St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-05
1.-THE DUCHESS" ON FLIRTS
A Popular Novelist Skillfully Handles
an Interesting Topic.
THE TWO CHIEF CLASSES.
A Defense of the Open, Ingenious Flirt
Her Qualifications Things
to All Men.
New York World.

have known considerable number of
the Warlike tribe known as fiirtS. 1t
seems to me that l have loved many and
hated some, so that it is difficult for me
to give my vote for or against them. On
the whole, however, l think have a
sneaking kindness for the flirt genuine.
There is generally such an air of bien
etre about her, such an open desire to
pleaSe-tO be agreeable because
of it one fOrgives her her besetting sin.
She beams on all around her, she pulls
her dainty skirts to one side with the
most delicate little air of obligingness
in the world when a man strolls in her
direction, and with her fan shows him
where seat may be found. Few and
far between are the men who refuse
that pretty invitation.
Of course, she is always very good to
look at, and her gowns fit her. She is
sparkling, bright, spirituelle. and, as
rule, her eyes are dark. We all know
her. Very few dinner parties and no
balls are of any account whatsoever I'M
less she is present. There is always a
little bevy of men around her, and quite
the third portion of it will be seen to
consist of men who have said goodbye
charming to them as she is to the
younger members of her court, and in
deed it. is to one of them-of these mid
dle-aged adorerS that she finally gives
the coveted bit of forget-me-not in her
bouquet before slipping into the garden
to ''see how the stars 1ook'' with the
very young man on her right.
This is the open, the ingenious f1irt.
Like st: Paul, she. is all things to all
men. And though she so plainly be-
trays her preference for the society of
the sex that is not her own, it must not
be, therefore, thought that women are
Few women have SO many friends as
she has, and all of the gentler order;
but then few women are so kindly, so
tender-hearted, so ready to help, SO glad
to hear of the success of others as she is.
They will tell you Out don't believe
them) that beauty and goodness of
heart lie In two separate states. l will
not dwell on this matter now, preferring
to enlarge on it in future article, for
it is one dear to me; but l would have
you remember what Bailey says, that
beauty is ''the fringe of the garment of
| the Lord" Need further word be said?
This is little plea for beauty en- pas
| SAINT, because to be successful fiirt one
| must have something to start with, and,
| says Aristotle, Beauty is better than
| all the letters of recommendation in the
| world" And l would have you think
| with me that the naughty, charming,
much-abused firt may at heart be bet
| ter than most But confess it is
my pet one have given you so far, and
| here stands another one waiting for adj
| mission, with silent lips and folded
hands and expression innocent as the
dove.
The quiet fiirt! Do you know her,
too? She is never so much en- evidence
| as the other, but her work! how much
| more effective, how far more deadly!
With scarcely a word, with barely a
| glance OF two, she accompliShes her
hearts desire.
See how calm she is. and how demurc;
| speechlesS almost, except for a gentle
Eyes" or mo" to her hostess, as that
| genial person moves from one guest to
the other through the long reception
looms, where tea holds sway and the
dying lights of the fast deepening twi-
flight make all things mellow. From
| the room to the left comes the tender
sound of music-a soft contralto. Some
/ times, when there isl little lull in the
conversation here, the liquid Italian
words of the song can be distinctly
| heard. Every one is trif1e subdued-
| in degree eXpectant. 1t is Hon. Mrs.
Rowton who is singing, one of the most
| distinguished amateurs of the day. Ssh!
| There is even some faint talk of her
| going on the Stage-Operatic stage of
! course: so much more respectable. But
really, nowadays, when half the English
aristocracy are displaying their charms
| ter to Shrug ones shoulders about. 1t
| goes without telling, as it were-a mere
| matter of course.
There is good deal of gossip talked
in the dimly lit, grand old room, but
| none of it disturbs our quiet flirt. She
| sits mOtiOnleSS, waiting for her prey:
still as a spider who sees the unwary
! fly and is content to bide her time. Dull
| she is, say some; inanimate, say others.
She hardly, indeed, deems it worth
| while to waste a word on her own set,
save to few-the right few. A little
| ctvility is needed to obtain the invita-
| good autumn campaign that shall show
a mighty number of Slain and wounded
at it's close. Apparently she is the most
| harmless, the most silent creature posi-
BILE. But her eyes! Have you ever
noticed them? What wondrous
tales they hold. conceal, give
forth when the right time arts
eth. All are there, ready to be
| called out at moments warning. She
seems to be the very quietest girl in the
world, sitting there in that charming
| toilet that suits her so wonderfully and
! with only delicate mOnOSyllable for
the women who go by her, and not one
| Of whom would dream of disarranging
those dainty skirts to sit beside the
wearer and chat pleasantly of all things
under the sun, as women will. In
stinctively they know that the half of
that low lounge is being held in reserve
| for member Of the stronger sex. Of
| all the women she knows, acquaintance
there are many, but friends there are
| none.
And now the lounge holds two! A
tall man, between thirty and forty
(your quiet f1irt never wastes her pow
der on boys, handsome. distinguished
looking and evidently at peace with the
enemy called poverty, has enScOnced
himself beside those pearl-gray dra-
| perieS and is apparently making himself
agreeable to the wearer of them. And
even yet the calm face is as calm as
ever; no sense of triumph marks it. She
is still, you will remember, before the
bar of public opinion. She is content to
be amused. She will not be amusing
/ until that bar is somewhere out of sight
There is this difference, too, between
her and the ingenious flirt l have al
ready lightly sketched. The latter is
1 full of a desire to please; the former
I kindly consents to sit still and let others
4 please her.
There is always good deal of curl
; osity about the quiet little tlirt. Won
I der is rife as to what she means, or will
1 mean. They are all anxious to know
how she will treat Capt. Melville, who
\ is now beside her, and are quite deter
mined to watch this interview at all
events to its close. And yet, even as
:. they SO determine somehow or other