The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1885-11-28
" Observation-Disclosures"
She Teaches Men and Women
How to Shine in Society.

"Ah,' said the lady, lyon are a
reporter-an interviewer"-this with a
triting but significant change of man
mel. "And my advertisement aroused
your curiosity" she continued, repeat
ing the reporters words; 81 might
have guessed that" she added, half to
herself; then. after a moments cogita-
ton, she looked up. at is over three
years now since l began my business
or profession, whichever you like, and
until lately I have never advertised.
And this is my first interview. Well,
you saw on my door M. Blank, In
structor,' and that tells the story.
That is just what l am, Instructor at
large I am q sort Of a general-util-
ity parsonage, a human encyclopedia
OF modern information, a sort Of hand
book of society and business. a crys-
talization, it were, of the ethics of
the various occupations of life. l am
all things to all persons. l assist a
young to buy a bonnet and
choose a husband. l teach a young
man to tie his cravat and write his
love-letters. l am the lacking ingre-
dent to the lives of more men and
women in this and other cities than you
would believe if l told their sum in
round numbers.
"A young lady is entering society.
She is fresh from school, has mover been
out, and is green in q thousand little
ways that will mar her success at the
opening of hor career. Her mother is
dead, perhaps. or is not accustomed to
fashionable social usagcs. l am APP
pealed to and take charge of the de-
butante from her opening ball. Little
details that other girls learn from en-
barrassing experience my pupil is at
once proficient in. Watch the average
girl leave a carriage, for instance.
With head thrust forward she climbs
a%wkwardly out and must pause a mo-
ment on the curb to resume equilibrium.
Now watch my charge, leaning slightly
back, one foot touches the step and
with an easy natural motion the other
finds the pavement and the figure is at
once erect and well poised. In all de.
tails of card etiquette and note writing,
in the duties of hostess and visitors, in
the simple act of easily returning a bow
upon the street, in the choice Of suitable
flowers and costumes for various wear,
in the parlor or ballroom, in the the
alter or ut church. my charge has the
advantage Of knowing just the proper
thing to do; and l 60 further. | give
her little hints OF small talk, teach her
how to receive a compliment and re-
buke idle flattery. correct faults of pro-
nunciation and manner of speech, give
her, in short, the aid to ease and self
possession. which comes from confident
knowledge and mature experience.
''She goes to an opera one night, so
do l. The next morning I discuss it
with her, pointing out its beauties and
defects, giving her IN intelligent idea
OF criticism, all Of which serves her ex-
cellently at dinner the same evening,
when two hours of conversation-are be-
fore her. Such as she I term my regu-
lar customers. l also have any number
of persons who come to me for a single
prescription only"
''You have men, too, you say" sug-
gested the reporter.
more than women, twas the prompt
reply. you can not realize until You
have investigated the number of young
men in metropolitan society whose early
advantages have been limited. They
come to New York, make their way
financially, and get into society. There
they are soon in deep water. have
guided scores through threatening
shoals to smooth sailing. A man is
asked on his first yachting trip. He
does not know what to wear. l tell
him and impart a little useful nautical
knowledge besides. Another is about
to take out a young lady for the first
time. He Is full Of trepidation and
questions. l help him choose the
flowers he will send, and if men arc
wearing gloves advise with him upon
the color 10 select for his wear. I re-
mind him he must sit opposite, not be-
side, mademoiselle in the carriage, and,
in fact, help him through all the little
details whose observance constitutes
the agreeable escort. Conversational
ly, too, l come to the rescue of the
embarrassed and dinidcnt male. I
suggest topics and instruct him on little
fashionable phrases and tricks of speech.
l do this by actual object lessons. Shall
we try oneP"
The reporter could only acquiesce.
well, then. l am Miss A.. whom you
have just brought in to dinner. We
are all seated. the oysters before us. and
the footnian saying over II shoulder:
Hook or sherry What would DO your
venture on the little ripple Of small talk
that must babbls gently on through
soup. fish, entrees, and dess. FTP"
Il should probably ask Miss A. il she
vas fond Of oysters" said the reporter,
brilliantly.
20, ie! you never would il you were
pupil Of mine, Yon would glance At