The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-09-18

PARAsoLs AND CANES, AND WHEN AND
How TO USE THEM" Shirley Dare .
writes as follows TO the Chicago Repu5it-
can:
"D;d Won ever notice how ludicrousiy
eenseless the effect is Of platoon OF Wo-
men walking down street on cloudy
morning, when the sun no more showed MS
face than if he was suffering from too,h-
oche and each one of these women had
large parasol open, gravely bearing down
the promenade, as if they had sails 10 az
sist their progress 1t is one OF the canohS
of the promenade to carry sunshaHe' Vi
an umbrella, whether there Is nced OF II or
not. and the fair creatures unthlnklnSly
carry them raised. 1t looks as meaning
loss as 10 see. rs | have seen, woman
1ro1kinr down street in fresh breeze, Oh
I,,lvafternoon. tanning herself rs she went,
from sheer force of habit, not thinking
what she was about. Do observe, ladies,
before you raise your parasolS, whether
there is the least need for them. A conHe-
njent fashion is 10 hang the 5unshade by
loon 10 the belt when it is not needed.
. Another awk wardncss that annoys per-
sons of perception is the way many we'll
dressed persons use their parasols or canes
ing on the curbstone braudiShing her para
sol to an omnibus driver is Il comic sight;
the same creature giving the conductor OF a
car poke with her parasol when she wants
10 stop is q rude sight, and she usually has
no scruplc in giving her neighhor dig on
the knee in the 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 10 refined per-
son to have the hand OF a stranger laid on
the arm, even when il is necessary TO at
tract attention, and the act should always
be atoned for by "pardon me, but 10
have s. bamboo thrust at me by some ru1e,
old. intolerable woman, who finds II easier
to punch one than to speak clvllly, Is an
offence against al good breeding and sensl-
tiveness.
"Gentlcmen use their canes with odious
freedom, too. The other night, coming up
in a street-car, an old gentleman wanted to
attract the attention Of his clerk, who sat
opposite, delicate, well-bred boy, and the
old rufiian, with his gold spectacles, an air
of high position, reached across and gave
the boy q rap on the arm with the dirty
end of his goldheaded cane. A word
would have reached the boys ear as well,
and drawn no more gazers from the rest III
the car. The boy seemed to have no idea
Of the indignity, but a kick would have
been no more an offence. saw a very
well-bred gentleman, who prided himself
on his manners, once lay his cane on the
shoulder Of lady he knew to make heI
turn round and speak to him. lie Wouiu
have been startled to know the uprlse OF
naughty, offended pride in that girl al NE
rudeness, unconscious as 1t was.
",Iust remember, young man or woman
irving to attain sincere refinement, ina
you might as we'll lay the criminals lash OF
the shoulders of Stanley, or your hand OF
princess's bare shoulder, as TO treat som
neonle in the way described. The upheld
inger signals a Btage-driver the sllghtes
possible touch on the arm, q Deckon, or
word. will draw the ear of telloW-paS
senper, or one with whom you wish to speak
and you may save your stick and you
ninches for animals who can't understand
any other intimation.
"Do you know what sets fatal mari
against the gentility Of many people prou'
of their manners in other respects 1t /
q wink, look of meaning exchanged IL
company even of but third person.
"The most delicate woman may get her
self down for snob if she is even guilt.
Of suchan act, no matter whether the thir
person sees it or not. The principle tina
allows the covert sheer, or comm MT, is
mean one-and only meaner than the habi
of which some people are so proud, of con
veying sting in a jest, or saying sarcas
tic thing with q polite smile in company
The meanness of this is that it is simpl.
cowardly One strikes when the victir
has no opportunity to defend and the ma
or woman who will do this, when they dar
not put the assault into plain words, is OF
nature too low to hold parley with. Jus
answer at once, so that they will never dar
the attack second time; use no scruple
set your heel on the crawling thing; but
you hold faith or trust with such perso
again, you must be your own security 70
all Consequences. Cowardly natures ar
always cruel"
THE BEwITCHED ASA young Frenc
gentleman, who led very CAV life, goin