Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-07-24
Miscellaneous.
Society Coz the Repression Of Men.
isN W. ". CRANE.

Miriam Tracy had waxed wioth over the
crimes AMI mlSdemeanors she attributed to
the masculine part Of the human race and
was deolalming about the coarseness, sell
-i>hness and brutality of the whole male sex
Her expressions were somewhat forcible and
her manner decidedly vehement, though the
tore Of her voice was rich, soit and melod-
ouS.
Miss Tracy was luSt nineteen, but She
considered herself woman slightly stricken
IN wears and possessing thorough know
ledge Of the world, based upon very wide
ana varied experience. In appearance she
resemb.ed the lady who is said b, Cervan,es
10 have been las tall as a spear and as fresh
a, an April morning" Perhaps she was
NOT altogether unconscious that she was q
Nerv graceful and handsome girl. for hoY
can a woman who is beautiful help knowing
X ? But she undoubtedly though, a great
deal les, about Ter appearance than She did
x. many other things. Her mind was large
Is occupied bs thoughts If the many sriev-
anocs and crueties which exist and flourish
in ,hi, sinful world, and She was always
eager 10 engage in warfare against tyran,s
and opprcssof>. from the cat prosecuting
street boy To the Sultan or the Gar
Three Of her late school companions sat
p. rcc.incG around nc- They we're all pref
n, but the intelligence, true carnesiness and
Deep >cu,b.!.;v which made her beaul,
doubl, attractive. we're entirely wanting In
them.
Il despi,e them ALL said Nellie Atair.
taking up the subject in hand with great
Nolubiliy and energy. They all think Nou
a.. 81 - -
common poiieness. and they 90 off and talk
- other girls about YOU IN way that con
sider perfectly coHtempt,bie."
Il think tney're dreaLfuly rude" said
Belle Middleton. lovely blonde with a
l,mphatic Temperament, and a vast capacity
for being waited on They expect YOU 10
do all the talking. and when YOU drop any
thing they don't see IT, They always take
the NEST comfortable seats. and only half
rise when YOU come in
"les. aud then they're 80 patronizing," ="
said Bessie Trent. Who was very l,efife, and
extremely dIgnifrd "Why. the other nigh,
at party. a little creature. with face liz,
a doll'>. actual, told me tha, thoroughly
uneduca'cd man knows more than lady
graduate OF cour,r. | didn't cundescend 10
answer him
Its the miserable slavery Of married
women that | mind most" said Miriam.
'lou all remember hos bright and CHEEKY
Nav Stanley used TO be at >cnoul. and " hat
a Ioye, disposition she had. We'll. las,
week | saw her AT party, and her husband
treated her as ! >hould be ashamed 10 treat
a dog. lie didn't speak 10 her once. and
hi, eyes we're following those horrid, sho~y
looking LINDSAY girls al! the evening. She
took il all as meekly as possible. and when
he began drinking champagne she was so
neryou, and anxious couldn't hear to look
at her. suppore he doesn't kick her. but
there are way, nt hurting a woman great
deal more thlu that would do
III. others gave vent 20 their feelings by
such expressions i, perfectly scandaous :"
"horTil wIc,cA'" etc, and all agreed that
10 woman With any self respec: would sub
nit 10 ,ueh Treatment
III. tell YOU what lets do, gmls." said
Miss Ada,r Lets form society for the
repression of mem We can snub the horrid
things Whenever We get chance, and in
duce other grl, 10 DO the same thing. Men
ought 10 be kept down. and if girls would
only stand by each other they could soon
take some Of the self concet out of them"
"Yes, indeed said Miss Middleton
It's partly our fault that men don't wait on
US more. But, girls, Of course we're not
going to stop dancing with them
"Oh, certainly not Of course. not - cried
the other three with one voice.
This important exception being noted, all
entered into the plan with enthusiasm, and
the society was duly organized. Miriam was
elected its president. and it was determined
that the i.ext meeting would take place early
in October. al the house where the, were.
On this evening in June, Miss Adair's three
friends had come TO spend the night with
her before the, separated for the summer
and it was while they were talking over
their first winter out that they had arrived
at such unfavorable conclusions about the
other sex. The next morning they bade
each other goodbye for the warm season
and were all soon absorbed in the mysteries
of packing.
Miriam and her mother went to a seaside
resort, where the summer guests had Just
begun to assemble. The huge portico of
their hotel looked very bare as the stage
brought them up to it. Four men sat in a
group, putting out clouds of smoke and star
ing at the new arrivals. Another man, who
was leaning against pillar, and strange to
say, not smoking, looked up lazily with half
closed eyes. As he saw Miriam the droop-
ing lids were raised quickly, and he gazed
a. her for few moments with keenness
and intensity which she found very disa-
greeable. What a very impudent man -
she thought, marching past him full of scorn
and indignation.
From her window, soon afterwards, she
deserted three large, fiat rocks, on the
beach, and she promised herself delight
ful time there with her book that afternoon.
As soon as the sun began to be low in the
west she went there alone, her mother being
too tired TO accompany her. One of the
rocks was a little higher than the others
and hid them from her view. She ran up
this rock but almost recoiled as she reached
It's crest. On the other side, reclining at
full length, was the man who had inspected
her SO coolly in the morning. He looked
up lszily, his eyes opened swiftly again, and
then he directed his gaze towards the sea.
He could hardly be called handsome. He
was tall but not well proportioned or well
formed. Yet mis- features were rather good,
and when he threw aside his ordinary list
less expression, his dark hazel eyes were
very keen and bright.
Miriam walked towards the water, good
deal annoyed and little amused. 81 see
this man is to be nv Jete Roire," she said to
herself. just then she perceived te had
left the rocks and was walking off in an op-
posite direction. Then she felt little sor-
ry she had driven him away. "lIe looked
so comfortable" she thought, Il wish |
hadn't come while lie was there" Still, as
he evidently had no intention Of returning,
she installed herself in the place he had left.