The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-05-11

gredlent Is opium IN one OF It's varied FORMS
An investigation into the advertised cases
of persons who claimed to have been cured
of the habit showed that in some instances
these persons were prOprietors of the cures;
Others were believed to be clerks or persons
otherwise interested in the business Some
apparent testimonials were written only in
response to some simple inquiry which
might have the seeming of Endorsement
without being intended to be so or to be
published. Many of the signers to these
alleged testimonials utterly repudis.ted
them.
A person of church-going tendencies who
made recent religious convention in
Washington an excuse for visiting the
sprawling town by the Potomac returns
with one nugget of observation. He found
prevailing there the same absurd social
custom that has bothered or blessed thou
sands of Yankee youth; the habit of regard
ing young men and women who go to meet
ing Sunday morning together as zen
gagged" How many careless youths have
been drawn into the matrimonial net I'M
aware by that social device the cepsus
does not tell. The confusion expert.
enced by Mr. Pickwick when discovered
with Mrs. Bardell leaning up against him
furnishes a not inapt parallel for that of
the unwary lad who casually ventures
into the midst of lot of curious gossps in
church on Sunday morning, endures an at
tack of grins and meaning glances from all
sides during the sermon, and runs a gaunt-
let of mistit congratulations on retreating
after the service with his blushing fellow. vic
tim, or willy ensnarer as the case may be.
1t is allowable for girl to be accompanied
in her morning walk to church, but, in
many New England parts, to enter the
building with her escort would be consid-
cred as positive an announcement of their
betrothal as though the banns were pro-
claimed from the pulpit. Like Mary's lit
I iently about outside, and join his COM
p anton after service, and nothing will be
tho ught of it.
In one respect it is evident that Washing
ton is much faster than the Hub, for
whereas well bred men here do not call
later than 9p M, and ordinarily do not
stay later than 10 O'Clock, unless something
in the way of music or games is going on,
In Washington evening calls are rarely
made be fore 8 O'Clock, and 10:3O or II is
the dan ger limit.
80
'!What pity it is, said a sensible young
woman from the west, ''that European
rules are creeping into American society.
l find that your Boston young people can no
longer associate as they please and be
trusted to conduct themselves properly.
In my town chaperones are almost unheard
of, and, what is better, there is really no
need of them''
Perhaps the prevalence of the chaperone
evil here may have something to do with
the great surplus of bachelors. There are
countless lodging houses here filled with
young men who ought to marry, aud doubt
less would if they had fair chance. But
the chaperone system is great drawback
as regards both sentiment and cash A
young man may feel able to take a
damsel to the theater or a drive, but is likely
to count the cost If third person must he
included in the party. theoretically no
well-bre Boston young lady goes anywhere
for amusement, except shopping, without a
chaperone, but, as the riding schools have
few elderly pupils, l notice that in riding
at least young people are free, except In the
cases of those who have grooms OF course
a groom following at a respectful distance is
no impeachment to the course Of true love.
Matinees here are peculiarly women's en-
and a multitude of nice girls
go unescorted and unguarded. There is
also tendency to rebel against social rules
in the matter of dining at public restau-
rants with young men. That is the point
where freedom is dangerous. If some par
ents should take part in the Sunday prom
enade along Commonwealth avenue after
church hours they would learn something
"a fhntt L..
social rules. 1t is evident that handsome
gowns and high-bred air are not incon-
sistent with Irritation.
go
1t seems to be fact that college students
are more generally engaging in active
sports than they used to, and that they are
not exercising by deputy, as the general
public play ball. Dr. Sargent of the Har-
ward gymnasium says that there are 400
students actually in training, more or less,
Tor various athletic teams against few |
score who made use of the gymnasium in
winner ten or twenty years ago AS shown |
Dy tne tests last year, there were $50 Still |
aents stronger than the strongest one of |
1881. Th ere is not a great deal of rowing. |
but what ia cilities exist are due wholly to |
the interest in match and intercollegiate
races.
VI am more and more convinced every
year OF my life that all man needs IN the
way OF exercise to keep him in health is the
use of calisthenics, two pound dump-bells
and good stiff walk" The man who saws
that is trustworthy authority, for he is
H. Brown who has been engaged to in
Produce in the New York police department
the system OF physical examination in
use here Heavy gymnastic exercises, he
says, are hurtful and calculated to hasten
dissolution Premature age and death are
The penalty Of athletic training, such as
carry on. The man who
takes only moderate exercise, avoiding
trains of all kinds is the meet