The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-28
OTHER PEOPLE AND I.

A number and variety of 'hints to young
ladies' gratuitously bestowed through the col
umns of the public press ought to inspire the
sincerest gratitude in the bosom of the sex. For
folly and felicity in dress and domestcity we
are chiefly called to account. With pen dipped
in mild sarcasm to give flavor to the remarks,
or with pair of scissors acutely sensitive to
matters feminine, the inditng or clipping of
ACCOMPLISHMENT goes on forever. Our ideal
selves are constantly before us-the masculine
conception that is. / hope the Improvement is
as constant and visible, but that is matter for
serious reflection. Familiarity with even the
most unexceptionable newspaper axiom s is apt
to have its usual greatly to he deprecated effect,
and it is to be feared that the fact for instance
that our only hold upon marital affection lies in
an intimate acquaintance with the cookery book
has been impressed upon US too frequently to i'm
plant in our trivial natures any new zeal for
kitchen accomplishments. The duty of becoming
yet economical toilets, and extreme solcitude
about carpet-tacks is familiar as an advertise
ment, and the perpetual renewing Of the eternal
shirt button is a twice-told tale. Notwithstand
ing this slight drawback to its efficiency, the
nobly philanthropic spirit inspiring the afore-
said hints must commend itself to warm
appreciation. Think of the magnanimous desire
for the elevation of the sex that possesses that
man who, sitting down, doth mourn over the
imperfections of the average housekeeper-her
cupable failures in the matter Of the boiled, her
leathery conception of the fried, her general
turpitude in all things pertaining to the bodily
welfare Of him who goeth forth every morning
to earn her spring bonnets and her daily bread
Unregenerate woman must be convinced of the
evil of her ways at all costs, and if the process
results in her eternal welfare, series of we'll
cooked dinners may surely be the least reward
of him who brings it about! In the face of all
this there are misguided members of the sex who
persist in caviling and reviling at the frequent
adjuration of the male quill-driver; and / don't
mind telling you that I'm cavler and reviler.
found a variety of things that gave scope to
these accomplishments Of mine, in a New York
weekly, the other day-a pr0miUe nt weekly, too.
To begin with, the femino- philantnropist tersely
and systematically informs the large body ofin-
telligent and educated American young women
who read 1.-THE weekly, mean-that sit isn't
particular sign of superiority to talk like
FOOL" 1t gives one crick in the neck to survey
the height of calm and conscious superiority
revealed in this gratuitous piece of information.
1t is colossaly indifferent to choice OF phrases,
and drops an immortal truth like this as if it
were peanutshell. / don't think any of this
humorist's lady readers will contend that it is a
particular sign of superiority to talk like fool,
nor, after a thorough perusal, to write like one.
Somebody else benignanty advises us to
Cultivate the habit of listening. Every
man likes to talk about himself, and
a good listener makes delightful wifeI" Well,
we all knew that before; but to see the confes-
sion in plain black and white, without apology
or even depreciation, and given as the best reason
q IL L
conversational tactics is startling to put it mild
ly. Every man who constantly unburdens him
self il the bosom of his family of an uninter-
rupted essay on the ego Of his existence, is
public nuisance and a private bore, and his
presence on the planet ought not to be encour-
aged, much less his popularity. Another fact
that would urge upon editors with mission
airy spirit is our unselfish attitude as the recip-
tents of all this wealth of suggestion. We don't
want to monopolize it. Be persuaded to give our
brothers, aud husbands, and fathers share.
Admonish the youth of the land as to that cylin-
drical abomination yclept the silk hat, as to
to the perfumed extravaganza of the many col
ored mouchoir, as to the duty of administering
to patient fortitude under the trials
of spring cleaning as to hundred
things intimately connected with his domestic
career, be he single or double. We understand
perfectly the promptings of the ancient chivalric
spirit that would confer upon our fair sisterhood
the entire benefit of this modern lecture system,
but until we are more fully convinced than at
present of absolute male perfection, we would
be more than delighted to see it distributed
".
Now that the Ladies Club" isan accomplished
fact in New York, wonder how the enterprising
members will conduct themselves. Will the at
mosphere be charged with the electricity of
scandal the emanatiops of the ouorterlies, the
snbtle qualities of art, or the perfume of eau de
vie2 Is it to have any character beyond that of
an ordinary mems club, with gossip and loung-
ing and amusement for its chief endsl If it has
not, foresee its speedy dissolution Obviously,
women will not forsake the old conventional
means that give them these things for any new
plan of obtaining them with doubtful advantage.
But If its keynote is pitched triHe
higher, IL an afternoon at tho club
should mean substantial literary, or scientific,
or musical, or artistic benefit to the members,
it will have reasonable excuse for existence.