Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-01
parassis and Canes. and when and How
to Use Them.

Psrsscis and Canes. and when and How
to Use Them.
"Shirley Dare" writes as follows Il
the Chicago Republican; ..n :,
Ma YOU ever notice how ludicrously
sepseless the effect is Of q platoon Of wo
men walking down street on cloudy
morning whs the sun no more showed hit
face than IL he was suffering from tooth
ache. and each one Of these women had
large parasol open, gravely bearing down
the promenade. as IL they had sails 70
assist their progress2 II is one OF the
canous Of the promenade 10 carry sun
shade. or an umbrella, whether there Is
need of il or not, and the fair creatures
untbinkingly carry them raised. ltlooks
as meaningless as TO see, as have seen,
a woman walking down street, in a fresh
breeze. on a July afternoon, tanning
bsrself as she went, from sheer force OF
habit. not thinking what she was about
Do observe, ladies, before you raise your
narasols. whether there is the least need
e. them. A convenient fashion is to
hang the sunshade by loop TO the belt
when il is not needed.
Another awkwardnes that annoys per
sons of perception is the way many we'll
dressed persons use their parasols or
canes 10 attract attention. A stout dow
aver standing on the curbstone brandish.
inc her parasol to an omnibus driver is
a comic sight; the same creature giving
the conductor of car poke with her
narasol when she wants to stop Is rude
sight. aud she usually has no scruple 10
giving her neighbor dig on the knee in
he same fashion If she wants q window
raised. Human beings were not made
TO be punched and instructed with sticks,
like cattle or pet monkeys. It's bad
enough and recoiling to a.re6ned person
IN have the hand Of stranger laid on the
arm. even when it is necessary TO attract
attention, and the act should always be
atoned for BY pardon me-" but to
have a bamboo thrust at me by some
rnde. old. intolerable woman, who finds
Il easier TO punch one than to speak
civilly. is an offense against all good
breeding and constituencies.
Gentlemen use their canes with odious
freedom, too. The other night, coming
mn in a street car, an old gentleman
wanted to attract the attention OF his
clerk, who sat opposite, delicate, we'll
bred how. and the old rufisn, with his
goId spectacles, an air Of high position,
reached across and gave the boy rap on
the arm with the dirty end of his gold
headed cane. A word would have
reached the boys ear as well, and drawn
mn more gazers from the rest in the car.
The how seemed to have no idea of the
;ndignity. but kick would have been no
more an offense. Isaw a very well.bred
gentleman, who prided himself on his
manners, once lay his cane on the shout
der of a lady he knew to make her turn
rouud and speak to him. BE would have
been startled to know the uprise OF
naughty, offended pride in that girl at his
rudeness, unconscious as 1t was.
Just remember, young man or woman,
irving to attain sincere refinement, that
Won might as well lay the criminals lash
on the shoulders of Stanley, or your
hand on a princess bare shoulder, as to
treat some people in the way described.
The upheld finger signals q stage driver;
the slightest possible touch on the arm,
beckon, or word, will draw the ear Of
a fellow passenger, or one with whom you
wish to speak, and you may save your
stick and your pinches for animals, who
can't understand any other intimation.
Do you know what sets fatal mark
against the gentility of many people
proud of their manners in other respects
tits wink, a look ofmeaning exchanged
in company even of but third person.
The most delicate woman may set her
self down for snob if she is even guilty
of such an act, no matter whether the
third person sees itor not. The principle
that allows the covert sneer, or comment,
ia a mean one-and only meaner than the
habit of which some people are so proud,
of conveying sting in jest, or saying
a sarcastic thing with polite smile in
company. The meanness of this is that
it is simply cowardly One strikes when
the victim has no opportunity to defend;
and the man or woman who will do this,
when they dare not put the assault into
plain words, is Of nature too low to
hold parley with. Just answer at once,
SO that they will never dare the attack
second time use no scruple; set your
heel on the crawling thing; but if you
hold faith or trust with such a person
again, you must be your own security for
all consequences. Cowardly natures are
always cruel.