpalatable to many on
this side of the Atlantic; his viewes, however,
are, we confess, SO just and sensible, that not
even galantry will suffer us TO question them.
But we ought to say this much, that some Of
the notions that characteristics the young Amer
icanism of the opposite sex are as faulty and
i ridiculous, if not more so, as those which are
noticed in the letter. Elderly gentlemen, vul.
carly styled old fogies, are as necessary, we
presume, to give tone and dignity to Ssociety
as elderly ladies. Who are the pioneers Of
fashion-the first to daguerreotype in broad
cloth the latest ideas of Partisan tailors; who
are those that talk politics most knowingly,
smoke Havanas most elegantly, and dictate
| most authoritatively the laws that should pre-
vail in the social relations of life? The boys
| to be sure; bachelors at fifteen, masters at
| eighteen, and merchants, bankers, or students
| learned in law or medicine, at nineteen, they
| are then fully qualified to assume the position
once occupied by the elderly gentleman of the
past.
| The class of women which takes pre-emi.
|
which American society lacks, viz that of ell
| derly ladies-never old here; there "wrinked
and DID, and white with hoary hairs" A crown
of glory, indeed, to the 6re-side-the revered
| ex-head of the household, before whom chill
drens children rise up; the dear occupant Of
the antique chair round which little ones
twine caresslngly as sweet briar roses round
the trunk of time-worn tree. In short, the
cast off of society; the cherished of the family
the boarded up treasure--the precious relic Of
the past. But here the ex-queen of fashion
more powerful even, than she who actually
| reigns; sovereign both Of the old and new
| regime, as type of the one, and dictator of the
other. Once on the throne of society, she never
| abdicates in favor of new claimant. Her
states and titles may change; but still she
reigns. The queen of beauty becomes queen
of wit; then of intrigue then of rare old times
and anecdote. If surprised by revoluton-de-
throned and driven from society, she contrives
to be felt even from her nominal seclusion
has her special court of priests and jesuits
mendicants for subjects; her potency in aims
giving; her praise in all the church, her "glory
is not of this world"
At no stage, however, of her power is woman
here more powerful than when decidedly be.
yond passee; when no longer the fair leader,
she leads the fair, by her knowledge of the way,
and conducts to the fair young aspirants for
Beauty's favor. Would strange gentleman
find the eatree to the beau monde in any me.
| tropolis of Europe, he must first be presented
to the sold queen;" through her alone is he
admitted to the presence of the aeac-he must
follow in the train of the elder to reach that of
the younger; the lady patroness leads to the
lady-love. ltwould be as unsuccessful here to
pay court to Beauty before Age, as it would be
in the United States to propose to the daughter
before gaining the mother. In fact, the "gocd
graees" of these elderly women are worth more
for their own sake than the smiles Of the
younger; for the former never being old, save
in experience, have in their conversation all
the freshness and vivacity Of youth. with the
wisdom and knowledge of years. When aim.
ing no longer to fascinate by their personal
charms, they grow really charming through
their accomplishments of mind and manner
One sees everywhere in these circles the queen.
ly representative Of fifty years gone, surrounded
by men Of rank and elegance, young men too,
who are drawn by fascination stronger than
beauty from the court of the reigning belle to
that of the reigning intellect.
III the young women OF Italy are remarkably
frivolous, the elderly women, while no less gay,
are remarkably sensble-if one might Judge
them by their conversation; nor do feathers
and flowers, and jewels, and corsdge decollette
and gay colors, prove them to be fools here, as
in the United States. The rule may have rea
son in it, that when nature withdraws her
adornments, art should supply their place.
Young folks in the dress of old ones, would
certainly look older, il not old; good rule
"works both ways'-so they think here, that
old folks in the dress of young ones, look
younger If not young. 1t is question: how
ever, whether fresh flowers about faded cheeks
make them any fresher. The flowers are un.
questionably gamers by the contrast, as they
are losers by the roses of youth. Feathers are
certainly finer on old peacocks: Jewels glisten
brighter beside dim eyes. Young women lose
nothing by leaving diamonds and brocades to
age.
In "Young America" youth has undis-
puted pre-eminence in society. Women, on
marriage, in most cases retire from the gay
world, and occupy themselves wholly with do
mestic duties, until their daughters are old
enough to "come out" The mother, Of course
must introduce her daughter and in doing
this, what is she herself fitted to contribute to
society, save my daughterp Her heart, her
eyes, her conversation, are all absorbed by this
one thing. Has she ever looked beyond her
ambition for this daughter2 Has she not even
forgotten all which her own superficial educa-
ton taught her-resigned whatever accom-
pnSpmenJS Sne might once DOaSt OF IN snort,
lost sight of herself in fitting her likeness for
phatf Not society," for besides a pretty face,
a slender waist graceful step in the dance,
and fashionable vo;ce for music, she can add
nothing to the sphere she enters. The mother
feels her own insuticiency, and retires again
after her daughters entree is we'll made; or
remains only TO look out match for her, in
which intrigue even, she fails, for want of tact
repulsing when she would entioe, by" still
harpng on my daughter"
Here no one knows that women have daught
ers till invited to their betrothal feast When
married, the daugter sets up her own court, as
the American bride sets up housekeeping, and
never inerferes with the established court of
her experienced mother. Indeed, for long
| time the mother is preferred to the daughter
who having never been out before marriage, is
awkward at first, until the stays Of etiquette
begin to set easy on her. Europeans show no
taste for greenness, save in picking their fruits
IL. u