The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-01-07
Hands and Pockets.
By W. G. EATON.

tlVu l. ShltiS AASs0oNpt AISDAthS w
ciety, the attendance Of the fair mem
bers was unusually large, notwiths,and.
ing the rainy inclemency Of the wealth
or, which constrained many to come
with umbrellas !; and snch as had them
not, to plot thither in their old clio hes
and boots, rather than be deprived oi
the pleasure Of participating in the de.
bate, or listening to it. They cared
nothing for looks, az, ny q law Of the
society, no males are allowed to escort
them, or to be present. Their object
is intellectual light, through the friction
Of female minds in the form Of debate
and though the atmosphere of the hall
, was humid, from the combined moist
ure of their wet dry goods, it seemed
as if nothing could aampcn their ardor,
as they engaged in the question Of the
evening, which was this time AS singi-
lar ~ it was secret; it being:
"Why do men indulge in the habit Of
putting their hands in their trowscrs
pockets p
The large Pr,sidentcss (two hnnd
red pounds-namcs Of members are moi
permitted), having stated the question,
and frowncd down a disposition to
litter, on the part Of a few Of the young
er members, remarked, with becoming
gravity, that "This inquiry was expect
ed to involve some instructive light in
regard to = suspected idiopa,hy, or
idiosyncracy in the physiological orga.
niza,ion Of man; and whereas phys
lcgist must perpetually discover some
thing new and interesting in his botanl
cal researches, so the most experienced
woman would be excusabie it she in.
dn!,cl III minute phi!osnpha,ion upon
those pecnliari,ies in the habits Of men
tending to afford a more perfect under
standing Of the nature OF that animal,
some ut whose characteristics might
Otherwise seem mysteries, ii not posi-
lively phrenctical. Therefore, the Kero
sene Sisters would proceed to the quest
ion, arguing from experience, observa
ton. or fancy "Nhy do men indulge
in the habit Of putting their hands il
their ,rowsers' pocke,s?"
Having made a penderous impression
by this polysylabic speech, she sat
profoundly down.
A yonny woman, with green um
brella, which though wet, she refused 10
put into the rack, much 10 tie disgust
Of a dry thirty cent calico, who sat a,
her side, now rose and said, in a kind
Of firm and tluttering tone, which indi-
Gated her anxiety TO appear unconcern
ed
tive seen enough men with their
hands in their pockets; and, for my
part, don't see the use of making such
a fuss about It. Nothing odd, as | see
Hands arc their own. Pockets are
their own. | suppose they want to
warm their hands, and il must be very
comfortable in cold weather. =
"And presume it is not" here said
one of more years and angles, glaring
savagely at the green umb,clla for dis.
posing cf the subject 60 disrespectfully.
81 am one who detests the habit !;
and have seen men lounging about IN
summer time with hands in their pock
cts, with their knucklcs sticking out,
like the knee Joints OF u camel. am y
woman OF much observation; and ]
have always thought the ceremony was
performed TO hide looking hands !;
formcn with handsome hands are al
ways fond Of keeping 'em III sight and
showing Of 'cm. ! never seen no real
gentleman walking round with his hands
sticking in his pockets, and sticking
out at the same time-like alike a
frog in the mud, must say" al
4 pink dress, with sparkling eyes,
here rose, like the evening star, over \
clondy horizon, andotfered her opinion :
81 am inclined to take . more com
passionate view of this masculine ten
dency. Those Of our sisters who have
sat up much for the purposes Of court.
ship and been secretly amused BY the
nervous susceptibility Of 4 bashfnl
gentleman, must often have noticed
that he finds it difficult 70 compose his
hands. lie is constantly twiddling,
and quiddling, and fidgeting with them,
as il all the uncasness Of his nature was
lodged in his fingers. lie seems at \
lloss for proper place to put them, and