The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-02-12

FEBRUARY IL. 1856
heiress-at q dancing party given for
her at the house of a Telative-her
! home for the time. English and French
! young ladies present were indignant
and astonished at her not onlr falling
t. present partners to them, but being
always on the floor herself. American
girls were indignant, but not aston
isbed. Space was lin ted, and the
number of dancing young men also, so
| more than one young ladv's turn new r
came. The qaeen of the fete was served
first and last and most bOuntenusly,
FIR much exercise had given her an
appetite. Yet she WAS capricious, and
kept helf a doz9n rival admirers
"pleasuring her dainty whim." 1t was
a pretty sight. Said this artless little
egotist, to one OF her departing guests
- dance-loving English girl, whe had
| not danced-''I hope you have had a
real elegant time, have"
When the English mother gives the
signal for home-going from the ba or
garden party, the daughters depart
cheerfuny. as do the young sons from
the race or cricket ground at the wUro
of 1.-The governor for in most English
| households. as in nearly ali French ann
Italian, parental supremacy is still pre-
| served intact, and that solidarity of the
family which we seem to be giving the
go by to with other old fogy Ideas.
After some recent observations. | am
really inclined 10 fear that there is
taking place in many American homes
not only define in s0ld-fisl io /
domesticity. bn certain dislAtFgrutlon
OF the family as . ,deratt d body. In
many houses as soon as the children
escape from the nursery-and they
break jail very early-they scatter IL
all dire ctions mora.ly-start each on an
independent way of thinking and
living; go fast and far. as though IN
fear OF being captured and renamed to
the third story back rooms and the
custody of tn. gOvernes,. Hotel and
boar ding-house life, with its excitement
and pregarousness. must BE- fatal to
the true domestic dulce domain senti-
ment. Modern children thus real. d
can care little more for their home than
modern chickens for their incubator.
have described the ways OF English
girls toward their guests, and the nd
and comfort they are 10 their mothers
ION hospitabl cares intent" AS II is,
English you know, | WONDER our
girls do not initiate this virtue and this
grace. At the receptions of a certain
brilliant and amiable lady of society
the pretty and accomplished daughters
of the house seldom appear. or, if they
do so honor mamma and her friends
they are likely to disappear suddenly
and unceremoniously; going out to
ONE other entertainment, or calmly
gong to bed, to secure for The sake of
tteir delicate complexions a good
beauty Sleep" leaving a crowd of
people on mammals hands. Happily
that clever lady is equal to them.
l remember the leceptions of another
brilliant American lady at which a gay
and attractive young daughter ALWAYS
appeared in dazzling toilets. but chosr
only OF" class of guests-yOung gentle
men. These she soon gathered apUut
her, and held little s.de-court in
boudolr-like parlor, court at which il
need apply Tor none, however young
or fair, freruented it. yet from which
continuou~ y rang laughter, not always
light or musical. When The time for
breaking up arrived the young LADY
smiiingly came forth, saying adj u t.
her friends. blissfully unconscious VI
having in her eagerness to secure
good time" for herself besn guilty OF
d scourtesy-laid herself open to the
vague but awful imputation of bad
form"
such 'tricks of manners" would seem
to indicate both a want of good br' ed
ing and a want of good feeling, but in
the instance | have given. occurring III
households of refinement and culture,
| would hardly characterize them so
harshly. They come. however, from
a lack of strict, conscientious domestic
training, and from au exaggeration OF
the American principle of personal in
depeudence-the right to indulge in in
div dual tastes, prOclivities, and ca
prices at whatever cost +, the feelings
of others. This sort of moral self
indulgence soon becomes habit in the
young uuconsciously overriding social
amenities. aud even ones own duties
ana responsibility es, Tor
evil is wrought by want of thought,
AS Well as want of heart"
To sum up: If the American could
get from the English girl little mOrrs
OF the old fashioned home sentiment, a
little quickening of the sense of duties
-illal and socisl-something of her
reserve, of her conservative. considerate
way OF thinking, and great deal OF
accurate, soft-voiced way of speaking,
her enjoyment of simple pleasures. her
love of outdoor sports and exercise,
and if the English could obtain from
the American girl a'little more vivacitv
and style, independence and self
dependence, greater power of adapta-
ton. broader, less insular ideas. better
knowledge of tbs geography of the
Western Hemispbere and of the
whole sphere of woman, why, there
would be gain all around an inter
national benefit.
GRACE GREENWOOD.