The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-23
BOSTON BUNPHoRNEIsM.
Culture On It's Native IIeath-Some Friendly
Grindstone Turning.

\
starting for this goal of eruditon and excellence
The thought of pIunging from the commercial
and fashionable atmosphere Of New York into
the Intellectual profundity of Boston was quite
| celebrating / rather built upon it. In spirit
| was already in the attitude of learner,
sitting humbly at the feet Of wisdom and filling
my mind with matter quite unattainable on the
Island Of Manhattan / had the wind taken
temporarily out of my sails, however, by the re-
mark of man who knew all about "the Hub
and everything else
'.Boston" he said, with a snort of contempt, as
confded to him my hopes of intellectual en-
joyment. "Boston Why it's nothing more
than famous centre for greenhorns
I was startled and shocked.
Fact" he said. II know it like book They
go there from all over the country, summer and
winter, to enhance their greenness by contact
with each other, though they have another name
for it. They call it culture
After I was comfortably established at the
feet of presumable wisdom in Boston this re-
mark of my too-sophisticated friend required to
me more than once But, as the oldlfashloned
writer's of thrilling fiction used to say, ''Let us
not anticipate"
The superfuous woman in Boston is fact-a
grim, realistic, numerical fact which can neither
be ignored nor properly adjusted in the social
economy. She is pervasive to a point that
ought to interest Legislatures in her behalf
don't mean that she is careering through the
world at any startling pace, soaring unprotected
masculinity into apprehenslons of matrmony.
modest person. She peryades solely because
of her university. She can't help it.
She is everywhere. The atmosphere
is dense with femininity. And, l will
say it, an excess of femninity is as bad
for society as an excess of masculinty. 1t is
mentally enfeebling to both men and women.
In some boarding houses rows of husbandless
women, maids and widows, young and old, sur
rounded the tables, much to their own disgust.
Here or there consumptive youth shaky
old man relieves the petticoated monotony. and
feeds his own vanity at the same time. That's
the worst OF it, What men there are pass for
twenty times their worth on account OF their
scarcity till they grow SO great in their own es
tirnations that they become insufferablc to
everybody save those who are obliged to endure
them
Like the backwoodsman who praised his
sweetheart until she wouldn't speak to him
thought she to much his superior-the SUI
perfuous women of the city get paid for their
homage to men in much the same coin. They
are lorded over, snubbed, put down, and other
wise made to feel their insignifcance in the
presence of creature born to pantaoons and
command. The. creature may be-frequent
ly is-little in body and mind, narrow OF soul
and feeble as to brain, and with face as I'M
handsome as az Aztec god. All the same he be-
lieves he is most satisfactory piece of the AL
mighty's handiwork. He hasn't enough rivals
to keep him humble.
Marry that old mani" said young lady when
a recent May and December alliance was being
discussed. why shouldn't sheg l would
marry anybody-mark you, any body-to get
out of my present environment" The young
ladies of this city talk great deal about their
environment. What was her environment? The
routine work of a home where industry waged
spirited and rather hopeless battle with poverty
in its genteeler aspects. Her imagination was
lively, and she saw herself growing DID, neg
lected, disheartened, and virtually imprisoned
for you are truly imprisoned when you know
you are in place and can't get out. For this
reason she drew her conclusions rather
strong.
Not only are marrriageable men scarce in
Boston, but opportunities of independence for
women are fewer than elsewhere. The hopeful
ola maid and the old maid who has lost hope may
be distinguished the one from the other any
where. The latter is settled and DOokiSh look
ing; has the air of having renounced the world
otherwise men-and taken uI philosophy. The
former looks as though she still intended to
least an anchor to windward' if she gets
chance
was present at club meeting, which was
Patience without the music sure enough. 1t
was woman's club. of course. but the meeting
was open one-open to both sexes-so the
news went round with a joyful sound. 1t
was greatly talked up The impression
was given out that this meeting
would be an occasion of extraordi-
nary interest. Holders of invitations were /
made to feel that thew had been favored of the
gods-Rev. Mr.. Grndwell was to read a paper
on dead poets. That of itself, know not why,
seemed to impart a mysterious excitement to
every one who contemplated being present. All
were made to feel that light would be thrown
| n m the rhVthmic dead which IL would bn wall m
see. / made up my mind that Mr. Grndwell
was an obelisk of learning and knowledge who
opened his mouth but seldom, but that when he
did he electrified his hearers.
I went early, feeling that / couldn't have too
much of such exalted privilege as even look
ing at the man who to bring the departed
poets before our eyes and make them live again.
The pretty little parors were full to repletion-
with women. The reading stand covered
with flowers, and behind the speakers chair,
which was still vacant, flowers were massed with
lavishness not usual with Boston.
There air of serious expectancy in the
place. The company had evidently gathered for
a united whack at ignorance and determined
avowal of their allegiance to the Fetch culture.
One young lady appeared at the door with an /
escort. This created profound agitation in the
audience Heads were turned, and eyeglasses, a
hundred strong stronger were leveled at the
extraordinary spectacle. The Boston woman is put
into eyeglasses almost she can walk.
The escort a timid being in his fortes with hair
parted in the middle and an of being on uufa-
miliar ground covering him halo, glanced
in, saw the array of dense feminlnity, muttered
something about not knowing that gentlemen
were not expected, and skunk away. Great
excitement at the door and in the hall, and con-
siderable agitation inside. Three four able
bodied women went after him without delay and
lured biIn back without the aid of ropes.
heard them try to put him at his ease by assur-
ing him that another gentleman was in the
audience They gave him place near the door,
and he shrunk into a chair in attitude of the
most painful embarrassment The "other gen
tleman." pale lad of seventeen, sat on the op-
posite SIDE He looked across and smiled
strength and support to the unhappy stranger.
This somehow had the effect of putting the
nervous gentleman at his ease 1t seemed to
take away his fear and he almost looked as
though he would enjoy himself.
The orator arrived next. He was hustled in
by a bevy of a fair women in front and also in