The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-14
UMBRELLA FLIRTATI0NS.
How they are Carried on by Male and
Female Washers.

demand of late, but it is expected that
nearly every one will carry them when the
spring rains commence to ooze from the
clouds. The umbrella is the best aid to
filtration yet discovered, because it ex>
presses more definitely than any other
article in the hand of lady the impress
sion which she intends to convey. The
simplest sign learned by the dude and
dudine is the drizzly shake.
When a dude is prancing up Second
avenue with a high collar and a raklsh
hat, what delicious rapture suffuses his
whole being if the trim girl in the close
fitting coat while passing holds her silk
umbrella just high enough to look below
its dripping brim into the eyes of the
dude.
There is one particular in which the
umbrella, as the girls have learned, is far
superior for Irritation purposes to the
handkerchief or glove, or the fan or any
other article that a lady usually carries in
her hand.
If she sees the dude coming with look
of wanting to tliEt in his eye, and she hap
pens to be with her mamma she tits her
umbrella between her and her mamma, so
that that correct body can not see the
dude, who always passes, if he is skillful
in the art, next to the girl and not next
to the correct mamma. Then, with the
umbrella as a shield, the trim girl in the
tailor made ulster casts a quick glance at
the dude of coquetry and triumph min>
gled. She passes on and brings the um>
brella to plumb line, and looks limo.
Gently at her correct mamma by her side
and asks demurely: What were you say
ing, mamma, DEAR" The umbrella in the
hand of such a girl is bonanza.
But there is yet another use that an
umbrella may be put to that is still more
effective. Suppose the trim girl in the
close fitting ulster sees the dude in his
high collar and that peculiar look in his
eye, coming toward her, and she also sees
that they are about to meet in front Of an
open cigar store, where dozen Or more
loungers are idling.
The trim girls mind is made up in u
second. She is determined to respond to
the charming look Of the dude. She
passes close to the cigar store and tits
her silk umbrella over between her and
the idle gazers. This may be interpreted
as an aXcess of modesty on her part by
those who observe that she wants the
idlers to stare at her, but as the dude,
with his English stride, goes by he smiles
and the corners Of her mouth
twitch bctwitchingly. They both I'M
dcrstand each other, and both are pro-
foundry grateful to the umbrella.
The umbrella allows the trim girl to
take one step further in Irritation without
fear of detection than she could without
it. After passing the dude several times
they both want to be little more friend
". Without an umbrella the most the
trim girl can do is to smile or to bow as
the dude raises his hat. No girl of good
breeding never looks back as the dude
passes her. But the umbrella solves this
knotty problem.
OF course, if she looked back on pleas
ant day every one coming towards her
would see it all, and she would have to
pass them with burning cheeks, but with
an umbrella in her hand, or the rain driv>
ing toward her, after the dude passes and
they both exchange smiles, she pulls the
umbrella down in front of her, and hides
her face from every one before her. and
then she steals a quick glance at the dude,
who may always be found looking over
his shoulder to respond to it.
A steady rain for Il week develops a
system of coqnetry and Irritation with an
umbrella that single days storm would
never bring out. If the trim girls who
walk up and down the streets to flirt told
the truth they would all declare that the
umbrella is the best article of defense
against the dudes stare and also the best
instrument for filtration that they even
carried.
OF course the present weather is a
cooler on the umbrella Irritation business,
but when spring, gentle Annie, comes
look out for the trim girl and the high
collar dude