Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-10-08
Italian Traits.

Predominant in the department of
the Italian people, says Mr.. Jarvis in
the Times, is the naturalness or uncon-
seriousness Of playing a part in what
they do, whether 1t is wise to do it or
not. They manifest neither a DISPOSE
ton to attract notice nor false shame in
doing anything in public which they
consider natural and proper to do. This
trait gives them an enviable ease in
many actions that with less graceful
peoples lead to pitiful confusion and
awkwsrdness or else to vulgar display
and notoriety. Especially is this the
case with youth OF both sexes and all
classes. They never seem to be CON
scious that others are observing them,
or if they are, it has no perceptible ef-
feet on their individual spontaniety Of
action. which, while being perfectly
free, is self-restrained and eminently
guarded from anything unbecor1lng or
eccentric. They are veritable masters
of an Psthetic repose or tone in behav-
ior. which is quite the opposite of the
more highly pitched vitality of young
America in public. The American
girl Graves the social excitement which
her Italian sister is taught to avoid.
Alert to produce effects and direct at
tention to herself, and ever watchful to
note the impression she is making, the
American siren cultivates brilliancy of
manner, and seeks entertainment at the
expense of the more durable charms Of
her sex. Independent, self-willed, out
spoken, and uuaccustomed to the code
of social laws by which European wom-
en- are disciplined into certain uni
formity of department, she challenges
attention by forming style of her own,
regardless OF precedent or as to how it
may be viewed by others. No one
American girl becomes an autocrat in
society outside of limited circle, for
each forms herself, not from outward
pressure but from internal volition,
which varies according to the individ-
ual temperament and circumstances.
Consequently, there is infinite variety
in the American female character, and
q psychological daring in her social
acts and EXP 3riments which surprises
the most conventional bred European,
and sometimes gives rise to erroneous
conclusions. But the former il apt to
pay dearly for her brief sensational ca
reer. She:exhausts herself prematurely,
and soon pushed aside by younger rivals
subsidies either into common place do
mesticity or the unsatisfed "old maid"
at time of life when the European is
in the full flush of her attractions and
power. Bellies are much rarer in Italy,
but accomplished manners more COM
mon. Its young women seem to know
less eff worldly life than they really do,
while the American girl gets the repu-
tation of being more experienced and
less innocent than she really is. Yet it
needs only some aesthetic drilling and
restraint of her untutored exuberance
of life and curiosity to test everything
for herself, added to her more delicate
and highly vitalized organization, with
its quick intellectual apprehension, for
her to bear away tho palm in social
style, and distinguish herself as the
most intelligent and sensible of her sex,
as we'll as the most charming. These
remarks apply particularly to those
who are really born and bred under ia
voring conditions as to education and
manners.