Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-07
CAPT. L. AND MRS. p

name
publication, and give only an assumed initial
calling her Mrs. D..
Ma. D. is the wife of gentleman en-.
gagged III mercantile pursuits He is neithe,
rich nor socially ambitious; though by caro-.
fuiness and attention to business, he has accu.
na!ated some property, and lives in good
style for man of his mesns
Mrs D is very much unlike her husband
II some respects. Social ambition is one Of
Der weaknesses. In marrying Mr. D
whose father had been a mechanic, she fell
that she was letting herself down; bet as a
Pnny scion Of an old aristocratic family that
Vas decsying for lack Of both moral and intel.
leciual force. she wisely accepted the chance
Ct being lngratted on a more vigorous stock
even though, in her sstim alton, the quality
we're inferior. OF this, however, fair differ
ence Of opinion may exist
By birth and edu;ation Mrs. D. copsid-
cred herself "lsdy." That is a person of
superior Suaiity-maae Of 6ner stuf-tban
tfe great body Of the people; and, Cor this ad-
Ean,@Se, E emitted to ceterenee and service
from those WHO were 10 be graded below her
Toward all persons who ranked in the same
grade with her husband, Mrs. D. assumed
an air oS diSnifed superiority that offended
come and imposed upon others. Assumptiop
always carries weight with class. Her pover-
~ before msrriage-fer The family had about
exhausted itself by extrayagance. destination
and want Of tbrift-had separated her from
many early friends; and her marriage with a
son OF mechanic, though a strong, True and
rising man, had caused cthers to drop an ac-
quailtance which had not for some time been
looked upon as desirable.
For some time after her marriage, Mrs.
u, whose husband could not afford dispiay
m living, found il hard work 10 maintain her
standing with any portion of the proud exclu-
siVes With whom X was her ambition to asso-
ciste. Sun she was ever at the gate, gliding
Ia upon all occasions and holding place by
intrusion II not under acknowledged right
By n&tlery she kept in favor with some, and
through them drew to the side Of others hose
rel ellsnt GOODNESS would have held sensitive
an truly Independent mind far in the dis.
taI.ee.
Sueh was Mrs. D.. As kor husbands q
means increased, she pressed him closely for a
more liberal dispensstion thereof at home. To
"hlch ne yielded, even beyond his own judg-
lheht' but never TO an extent that touched his
safety. She dressed extrayagantIy: but bo
saw thst her bills did not exceed a certain
sum mat could bo afforded Gradually
through elegance Of attire and assumed i'm
PoT'ance, Mrs. D widened her sphere
among the exclusives, and, in g corresponding
heiu rs INFERIOR, who had rather tolerated than
enjoyed her society
1hus i, Stands with Mrs. D. at the pra-
senI HTltlng. 10 sum her up in a sentence
sAe Is weak, badly educated, proud, vain. un
rehned; the representative of a class of vo-
man VINO imagine themselves vastly superior
70 other people, but Who have SCARCELY a.
claim to true womanhood-who call them
serves tGdtss par sIcslEsnes yet have scarcely
ledy-hEe quality. Mr.. D, on the con-
Jfsry, Is man in the true sense Honorable.
brave enough 10 be independent and outspok
with sufficient force Of character to maintain
himself IN any right action at home or abroad.
HIS VIE has learned not only to respect him,
Dat to stand aside when he asserts his will.
| 20 certain women in Baltimore, belonging to
this equiyocal class, new excitement afford
ed itself in the presence of the United States
sOl1iers, who did the good work Of saving that
City from self-destruction as we save a mad
msn by chains. Treason foiled was splenetic
an It's impotence. Prudence scaled the lips
and regulated the public conduct of large
numbers Of men whose hearts beat pulse for
pulse with the open enemies Of their country,
and, who, In all possible ways, gave them aid
and comfort; bu Eomen could venture upon
a larger liberty ] to their discredit must it
be recorded, thai some who dress in ''silks
and gay attire, wore gold and diamonds,
rode In splendid carriages, and claimed to be
ladies Of the first waters, stopped to acts of
rudeneSs and yulgarity that would shame q
market-woman. UnprOvoked insults were Of
fersd TO soldiers and officers in the street by
these women, who even spat upon them In
| many instances; thus showing the depraved
quality Of their minds. Foremost in the prac-
tice OF those indignities was Nrs. D., who
was encouraged By the class among whom she
| visited.
One day, fred by the almost insane malice
of half dozen free-thinking women, with
whom she had been in conference, Mrs. D.,
in company with friend, started forth to en-
joy the pain Of soldiers and officers subjected
10 wanton insults, which, because offered by
women, they could not resent. Passing a SOL
dier, ars; D purposely dropped her lace
byriered handkerchief The soldier, under an
impulse Of pOliteness-at homo he moved in
quite as good, and certainly in a more cuIti-
Tate1 society than the lady-stepping forward
and lifting the hsnkerchief from the pave
ment, offered II TO Mrs. D.. There was an
instant fash Of contempt on her face, and q
strong upward curl Of the lip. She drew her
self back Tor moment, Ike one in surprise al
rudeness, then taking the handkerchief be-
tween the tips Of her thumb and finger, she
held it far from her, like something infected
aud, moving 70 the cuTb-stone, dropped il in
the muddy gutter. Not deigning to glance
back at the soldier, she swept away with ar
air Of dignifed hautear that to her mind, was
some vulgar fellows added to the soldiers mo-
mentsry feeling Of discontinue.
| Proud OF her shame, Mira. D. swept dowI
the street In the next block she encounter
ed an officer. Throwing upon him a look o.
supreme contsmpt, Mrs. D. sweryed from
the right line of her course, and avoided hin
by taking q quick circle, that brought he
croEding up against merchants show-win
dow. n ~. s....
Zone Of your vile women, in gala dress,
remarked the officer to loyal citizen will
whom he was walking.
NE, she is the wife Of Baltimore mer
chant, was the rePly-"a Mrs. D."
Formerly q servant maid, or q woman o.
the lowest class, judging from her manners"
"No; Mrs. D is from one Of our bes
| families"
Heaven save the mark 10 calculated tn,
ohcer. III she represents the best, Of whs
style and quality must the worst be? Bu
really, thought her a woman Of the town
and IL was on my lips to address her in OLE
Bon Johnson's salutation to lady Of ranl
who YES tured wanton insult
"ln silk and scarlet walks many harlot-
| Good morning madam.'
Il wish you had done 50" was replied. "I
might have suggested the bad reputation sh,
vas making for hersslfin the eyes of all decen
people. But Is there no way to check thss