The Mineral argus., 1884-03-20
WIDOWS OF ALL SORTS.
neir General Character and Eccentric
tiles in Particular.

she is setting her cap for another hus-
band. Why, think of it, Tom hasn't
been dead three months, and l do de-
clare I saw her smile at Mr.. Podkins. j"
Yet she has a faculty of succeeding,
and whether from experience, which Is
the best teacher-and she has general
ly been an apt pupiI-she has her pick
Of the beaus, and if the late lamented
left a snug remembrance in the form of
bank stock or houses and lots, and not
too many pledges Of affection, she Is by
no means a drug on the market, but has
the pick of the season.
A woman often marries the first time
to please somebody else. Her parents,
perhaps, or some unaccountable whim
which she cannot explain. A widow
marries to please herself She knows
the little subterfuges of coquetry-the
tiny nothings comprised in the glance
Of an eye or squeeze of the hand; the
die away look of longing, or the pert
piquancy of affectionate interest that
draws the crusty old bachelor out of his
she'll and carries in her wake the young
one, who lavishes upon her bouquets
and smiles.
When the elder Mr.. Weller said; "Be-
ware of widows, Sammy" he seems to
have struck popular feeling. He re-
echoed the sentiments of young debut
antes and the innermost feelings of moth
ers with marriageable daughters.
There are various kinds of widows.
There is the blue eyed, mush and milk
widow, soft as pussys foot, and always
performing the die-away act when any
body is by to catch her before she faints.
She continually talks about the late la
mented until You know of him as a
monument of unheard of virtues, For
a time widow mOurns sincerely. She
leads n life of cloistered retirement,
wearing an impenetrable veil which no
peering eyes of curiosity can penetrate.
She can't eat, the wine has lost its flavor.
She reads over and over again his let
Aers and blots them with silent tears.
ISis picture is under her pillow, her
room is decorated with mementOes Of
him. She wears the plainest of mourn
ing. If she has child, she'll spoil him,
and his every motion and look will re-
mind her of the only man who ever
lived. She cultivates the clergy and
attends to her masses and vespers, her
prayers and confessions with a devotion
that is appalling Men of the world
shake their heads and wisely whisper:
She'll come ont of all that" And sure
enough she does The French prov
erb says. Its hard to grow old grace
fully" 1t is hard for young widow
10 come out of her weeds naturally.
She fancies everyone is looking ut her.
She wonders what they will say. But.
she is lively and young, and youth is
full of elasticity and hope. III she gould
travel. it would do her good. Change
of scene, say the wise medical men.
Her dress begins to assume change.
Jet ornaments appear, which are well
set off by her shapely arms and white
neck. Pieces of trimming appear on
her dresses, and bombaZine is discarded
for cashmere. She consoles herself
with: Its black: the texture is the
Dnly difference. She talks the matter
Of dress over with other husbandless fe-
males. They lay aside folds to put on
ruches, and wonder when the box pleat-
ings come in. Some cynical man who
had observed closely this transition, or
-
it to a science. and he claims there are
1--WE stages of widowhood;
1. The dress of black bombazine, per-
iectly plain; a thick Grape vail, wild
ow's cap; no iewelry, except jet lock-
et collar &c, of Grape.
2. The veil thrown back over the
bonnet, little trimming on dresses; ;
white collars.
B. The cap disappears; lace veil is
worn instead of Grape; more trimming.
4. ''Dressy" mourning of silk, with
feathers in bonnet.
5. Half mOurning-purple and pearl
color. Now comes the stage where she's
deemed dangerous. She has entered
the lists, and her winning ways and ex-
perience all make her one to be sought
and confided in. Young lovers tell her
of their fiirtations, and she doles out
advice with the wisdom of chancery
Judge.
Men make fools of girls, but women
of this class make fools of men. The
widow spreads her web of fatterv and
Irritation, and as the poor insect ventures
n she rolls him round and round in her
meshes, as a spider does blue bottle
DIV. Perhaps it is hard fate for man