Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-04-14
HOW ONE WOMAN SHOULD MEET AN
nTuHU

HOW ONE WOMAN SHOULD MEET AN
OTHER.
There are certain polite fashions, with
which every woman who aspires TO the
highest style ought TO be familiar. There
is this, in regard to meeting a stranger of
vo1a own sex. Unless the individual is
Enthusiastically a person of position"
there is a form of elegant scrutiny, a
looking 00eT process, If L may 80 speak,
which it is of the utmost importance TO
go through with. Begin at the hat ard
descend, with more or less deliberation,
Analysing, as you go, scarf. gloves, boots,
&c, never emitting furs, or lsces, as the
season may be-these last being particu-
! larly suggestive, TO borrow term some
/ what in vogue for grander uses. 1t is
not at all uncommon, as the work pro-
ceeds, to throw into the expression OF the
counterance a delicate shade of that con-
tempt, which it is often so eminently
proper 20 feel. If it is pretty soon evident
that the Person is "a nobody" the inspec-
ton may close abruptly, though much
talent may be shown IN the extension OF
the process, even in cases of this kind In
concluding the interesting ceremony,
most people satisfy their consclences with
severe letting alone, quiet ignoring.
/ But have known ladies OF the most de-
cided "style," who would go SO far as 70
make overt demonstrations, Withdrawing
the skirts from the possibility of contact,
&c, &c. But nothing of this kind should
! be ventured on, except by womanswhose
/ ss2ial claims are beyond question. In
pazson of ordinary pretensions, any
thing Of this kind would be reckoned
vulgar, as you well know. L may add
that, if the inspector is under the pleas
| ing necessity Of usiEg an eye-glass, the
EN- barrassment of tie victim Is consider
ably increased, and the geaeEel effect ad-
mirably heightened. This operation Is
fine thing for GOODNESS. OF course one
pities the individual thus put to torture
But it will not do to let the feeling run
away with one. Naturalists TO the con-
trary, shall always believe that insects
are incommoded, when thrust through
with pins or the like. But of what &C.
count their sufferings, when considered in
relation to the progress of science! L
should not, perhaps, fail TO mention that
one is liable to blunder sometimes, and
that it is very awkward, very,-in the
case of certain odd persons, whom it is
fashionable TO notice,-authors, artists and
the like, and some Others, rich as jews,
yet, strangely and stupidity enough, dress-
Iiag like beggars. But the danger of
such mistakes cannot of course be
permitted to interfere with the course of
well-established social laws. There are
people, am aware,-either weak or ill
taught, they must be,-who pronounce
the style of behavior which L am sdvo-
eating, indicative of a coarse, hard nature,
or at best of criminal thoughtlessness.
They are forever quoting TO you, "The
mind is the measure of the man." and
similar antique sayings from Pope or
some other dry old fellow. 1t is really
most absurd, in this day of light and pro-
gress. 1t is provoking, too. What, ask,
would become of the world, if such fool
ish creatures should have their say ? The
acts which they condemn ought to be
looked on as public benefactions, each
doing its part in fixing the boundaries
which separate the elite from the vulgar.
Were it not for self-sacrificing efforts of
this kind, how soon might we find our
selzas in a state of social disorder, abso-
lutely irr2trievable
pierre DUNNING.