The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-29
GLARABRLLE'SSU NDAYTALK
Dr. Agnew's Death Calls to Mind Novel
Thing in the Line of Charity.
Criminal Who Was Admired by New York
Girls-A Suffragist with Domestic Tastes
Homes for Unmarried Women.
pecf.l to the rnaian.poli, yourpa..

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, April %. The death of DR.. Ag-
new, theieminent oculist gives peculiar interest
to singular design OF philanthropy. Several
New York women of the sort who annually
spend goodIy portion of their time and money
in schemes for beneftinG their unfortunate
fellow creatures, are contemplating a positive
novelty in this line, and one which might para
doxcally be called the far-sighted conception of
near-sighted woman. This is nothing less than
q spectacle mission" ard It's benefits will fall
upon NOT only the very poor, but indirectly
the very ignorant in humble life. DR.. Agnew
approved it himself, and was going TO endow it
with his name. It is lamentable fact that youth
is fast becoming almost dependent upon eye
glasses as is age; and the increase of the
necessity for them among young children is also
noticeable In most cases the trouble is due to
the nature of the victims daily labor. The mis-
sion would be of especial benefit TO poor seam
stresses, tailors, shoemakers, ETC.. in the lower
grades of the work. The city holds thousands
of such laborers. to whom the price of pair of
good spectacles, properly fitted to the eye,
means self-deniai in other directions for month
at least, while to many they are wholly unat-
tainable, and the ruin of the sight inevitably re-
suits. The mission, if now started, will employ
an oculist. and no charge will be made for the
glasses the only stipulation being introduce
tion from some reputable party. Physicians in
dorse the project excellent one, and be-
lieve that it will remedy in considerable de-
gree the evil. now SO common among the poor,
OF wearing glasses quite unsuited to the eye
which they are supposed to assist.
Red Leary was a professional bank burglar,
and yet he was greatly admired by swell girls in
A.. - E.
the wicked man he was. He was an afternoon
lounger in upper Broadway. His stature
portly, his bearing that of q fashionable club
man, and his clothes were in the latest styles.
It is true that his face had something Of hard
expression, but that counted rs an indication or
club dissipation. He had the saunter of care
less, wealthy, lesurelv, dashng man about
town, with languid eye for feminine beauty,
but without ofensiveness of outright Irritation.
/ imagined for q long time that he was rich
idler, and wondered what particular old family
he belonged to. It was a shock to be finally told
that he was the infamous Red Leary, whose
career began IN sneak-thieving and poeket-pick-
ing and closed in moderate aff1uence as heavy
brakeman and hacker of other burglars. His
figure will be missed from among the prom
enaders.
The new feature in Fifth avenue sights is q
stage load # young women About year ago.
stage coaches Of new pattern were set running
on this thoroughfare They had two seats ris-
ing behind the driver. and these were meant for
men who wished to smoke during the trip. Once
In awhile adventurous girl would climb up
over the wheel to one of these places, and be
object of regard from the astonished spectators.
Later this practice became more common, and
it was favorite exploit to take the trip in that
way. A few of these vehicles have now been
fitted out with seats covering the roof and
reached by spiral stairway at the rear. Every
pleasant afternoon these deck loads attract at
tenton. Women and girls make up enough eff
party to fill all the space stage assemble
at the starting point and ride the three miles
down town to the turning point and back again.
1t is sort of imitation of the coaching fad, but
it is 50 cheap that it will not last long as FASH
ionabe diversion. Already l have seen several
stages laden with femininity far too frivolous to
be approved, and yesterday the novelty of black
ness was "A party of negroes had monop-
olized a stage top. and were having right good
time on their way down Fifth avenue the OBJ
served of all Observers and not at all disquieted
by the laughter that occasionally greeted them.
1t is not altogether agreeable for a society
lady to feel that she and her daughters are so
closely and exactly followed in the fashions by
The socially ostracised of her sex, that physical
contact-if not conversation-is quite possible in
public places. Yet this is at present the fact
There is caste even among the demi-monde of
great city. and those of the upper ten," with
wonderful unanimty. have resolved to be ladies'
at least in dress and bearing. It is not so long
ago that the badge of ostracsm visible in
variably. in some way, to the close observer,
despite all efforts on the woman's part. All 10
changed now, and the lamentable reflection in
trudes itself, that it must be due to the fact
that the ranks recruited to much greater
extent from circles where understanding was in
herited and taste cultivated before the evil day
came. However this may be, the fact remains
Gone are the painted cheek and lip.
the penciled eyebrow, the eaudy attire
and the vulgar tones of old; and
stamps the lady. Such woman of to-day
steps from her carriage before q weknown
modiste's; her costume is of the costliest, yet
severest she is stylish or nothing; dress. wrap,
bonnet gloves shoes-everything-1n exquisite
taste yet in the extremity of that painness which
is now the proper thing. Her bearing is modest,
her voice low and well modulated. her language
well chosen, and her taste unquestionable. In
fact she is walking lie, as she calmly brushes
against young girls and careful mothers, who
would cut their dress from their persons did |
they but dream with what they had come in con-
tact. In making their purchases, too, they
eviuce skill which generally scores point. 1t
may be remark. very audible, thus
"Oh, / know that mamma would never let me |
wear that" Or perhaps: II never could wear |
that to church, should certainly attract atten- |
ton. It's too conspicuous"
And so having insultsd the sanctuary and the |
virtuous home, the whited sepulchre ksweeps to |
her carriage and Is gone.
The oId-time idea that suffragists are not
fond of domestic life and comforts would be
entirely exploded if those women who have
lately convened ia Washington could be fol- |
lowed to their homes. One of them. Mrs. e. H. |
Robinson. who has always been identified with |
the Massachusetts woman-sufrage movement. |
has q very unique kitchen. 1t is built of |
sheathed hard pine, with rafters overhead and |
a big closet at end the top of which forms /
a shelf several feet from the roof. On this /
shelf are grouped sarthern vessels and stone |
pitchers, with two stone idols, which she calls |
her Lares and Penates. Their most appropri- |
ate place is in the kitchen, she says for here is
the fire whore the priestess of |