The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-03-11
Misfellaueuns.
Girls.

SOmebOdy wants chapter on what may
be termed intimate etiquette. This Is
touched by such inquiries rs We see In the
correspondents column of ladies' papers,
where Lucia wants to know If she should
allow q gentleman to kiss her when she
comes homo with him from concert; !;
and Carolina Is dubious rs To whether she
should correspond with her friends be-
trothcd in secret. One can't but sympa-
thize with the young ladies, knowing how
inconsidcrately some one has neglected
duty toward them. Mothers and guarli-
ans seem often to fancy that knowledge
how to conduct ones self In the delicate
dilemmas Of life comes by instinct. Girls
leave school and 60 into society with the
vaguest of notions about their relations to
It, and stumble through Its small difficult
ties, hiding their cmbarassments rs best
they can, keeping brave front to the
last while the world never guesses the So
cret tortures they undergo in trifling mat
ters. Often enough, for mere restless
craving for novel condolences, young Ia
dies seek public instead Of private advice,
when their mothers and friends are ready
and competent to give them all the help
they need. But there is great deal of
trial that besets young girls ut the age
when they feel nllurements most keenly.
which the best parents forget to provide
against. They ought to recall their own
debates Of etiquette'in youth, and teach
their children prudence before they need
it. Forewarned. forearincd.
"Nellie, SEQ here" says q prudent f.-
ther to his girl Of l6, in her tarletan ball
dress, warming her slippers before the
fire, waiting her cscort-if girls ever do
any Of the waiting, "you'rc looking sweet
ly fresh tonight, and rs fresh In heart rs
In dress, l hope. You are to stay SO, do
you hear, nprtilhen You are not to let
any one hold you close when you waltz;
nobody has any business to touch you till
you have lover or husband of your own.
I don't want my girl talked about. Re-
member, nobody has the least right on
any prctensc to do more than touch your
fingers, or lay his hand on you in the per-
mitted freedom Of the waltz, unless he Is
your relative, or going to bc."
And after that would she probably sit
in the conservatory. letting handsome
Jack. the fast flat and lady killer, slip hi,
hand by degrees from the back of her
char. lilt her lockct from her bare neck,
and kiss her hand till he dared to kiss her
lips, and gather her close to him. which
would probably be the sixth time they
met at the f,rthcst. You SEQ men and
women like such things.
It's right they should. I'm not going
to belle the blood that beats in this wrist
one instant, to say they should not. Only
one may have some choice rs to whether
one will accept carcsses from the whole
sale stock of natural liking. or the special
reserved fund of precious performance.
Suppose. young. warin.hearted girl, that
rs YOU lean on that broad shoulder In the
half.lt parlor tonight, thinking how nice
It is TO have somebody fond and protect
ing and how dear you seem to bc to him.
suppose you should by some invisible
magnetic sense, be made aware of all the
cheeks that had rested on that shoulder.
and all the forms that arm had cncircled.
Its fortunate you don't know these things.
might lead you, however, to keep your
self more s.urel for some one who will
love you rs chtircly rs you love this man.
who takes life rs IL comes" and by forvc
Of habit, If not by inclination. could not
remember one woman six months II his
happiness depended on II.
Did you ever see the old fashioned bobk
on etiquette called the young Isdys
Friend |" Good Mrs Farrar will never
guess the benefit that straightforward.
wholesome book of advice has been To
girls. She knew ths class she was writ
iny for, and gave her opinion In such
frank wonis rs those quote from Nom.
ory "You are to allow NO personal frcc-
doms from gentlemen Of your acquain-
tance. II finger is put out to examine =