St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-29
BLISS OF FILTRATION.
Its Value as Means of Grace to Men
and Hope to Women.

ITO flirt or not to f1irt; that's the ques-
ton. Whether tits nobler for girl to suf-
fer the unsought vowings of callow lover,
or to make merry with his signs and long
ings, and gently laughing rend them. To
love, to flirt, and by Irritation to say we end
the heartache aud the thousand foolish
things that man inclines to? IT'S con-
Summation devoutly to be wished, and, there
fore' said the laughing belle who thus par
odied Hamlet, Il am III favor of Irritation
as means of grace to men and hope of
wedlock to women"
Filtration Belongs to the genteel comedy
of life. Once in awhile it enters the do
main of the melodramatic, and at a longer
interval reaches even the tragical. but
properly cor Quoted and well-regulated
Irritation is simply very delicious and inter
esting high comedy. TO enjoy it in its
best estate the parties must be young, well
educated and of polished manners, though
it may be enjoyed in lesser degree by those
not so well furnished. 1t is not love-mak-
ing. Young people may, and do make,
very effectual and substantial love to each
other, and love-lorn maidens walk and talk
and moon and spoon with fourth-rate
dandies till the well-known laws of attrac-
ton and gravitation bring the intercourse
to natural termination. These things are
well enough in their way, but they are no
more like Irritation than small beer is like
champagne. Neither is it coquetry, which is
a neartless thing not worthy Of being COM
pared with filtration. Coeuetry is regular
and open attack directed against fortress,
the mode of attack, if the general is skilful,
being calculated on the strength, resources,
situation and disposition of the defender.
Filtration is a sort of SkirmiSh, often
brought on by the accidental meeting of re-
connoitering paatieS, and continued till a
clear reconnaissance of the opposite post
has been gained, when it either ends in a
regular siege or in a retreat A coquette
glores in the mischief she does, and gloats
over the bleeding hearts of her victims as
an Indian does over the scalps of his enemies,
but firt has no cruel purpose. gives no
pain, has plenty of sunshine about her,
and society in general. and some young
men in particular, owe her debt of graft
tude.
DR.. Johnson defined a firt as "a young
hussy, (which, like others of his definition S.
shows his utter want of comprehension of
the subject Webster as Ignorantly defines
it as "a young girl who acts with giddi-
ness" Evidently we cannot trust the
dictionaries. We very frequently hear
that certain lady or gentleman is terri
BILE firt, and there at once springs up in our
minds sort of vague prejudice against
that person. A more unreasonable judg-
ment can hardly exist. A flirt may be, but
is not necessarily, an Objectionable person.
1t is by means Of Irritation that lady OF
gentleman Institutes a sort of preliminary
examination into the character, habits, ap-
titudes and tastes of possible husband OF
wife. They have their individual views OF
married bliss and desire congeniality.
There are numerous kinds of flirts, most
of them good, but some better than others.
The firt intellectual leads all the rest, and
Is a most excellent variety Some of the
young fellows are afraid of her, but those
who do bend at her shrine are usually
Of the best type. She says good things
hG-self, and she fatters her admirers
into saying good things The
prosperity of many bon met of her male
companion is due to her ready repetition OF
it, and her sprightly conversation seems