The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-04-14

be really had anything TO say. He was one
met with in society. He used one Of those
web perfecting talkers-the kind that can be
fed with raw Roman punch. and that Will
turn out punctuated talk IN links like var
nished sausages. Being poor talker myself,
and rather more fluent as listener, i did
not interrupt him.
He said that be was sorry 10 notice how
young girls and their parents came to Wash
ington as they would TO a matrimonial mar
ket.
was sorry also to hear il. 1t panied me
TO know that young ladies should allow
themselves to be bamboozled into matTi-
mony. Why was it, asked, that matrim0ny
should ever single out the young and fair?
"Ah, said he, lit is indeed roughr'
He then breathed sigh that shook the
foliage of the speckled geranium near by, and
killed an artificial caterpillar that hung on
its branches.
"Matrimony is all right" said be, "if
properly brought about. 1t breaks my heart,
though, 10 notice how Washington is used as
a matrimonial market IL seems TO me al
most as if these here young ladies were
| brought here like slaves an exposed for
SALE" i had noticed that they were some
what exposed, but / did not know that they
were for sale.
l asked him if the waists of party dresses
had always been so sadly in the minority,
and he said they had.
/ danced with a beautiful young lady
whose trail had evidently caught in a door
way. She hadn't noticed it until she had
walked partially through her costume. do
not think lady ought to give too much
thought to her apparel, neither should she
feel too muck above her clothes. ] say this
in the kindest spirit, because 1 believe that
man should be friend to woman. No fam
lily circle is complete without a woman. She
is like glad landscape to the
weary eye. Individually and col
lectively, woman is great adj
junct of civilization and progress. The cleo
trict light is good thing, but how pale and
feeble it looks by the light OF good woman's
eyes. The telephone is good invention. 1t
is good thing to talk at and murmur into
and deposit profanity In, but to take up
conversation and keep it up and follow a
man out through the front door with it. the
telephone has yet much to learn from wo-
man.
1t Is said that our Government officials are
not sufficiently paid, and presume that is
| the case, so it became necessary to economic
in every way, bat why should wives concen-
| trate all their economy on the waist of
dress? When chest-protectors are so cheap
as they now are, hate to see people suffer-
| and there is more real suffering, more pri-
walton, and more restitution prevailing the
Washington scapula and clavicle this winter
than / ever saw before.
But do not hope to change this custom,
] though / spoke to several ladies about it and
| asked them to think it over. ] do not think
| they will. 1t seems almost wicked TO cut off
| the best part OF dress and put it at the
| other end Of the skirt to be trodden under
feet CT men, as / may say. They smiled
| good naturally at me 1 tried to impress
| my views upon them, but should j go there
again next season and mingle in the mad
| whirle of Washington, where these fair
| women are also mingling IN said sad whirl, 1
hot I mill nd aln nod int I,o
same gas.light waists, with trimmings of
real vertebr;e down the back.
Still, what does man really know about
| the proper costume for women? He knows
nothing whatever. He is in many ways in
| consistent. Why does man frown on a GER
tain costume for his wife, and admire it on
| the first woman he meets? Why does he fight
| shy of religion aud Christianity and talk
| very freely about the church, and get mad if
| his vile is an infidel.
Crops around Washington are looking well.
| Winter wheat, crocuses and indefinite post
| ponements were never IL more thrifty con-
| dition. Quite number of people are here
! who are waiting to be confirmed. Judging
| from their habits, they are lingering around
] here in order to become confirmed drunk
| ards.
i leave here tomorrow with a large, wet
| towel in my plug hat. Perhaps / should
have said nothing on this dress-reform ques-
| ton while my hat is fitting me 50 immedi-
ately. 1t is seldom that step aside from the
beaten path of rectitude, but last evening, on
the way home, it seemed to me that 1 didn't
do much else but step aside. AT these parties
no charge is made for punch. 1t is perfectly
| free. 1 asked a colored man who stood near.
| the punch-bowl, and who replenished it ever
and anon, what the damage was, and he
| drew himself up to his full height.
Possibly l did wrong, but l hate to be
burden on anyone. 1t seems odd to nae
to go to lirst.class dance and find the sup
per and the band and the rum all paid for.
1t must cost great deal of money to run this
Government