New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-11
NETWORK LIFE.
OUR SUBURBAN NEIGl.BORs IN LENT.

Che most cntcli aiming, III pcIi"u VI
whole year The air then suStans and eXhilarates
and nfls,s new vitality into the most jaded world
ling There are amusemens for all tastes; charities
for the generous reading classes for the Intellectual
and for those who crave eXcitements and love the
big wars which make ambition virtue. there are big
ger wars than tLey ever imagined could exist, wars
indeed almost zig for the place, and much too big
for Of the captains OF the hosts, who would
Willingly resign their onerou' positions and retire to
the ranks.
With the approach of Lent the suburban maiden
harbors sweet. serious thoughts VIII she deny her
self candy, will she improve her mind. will shc be
charitable, will she not 60 TO the theatre! There
T. small choice between rotten apples, says the sage.
The least rotten OF these apples is the Improvement
of her mind That sho has mind 10 improve, She has,
In the moments of trcmulous uncertainty which visit
the mos confident, had reason to doubt. But no one
can tell what a wealth OF mind they may uncon-
sciOusly possess, only waiting TO be exploited. Her
mind may have been blushing unseen and wasting
its sweetness the desert air for years Why not
give II chance to blush at the praise OF its own love
lncss which would, at least, DO q NOVELTY 1t Is
TO DO to earth, captured tanned and domeSticatcd,
by of readings. The originator of the plan
collects an army Of other mind developing maidens,
al the hot scent of the reused and alarmed cee-
trum, and who heated by the chase, exhibit the fiery
ardor Of the neOphyte An advanre agent goes
ahead. and with clarion voice proclams the ad-
impossible member in whose sanctum they have
been discussing tho cut.
g But its going to be awfully interesting. Just
think what We get through meeting once week.
Tho he-itating apostle OF culture, doing UP her bach
hair the attitude described the most graceful
that woman assume, demUrs:
what 4, the idea-to mortfy tho feshi And then
what you going to read ~ studying her profile
with grave curiosity, though 1t presented and
iazzlng beauties.
ooh. los of thlngs All the works OF Carlyle,
md John stuart MIL and--er-Emcrson. and Macau-
lay and m-what's his name 7 You know this fellow
now ?"
"Thars rather Indefinite. Tolsto. Lccky. Buckle.
Marcus Aureliu- I'll suppose you could call them
fellows"
"NaIcus who9 No, that's not It, 1t sounded
little lie it at FIRST 1t besns with m.'
"NIhacl Daviit ~
"No-oo That's not It. Oh. I've got it--Nouey
That's it, Motley. Don't you think 1t Will be inter
estinr'"
"Immcnsciy. You might throw in Allison's
Europe ard Gibbons 'Ronc.' Just to FIJI up And
Clcc's Greece las something like eight volumes"
" bo you think they'd be good4 I'll suggest them
to The girls Now, do please say you'n join"
What arc you going TO begin onl'
"Ne hadn't quite decided. Bnt thought we'd
try all the essays history, and then compare the
different siylcs'
Gould Boston DO moro than thls'
shortly after the club Is I'm reading order, the ai-
vance agent meets that unpcrsuaded member who 10
fused TO ioD and is yet welterlng in her pristine L.
norauce.
g How IS The c'ub.' asks the sarcastic one. d" Have
You got through Carlyle yetl
Well no. says the advance agent scraplng with
her toe the pavement, we tried the essays
tory-Carlylcs and somebody ese's-Dut the girls
didIt I'm to like them7
" How funny They probably TOO exciting
didn't mOrtfy the Gcsh enOugho
Tho advance ason, .lu.a.. ."- i-
4" | can't imagine why they didn't like thcm.r she
says, musingly, But we've changed now, and
reading woocd, Not Welded It's awfuliy inter.
estins7
The same desire for improvement Is visible in sim
higher form among the maturer members Of the
nrnty. The fury for intellectual forms OF Lenten
I"narcc RACES apace There linguistic orgies,
revellines in an elyslum Of French general
Ing Of swords the proper pronunciation Of
"scecrate' select body being in favor Of "skclly
rat which the opposition finds suggestive OF
form Of The rodent family. OF course all ladies'
bicn elevec, speak French. So when Madame dc
BOnbOn gives French reading at Mrs Joncss al the
ladies' must 20 and hear dear Madame dc b. She has
S1ch an accent! such rich, pure roll Of the ~
that it IS pleasure to hear her. Indeed, 1t must
tainy be and radiant pleasure to hear tho rich.
pure roll Of the r." for It Is the only thing that many
o. the listeners do hear and hearing understand
When they meet together they regard each other with
apprehension. Every one suspects every Other
Of cithcr sumptuously rOtng In absolute know ledge
OF the language, of secretly wallowing In naked,
sbori cnai ignorance a few unucky are
tnOusy elected Me scapegoats OF The party, and with
their best French phrases s trembling their lips,
orcbly shorn Of their glory, and smngly patron
lied strangers to the pOltest Of tongues. Despite
their gentle remOnsraBces feeble efforts to assert their
claims all the Jokes carefully explained TO them by
vicinity In demand the generous desire to share
her crust OF learning being stuff o. the conscience to
the average woman SO the chosen wearer Of tho
Ounce cap, having had II firmly forced upon her
nothing for It but to submit and takes sanctuary In
silence, uncomplaning and patient Griseda
Another small contingent known to be Of
such strict veracty that sweetly inqulring
@Of course you speak French ," will elicit savage
q do not" furious with herself for the unbcnding
nature Of her principles, i wouldn't learn a Ian
guage that had such literature. And my daugh-
tiers shall never learn IT, If possibly help it,"
Or In another case:-
"No." with a soft, patient sigh, al have been
80 tied down with the children of late that ! have
had no time to read anything but Tho Wade Mecum
and the Ladys Manual and Of course, my French
mas gone"
This In plaintive tone, with pensve, wistful
smile Is quito trump card Tho lady is a brilliant
example of the force of the home pathetic in efficient
bands Her attractions greatly enhanced by her can
DOR It is the touch Of nature which makes her kin
with the world Some young girls, who once spent
two weeks In Paris and who have 4 French maid
TO whom they always speak English, cluster round
her, crying eagerly:
"Oh, never mind, We Will explain It to you. It's
very simple. 1t will all come back to you"
The majority arc In suspense. They are all ncr-
vous for fear the reader will suddenly address thom
In tho musical lingo Of the Gaul, and In tho fsoo
Of tho multitude they will be expected respond
In the manner of Lord Lyttons hero, with their
customary on-mots Horrible vision A silent semi
circle watching their agony while, like Mr.. Podsnaps
guest, they emit occasional, terrified Eskern-
md then pause, . prey to cold despair
With tho beginning Of tho reading all settle down