The Concordia eagle. [volume] (Vidalia, La.) 1873-1890, 1885-01-31
a LITTLE LADY.
False and True Ideas as to What Makes :
Real Lady.

fashionable mother She was dressed
every day just like the it'll, girls in the
fashion plates in fashion magazines,
and sent out to walk with her waiting
maid Before she started Mrs. Prim
would always say to her; "Now,
Prissy, you are not to notice the COM
mon children that you see in the street,
for you are Il little lady" And the
maid would repeat the proud mothers
words whenever the child showed any
disposition to romP or play, or iakcany
interest IN juycaile humanity they met.
Thus the idea that she was better than
other children because she was better
dressed was dinncd into the ears of
prissy until she really began to think
that she was made OF porcelain and not
ont of common dust.
Sometimes 'r,s,y was tempted to
wish that she was not Il little lady. She
wanted to play in the dirt and MAKE
mud.pic She wanted TO talk with the
barcfooted and bonnc;ic,s girl, that she
met. But at other times she looked
with pride upon her silk dress, and her
nice gloves from Paris and thanked her
mamma and the drrsS-makcr that she
was not like other children.
Mrs Prim was right in one thing II
PrisSy was ever to BE- biz lady she
must first lie a little lady. You can not
let an oak grow in your yard until it i
fifteen or twenty years old and then
change il to an applc-trae. 1t is said
that no one can ever become Il Skilful
musician who did not begin in early
childhood. TO be real lad. is far
more difficult than to bc lfrst-class
pianist or singer, aud she who a>pircs
to that high position can not begin too
soon. Ii the world is to have gcucr-
alton Of ladies ten or twenty years
hence. the girls Of the period must be
little ladies.
But Mrs. Prim was wrong in her
idea OF lady. She meant to make
PriSSy like herself, vain and proud.
She would train her to shine IN society,
to be admired for her taste in dress and
her fashionable accomplishments. She
would not have her learn even that She
had heart, or that she was expected
to do anything in the world bat enjoy
herself
What, then, is the true idea of Il
lady?
Webster. in his dictionary. tells Us
that the word comes into our language
from the Saxon. and means the loaf
keeper" rs the lady of the house
looked after the wants of her family.
She saw that the loaf was on the table
three times a day. Others say that the
Saxon word means 1.-The loIf-givcr."
and that it was applied to those
women who were kind and charitable.
who always had a loaf ready for the
poor. think this is the true dcini-
ton, for, in the oldcn times. the name
was not given TO all hou>ckrrprrs. but
TO those who We're in good circum-
stances, and able. n least. to give
loayc5 to the hungry. This being the
origin of the word. no wonder that
Webster'S second definition is. "a
woman of gentle and refined man
ncrs,' That is what we mean now
when we say OF any one: "She is a
lady, We don't mean that she Is
rich or handsome, or well dressed. or
accomplished, but that she is gentle
and refined. The gentle and refined
can not be vain and proud. They can
not be 4" stuck up They do not 20
about with their noses in the air as if
they were too good TO breathe the same
atmosphere with the rest Of the world.
was visiting hospital in New York
some years ago. ! saw Il lady sitting
by the cot Of one Of the patients, read
ing the Bible to her | supposed that
She was hired Bblc-rcadcr. But the
matron said: THAT is Mrs. -
naming one of the merchant princes OF
the city. "Shc comes here every day
with little dclicaciCS for the sick and
her pocket Bible. They all think she Is
an angel | turned aud studied that
face. 1t was indeed gentle and refined.
| had often heard Of this noble woman.
Everybody in the city knew her If she
attempted 10 cross Broadway the hack
men and the draymcn would all stop.
no matter how great the crowd. and
make way for her, and touch Their hai-
To her. She had wealth and culture.
She was welcomed in the highest social
circles. But she spent the most of her
time and her money in caring for the
poor. She did not NEGLECT her home.
1t was elegantly furnished, and in il
she was always entertaining those who
were eminent for their intelligence and
picty. She would meet returning mis-
sionari,5 ut the dock, and take them
and their familic3 10 her hospitable
mansion. She did not neglect hei
dress She believed that Gods chil.
drcn have n right to use and enjoy the
beautiful things that lie has made Sh,
was not one of the so-callrd " strong
minded women. Her voice was low
and sweet; her manners gentle and
refined; her dress rich, Yet plain aui il
exquisite taste. IN her quiet and lady
like way she was power for go1d il
the great city And when God (out, h"t