New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-01
sIOR.ALITH AT a MASK,

have friend in petticoats who was
siesigned by nature for some passive and
useful place among her tender and modest
sisters, but Who early imbibing the rest
Jess, independent and defiant spirit of hel
age, has always been little ashamed OF
her natural and womanly attributes, and
q triie envious of those of the other sex
There is a tradition in her family that
when she was three years old she pushed
her nursing bottle away and remarked
with much distinctiveress, in the presence
af her mother and three aunts, ''that
genius was of no sex" The story is an
improbable one, and | think the only
grounds of credibility are to be found in
the fact that my friend has very frequent
" made the remark since with much of
the strength OF conviction that belongs to
the earliest impressions.
| found her earning her living a year OF
two ago in manly way, and with great
deal of intellectual contempt for anybody
who was willing or capable of earning it
for her. She wrote for the papers 1t
was proper, and need / say highly re-
muneratiye employment. 1t had also a
fine basis, necessity for such is the
wretchcd condition of society that unless
q woman writes for the papers or does
something else she can not get on at all.
'Ihe world needs womans talents in
new spheres" said she. paper boxes
and shirt making offer no field for the
characteristic talents of our sex. am q
reporter
Then l found afterward that she had a
strong desire to be bohemian Icaught
her eating her lunch one day in Schalk's,
and tossing off her beer with sweet little
grandiose air, Just as if she wanted the
world to believe that on no account would
she 90 away to tears and vomiting in her
womanly solitude afterwards.
81 want to SO to a MASQUERADE" said
she.
well, old fellow, answered, as "a his
torical reply came into my mind, why
don't you go?'
Limitations of the old prejudice" said
she. "a masquerade is about the only
place left where a woman can not go alone
Tn somewhat ahead of my age, so in spite
of my principles | must occasionally COM
promise with prejudice. | want man to
take me to the masquerade"
"You tlatter me, | remarked.
"What! in calling you man? Non
sense. Pray lay aside all considerations
of sex, do, when we talk business. A
masquerade offers phase of life to the
observing mind that can not be studied |
elsewhere. l ask you to assist me in its |
There is to be one at the |
Academy of Music on Thursday night.
Let us go together"
'As maskers?'
mo, as philosophers
..<l, l,,t tb ara x-,,, bova tho
Of me. With all my philosophy l have
never been able to lay aside the disguise
of my bringing up. In other words I've
got to wear modesty in the presence of a
lady whether possess it ornot. No such
obligation binds you.
She laughed. That's a foolish soph.
ism, By modesty you mean conyen.
tional Difference to the morbid weaknesses
of women. When you have strong
women to deal with your preiudices are
outraged, not your feelings, that's all.
Lay EN- aside, old boy, and go with me-
ION one condition, | said.
Name it"
That you stay till the ball is over and
The Lights are out. If | understand you,
you want to look the thing in the face and
ell the truth about it. TO do that you
must make night OF It.
Agreed"
l confess to having had very strange
sensation when called for HoItense on |
hat Thursday night. OF course you un-
ierstand that Hortense is her intellectual
,obriquet. Sarah Sackett is her conyen-
ional name. l could not, with all nv ]
philosophy, divest myself of the usual
considerations of sex in the matter. and I
hese, know, We're the very considera.
ons which Hortense objected to. Still {
lere was certain piquancy in the com. c
of woman who could lay /,
,ide all the artificial restraints of her sex fl
Id commune with you Familiarity upon a
lat broad and elevated plane of moral a
lilosophy. Besides there was notion t.
eya!ent that only upon such broad and
gh plane could men and women ever p
ork side by side for the good of their Il
lows in the dissecting room or the mas ju
!erade. l might be a pioneer in this OIL
lsiness, opening the path, SO to speak, G;