Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-06-14
SUNDAY CHAT.
BY A CHATrERER.

PeN7h WI NeJo viii luIy be re-
membered as a red-letter epoch Ia the
calendar OF Fort Worth. During this
time more has been done TO increase
this city's prestige and advance its
material growth than Was accomplished
in the whole preceding year. In that
short space Of time the agitation Of
months eliminated in action, and by
that action Fort Worth
made giant stride to.
wards prominence and CONNER
clal supremacy. Fort Worth had ar
rived at period in her growth when
she had either to go forward or back
ward; she could not stand still. Prog.
ress or retrogression was the problem
OF the hour, and the solution of this
sroblem lay with the citizens Of Fort
Worth and none others. Advance
ment or decadence was the question
upon which they had to pass. Upon
this question they did pass and with.
out moments hesitation. The ciu.
zenship OF Fort Worth proved itself to
be OF the right kind OF timber and
sound 10 the core.
Much has already been said in praise
of the young men of Fort Worth, but
there is still room for more. IL has
been said that in proportion to their
means they subscribed more literally
to the railroad and manufacturing en-
terprises than the capitalists. Be this
as II may, the young men did their
part when called on, and they should
be honored for 1t. When 1t Is remem.
bered that the young In a new city
like this have not been born
and reared here, and consequently
are not bound TO the place by the sa.
cred ties and dear associations OF
home, but are men who have left their
far-away homes In the older states and
have cut themselves loose from q II but
the tender memories OF their early
lives to seek their fortunes In new
country, their pride In their adopted
city ana her prosperity as evide need
| by their prompt and liberal response
to her cali for assistance is deserving of
more than passing mention. Fort
Worth has II right to be proud Of her
young men.
There Is peculiar custom in vogue
in this city which to the uninitiated
appears rather curious to say the least.
The custom alluded to is that OF max.
ing engagements to call ON young
ladies. A young man who wishes to
enjoy a few hours Of bliss and rapture
with his dulcinea cannot quietly put
on clean collar, change ends with
his cuff, slick down his back
hair and betake himself TO the
domiciliary abode OF the fair one.
There is not enough sty 10 and formality
about this simple plan OF procedure,
Several preliminary measures must be
seen to before he can actually make
the call. First, an epistle must be in
scrlbed upon gilt-edge paper and dis
patched by an emissary Of Senegam-
bian hue to the ject OF his attentions
by the gentleman wishing to call. II
this eplstolRry document receives q
favorable answer the gentle
man considers that he has an
engagement" or that he is party to q
contract by virtue OF which contract
he ID entitled solely, undoubtedly and
alone 10 enjoy oil the rights, privileges
aud perquisites pertaining to the
| premises where the young lady resides
during whole and undivided portion
of the evening named in his "engage-
ment" or contract.
1t is generally presumed that q
young lady In society is ready to re.
ceive any and all callers OF her circle OF
acquaintance at all proper hours II she
is at home and that one visitor is OF
should be rs welcome a. an
other. Such, however, lie not the
case where this engagement" custom
obtains. These engagement" are
sacred institutions and anyone who, In
all ignorance OF offe"se, and innocent
OF malice, happens to trespass upon
one il looked upon as an offender who
should he treated with contempt and
be made to understand that IL would
be well for him not 10 repeat the
offensr. Let young man quietly pick
himself up and 90 calling on one of his
young lady friends without making sll
engagement aud inadvertently hap
pen on another fellows engagement"
II be were Ignorant before, 1t won take
him long to find out the full meaning
OF this engagement. IL IL does not
take sledge-hammer to drive hint
through his hide, he soon begins to APP
prehend that he is regarded ~ a com
mon poacher upon some one else's pre-
serves, and that his presence elsewhere
would probably be more appreciated.
II the Intruder has any sensitiveness
whatever in his constitution, he with
draws as soon as he possibly can with
dignity, feeling that the Iron has en-
tered his soul, /" and steely determin-
alton in his heart never again to allow
himself to get into such an equiv ocal
predicament.
This engagement 10 call Is alto
getheT wrong for several good reasons.
1t is violation OF every principle OF
hospitality and courtesy due all who
are for the time bsing under another's
roof, for those that tiespEss upon M
engagement OF this sort cannot help
but feel that they are intruders and
consequently unweleome. III a young
] L.. In alntaa NTH "A e4Ffain