The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-22
CLEVER WOMEN.
DEVICES OF POOR WOMEN IN
WASHINGTON.
Teaching Novices How to Shine In
Society-Arran9irg Brfc-a- -,
Brac For the Wealthy g..
Hired Chaperones.

The Washington Star says that there
are many women of reduced circum-
stances in Washington who manage to
keep up appearances. They have all
been reduced from some higher sphere.
They are the wives or daughters Of men
who have been in Government positions,
in the Army or Navy, or perhaps in Con-
gress, and have died leaving nothing for
their families. Some of those women
80 reduced have tred the highest walks
of social eminence. Those of more COM
mon place qualifications have surren-
dered their social position and opened
boarding houses or gone into the Depart.
ments. There is an ex.Representative
still alive here in Washington who has
two daughters in one of the Depart
ments. ...- a-rigrs -
Women of greater resources have con-
trived means of keeping up appearances
and earning their own living at the same
time. There are several who teach.
etiquette to such as are newly cast into
the Washington whirl. They teach the
wives and daughters of new statesmen
ho to shine They take their handsand
lead them through the dark passagesand
over the slippery places about the en-
trance to Washington society. They give
benevolent assistance to rich ladies
who would like to shine in Washington
society, but have been unable to break
through the thin shell to the inner circle.
They supply taste and culture where
their patrons have wealth only, and help
them up the rugged way. They brush
aside the thorns with hand in velvet
glove. One lady, it is said, still keeps
up the establishment which was the in
heritance of her more prosperous days,
through the Consideration" she receives
for introducing ladies into society and for
society news she furnishes confidently to
certain papers. To be invited to, her
house is to secure the entire to society,
It means recognition and other invita-,
tions. The. compensation for such. q ser
vice is matter of delicacy, but it is
managed by the lady so that the patron
may feel under deep obligations, and not
as if she was getting just so much
for the money. There are others who,
when not engaged in social activities
themselves, are occupied in showing some
lady how to arrange her parlors and re-
ception room; how to hang pictures and
the curtains; what to put in thisroom
and what in that; how to arrange bric-a-
brac on the mantels, in cabinets, and on
the floor; what to put here, what there,
and how. the whole should be for hsr-
mony and good taste. Then they show
their patron where to stand and how to
stand when receiving company, what to
talk about and how to talk; or they will
show her how to give dinner party,
whom to invite, how many, how to dec
crate and arrange the table, what to put
on it and in what t'order, how to dispose
of the guests as to precedence, and all the
rest Of it.. This matter of precedence
puzzles some of the best of the new
corners, and they are glad to find some
one to relieve them OF the responsibility.
These female professors of etiquette help
them out of all such embarra ssment.
They bring out the debutantes and help
them to good matches. Some, is said,
have particular talents for match-mak-
ing, and devote themselves to that This
branch of servicel is said to afford very
lucrative employment to two or three
amiable ladies of great tact. They bring
young people together and introduce
their "wards" into eligible society.
Another employment sought by ac-
complished ladies of reduced circum-
stances is that of chaperone for young
people. A chaperone is very important
attachment for young people in
Washington society, and one it is not al
ways easy to get. 1t Is embarrassing and
besides generally inconveIient for, ma
mas to have to sit in the corner or against
the wall and nod, while their fair daugh.
ters whirl in the waltz and tread the
mystic mazes that lead to premature old
age. An amiable chaperone, who will
90 with the girls to the theatre, to balls
and parties, and receptions, is cheap at
most any price, and can find plenty to do
proftably. Of course they do not adver-
| tise: "Wanted.-A situation as chap.
erone." Nor do they ask Mrs. Penny
harvest if she doesn't want to hire
chaperone with long experience and good
references. Not at all. 1t all comes about
very naturally. The lady is so accom-
moQatlnS anu nlls. ehu noi ee' - ~
grateful, that it all comes to be under
stood. Another occupation of fashionable
ladies in reduced circumstances is that
of reading to invalids, and entertaining
them with all the small talk of the day.
All these means are resorted to by ladies
who have by some misfortune been
thrown on their own resources. Some
narforno these services openly with no
pretense at concealment of their necessi-
ties. Others manage to keep their occu-
ration secret between themselves and
those they serve, each patron thinking
that she is the only one so favored.
Washington is place for the cultiva-
ton of clever women, and they are found
living upon their sharp wits in all the
walks of society. Many do thriving
business in the ''lobby."