Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-09
THE QUESTION OF ESCORTS AND
THE SUMNER WIOOWERS.
Women WHO Go Out UnatteBded-The
Growth of Independence Among the
Fair-The Men Whose Wives Have Gone
to Summer In Europe.

W omen VINO "c 'ut ht
Growth of Independence Among the
Fair-The Men Whose Wives Have Gone
to Summer In Europe.
Especial CnrrespOnience.1
New York, Nav 3-The Washington cor
have had considerable TO say re
Gently about ladi = going TO parties and plays
unattended by male escorts The practice il
80 well established here that nothing is
thought Of it Indeed, if all the refined
women in this city waited to he
corted to every place they wanted to go
after night many of them would never go
anywhere The male half of humanity
never does anything it doesn't want to
do, and it hardly ever wants to
go where its sisters, mothers and
wives want to go. Necessity inauGurated the
custom of ladies going in twOS, three. and
fours, AMI now they prefer groups Cf them
selves to any escort that ever lived, unless
they are very much in love with the escort
They enjoy going out in this independent
way, each one feeling that nothing is eX-
pected Of her in the way of entertaining the
others, if she doesn't feel like it while an
escort" said one fair woman in discussing
this question with me. "an escort expects TO
be entertained. Talk of man devising en-
tPrtainment and pleasure for women Most
men expect the lady they escort TO toast and
hatter them all the time 1t be
comes little tiresome for the young
lady The truth is, that women in
the higher walks Of life are not only
asserting their Independence in society. but
are enjOving il. When il comes to going to
receptions and private parties, they don't
want the care of a man" Then women are
learning that they can have pleasant social
companies without men altogether. Ladies'
luncheons are the most popular attractions
-Ociety can devise Really nice women have
learned that other charming women can be
as entertaining in conversation as any man.
however gallant Who knows perhaps this
self sufficiencv and Independence. cultivated
to still greater extent. will be the verv
means of making men put forth greater efforts
10 make themselves more attractive TO
women. They have so long considered them
selves a necessity that they did not value the
privilege of eScorting ladies As soon as they
are made 10 feel that their protection is not
necessary. their society not greatly sought
after, they will make an effort to keep from
teng cast aside altogether
A woman of societv-not Young woman
either, said to me not long since that for the
mast few wears men and women had seemed
absolutely careless as To what each thought
OF the other Both seemed to be completely
iisillusioncd. Something, she thought, was
surely necessary 70 make each sex seem valu-
able and attractive in the eyes of the other.
Perhaps the something needful is the indie
pendence of women now being made mani
fest
About this time New York abounds in hus-
bands whose wives have gone to Europe.
Don't picture them as disConsolate. Sad-faced
creatures looking out on the mercilesS sea
throuai a 1m of tears; because they are not
spending their time that way Gothamite,
whose wife is on the other side of the ocean,
is a creature of infinite freedom, and often
but little conscience. Sometime in February
he begins TO show great consideration for
the health of his beloved spouse He
remarks upon her pallor, and declares
that she is losing flesh-urgeS her to see
doctor. Finally, he declares that he cannot
calmly sit still and see her going down hill:
that. although he can't endure the thought Of
her absence, she must take care of her health
she must go abroad Can you go along,
dear'' she asks, pathetically. His kind in
terest in her welfare has touched her heart
anew, and she idolizes him over again, as in
the days when he was her lover. No, he
never regretted anything 20 much in his life;
but unfortunately he never was so driven in
business. He couldn't possibly go But it
may be that he can go over at the end of the
summer and bring her home.
In this no Ne she departs, tenderly urging
him to enjoy himself all he can in her alb
SsnCe-to visit such and such of her friends
As she knows will try TO mitigate his solitude
He shakes his head and intimateS that the
tvrant. business, will claim him for its own,
and 50 it does, but not the business she
imagines, fond, trustful soul No, indeed,
but instead thereof the business of trying his
wings so to speak-putting in every moment
of his liberty according 10 his most liberal
notions of pleasure
He doesn't do mach pining. Not he. The
moment the steamer glides down the bay he
sallies forth to hunt forbidden fruit He will
take it in any shape in which it can be found,
liquid or otherwise Such larks Theatres,
suppers, excursions, everything Ill the way of
entertainment is plunged into at the maddest
rate, because, forsOOth, he Is so lonesome
He calls on his wife's friend and invites
them 10 little lunCheOns and dinners; and par
ties of his Chums, the maddeSt, merrieSt Of
his chums, are frequent and loud. And then
what letters he writes his wifel They are
indeed remarkable documents, i'll which So
licitous inquiries for her health and affec-
tionate sugg Stions in regard to prolonging
her stay. without regard to him or his long
ings follow one another in the most unseltish
way. He goes about with very red eyes part
of his time, but this distressing result is not
to be attributed to tears He is so al xious to
crowd the time that he rather overdoes it,
and before the poor lady has been gone
month he is laid on the shelf from too much
business of recreative order.
/ was seeing a friend off to Europe one
morning recently. On the same steamer the
wife of an acquaintance had taken passage.
As it moved down the bay stood near the
disconsolate summer widower, who was
manifesting his grief by energetically wav
ing his hat As he turned TO go he met an
acquaintance in the crowd, and explained
that he was there seeing his wife off
Indeed" said the other, with apparent de-
light You'll give supper soon, | sup
pose"
"Oh. Of course" answered the newly be
reayed husband And so ne turned away,
planning for pleasure, while the wife watched
him from the steamers deck as she sailed
away, heavy v-hearted AMI tear burdened,
doubtless These things are good texts for
philosophers, reformers, and all persons who
see a significance in everything, and read
les ,ons and prophecies therefrom; but they
are too vast for me / can only see the facts
IS they are. but must wait for time TO di-
yulge the whittier are We drifting" of it
The rush for Europe has already begun
From now till the lSt of July Americans
cross the ocean i'll droves. Europe seems SO
near to New Workers that going there is Il
mere picnic excursion.
Seeing friends off becomes a part of the