The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-09-29
Modern Becky sharps.
From Celia Logans New York Letter to the San Fran
cir Cd :. :

i 81 Is VI 70.
From Celia Logan's New York Letter to the San Fran
| gI cisco Call. s4 -15- 45 -.
| In New York at present Becky Sharp is
omni-present. She assumes many charac-
ters. but, like some popular actors, is the
| same in all. Her soft hands have confding-
| ~ paved the coat-sleeyes of every man we
know. boarding houses are the chosen
| field of operations of the Becky Sharp Otto
day, in American life, at least. She may
| appear as an unprotected orphan, whose
only brother has gone to China on business;
as widow, whose poor, dear husband
sleeps beneath the daises in some far West
ern village +; as a wife, whose husband has
had to go to the Mediterranean for his
health, or to Montana as commercial
traveller; as demure young lady, who is
in the city only for the purpose of study
ing music with an eminent professor, and
who sings in some choir ON Sundays; as a
middle-aged LADY, whose husband Ga Judge
on the Pacific COAST has sent her East to
be treated for chronic disease of the
nerves as an unhappy maiden, who cannot
live at home with her cruel stepmother as
an artist, who always has the same unfin-
ished picture on her easel; as writer for
the press, waiting to have her story accep-
ted as music teacher, who hopes to get
some pupils next week, &C.; but in all cases
she is the same Becky Sharp. There are
two things she seldom, if ever forgets. The
first is punctuality of payment which
wins the heart of the landlady; the second,
an ultra responsibility and propriety which
command the respect of her fellow-board-
ers. She takes care to dress elegantly, but
does not neglect to explain that stdear hub
by" has sent her that fine camel l's-hair shawl
or ''Brother Will'' has presented her with
the costly watch and chain, or she has re-
ceiyed her new set of pearls and diamonds
from dearest mamma, !" or timely remit
tauces from beloved relatives have enabled
her to procure her superb spring outfit.
With such gushing confidence she nips the
early growth of that most inconvenient of
queries, "Where does she get them 9''
Often, after dinner, you will hear her
sweet voice singing in the parlor, especial
ly if there are well-to-do bachelors ir the
house ; but ON such occasions she always
prefers to have at least two or three persons
present, and the door must be open no
quiet tete-a-tetes for her; she knows that
they give rise to whispers, which may grow
to scandals. She will go to the theatre or
opera if her dear friend, Mrs. X, will
go along. AT table she bushes if such
things as the Beecher case are talked of.
On Sunday she makes a point of not simply
going to church, but of incidentally men,
tioning at dinner that she has done SO.
Whatever else she may do Or avoid do
ing, there is one purpose of which the un-
married Becky Sharp never loses sight
that is, catching husband. She prefers
an elderly man, who has already made his
fortune, rather than a young one, who has
it yet to make-not because she is merce-
y 80 sO0a 1fako IUva, F-uucp,- tys
shnfn fn n18fflSalZ s5sZsIta targes haeapsasbo
wild oats and settled down." 1t is not
often, when she makes a "dead-set" at
victim, that he escapes. An innocent girl
has no chance at all against her, and even a
widow cannot afford to give her single
point in the game. After she is married
her husband may notice, with some sur-
prise, how many gentlemen give her partial
or entire recognitions on the street, but he
need not hope to find any old letters or
Fr I
make any discoveries which will enilghten
him. Becky is too smart to be caught.