Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-08-02
WATERING PLACE rLIRTATIoNs.
A Warning for Romantic Misses Mt the
Seas de-.
Phllad lphia Times

For the next three lnOnIhs ~ WI Oui
watering places the chief amusement,
not TO say occupation, Of the young peo-
pie there congregated, will be flirting.
Dancing and driving, boating and bath
inn, croquet and bowling, euchrc and
casino: all these will nave their devo-
tees and receive due attention, but the
business Of the season to winch all
these and their occupations shall be
subscryient il the old new game OF play
ing mt love, forever SO pleasant and
so amusing. Now and then, perhaps,
there will be II touch Of the real article
u genuine heart, warm and living,
among the imitation hearts IN ice, which
may find its like, or thaw the ice, or,
perhaps, be itself frozen, who knows ?
AT the springs and the seaside for the
season the motto will be a u baggage
III the risk Of the owner" and speeches
which elsewhere would be actlonablc IN
any court Of law, when made on the
beach or hotel piazza, Ill tho causes OF
the waltz or the promenade on the lawn,
mean less than nothing-ldlc words
spoken only for something to say. 1T
taxes quick wit, keen tongue ut re-
partee for the game, ready to parry or
thrust ~ occasion may demand. As ~
most contests between the sexes the
man has the best Of it; that is if he be
merely flirting, with nosplce OF earnest;
he has nothing to lose, and what he has
TO n--amusement for the moment
is Iii. anyway For the women she
must hold her own, keep the citadel and
hold well in hand the strings, few or
- al, L,,st To h..E I,ntU In
short, she must carry out successfully
the chief end Of women's llfc-gct all
she can; but failing, seems always As
though she had expected nothing and
were in nothing disappointed. Playing
with edged tools is always dangerous,
but cut fingers must be borne, and, il
possible hidden; the world only laughs
ut them. For the most part, however,
the game will be merely play, y legiti-
mate trial Of skill, ending usually in "
drawn batte--shake hands and be
friends when the fight is over. Yet none
the less it is dangerous pastime apt
to lower tho dignity Of the man and
destroy the delicacy Of the woman.
Few men care to marry Il veteran ilrt
few women may safely take for n hus-
band the beau OF n dozen seasons. In
fact so much froth makes one dlsbc-
icyc in wines SO much deception causes
doubt everywhere. And most women
look forward TO marriage sooner or
lnter--moSt men expect some time IN
tho future to settle down to II wife and
home.
There are those who 90 to the fray
determined to bring home the captives
of their bow and spear, who mean mat
rimony toward amy eligible partner.
Mancuvcring mammas lead thor daugh-
tiers to the sacrifice mancuvcrng
mamma is the correct term, though the
daughters do most of the mancuvering.
Designing young men invest oil Their
spare cash, and what their friends can
spare also, III hunting ut expensive
watering places for pretty girls with
rich fathers. The unnliated have
little idou to what extent the business is
carried lii ono instance in this city the
parlors were stripped Of carpets and
curtains, and part of the furniture sold
that the daughters might go To Saratoga
-or dlSe,rhcrt. III search Of rich mus
bands.
Matches made ut watering places arc
not always safe, and guardians and pa
rents will be wise to keep n watchful
eye ON their charges, and to inquire in
to the character and antcccdents 81 the
nice young mon with whom ward or
daughter scrapes acquaintance III the
ballroom or the surf. The convenient
code which provides that such acquaint
anCCs are only for the season allows
much latitude, and may cover doubtful
personages with married women, on
with sing le ones wise in the ways of the
world. Still, Miss in her teens needs to
be looked after, and American girls ut
watering places, Ms elsewhere, are too
earelesSly chapcroncd. Gamblers and
iortune-huntcrs have no clovcn foot
which cannon ho hidden hv the cunvcn-
tional patent leather boot, and accidents
have happened in well-regulated fami-
lies. For II easo in point Years ago n
young lady. we'll connected, though
hardly wealthy, was with hcr mother
trying the waters Of ono Of our famous
springs. The two made the acquaint-
ancc OF n gentleman, handsome, well
educated. and with Il most respectable
name. The acquaintance began by
some slight but opportunC service on
lis part To tho two ladies', drifting into
IN attachment between himself and the
young lady. People who might have
spoken held aloof, with the convenient
creed which nas come down to lis from
CHin =" Am | my brothers. Keeper
and when the father appeared on the
stage he found his daughter engaged to
i professional gambler. There was i
scene, Of course, and the lovers parted.
The girls health failed, and later the