Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-04-24

lips OF the nappy pair Oub OOu udo VI
dained that even the most loving of hus-
bands and wives shall be parted in this
world by the hand of death The thought
of this separation should make them very
careful to treat each other as they would
wish they had treated each other when the
separation comes. Affections are never
deepened and refined until the possibility OF
loss ia felt. s'Whatsoever thou takest in
hand. remember the end, and thou shalt
never do amiss." Spare all hard words,
omit all Sights, for the end will come all
too soon. And then the bitterest drop in
the cup of sorrow which the survivor must
drink will be the remembrance of what he
or she might have been and was not to the
departed, who now, for the FIRST time, per-
haps, is properly valued.
SEVERAL DoN'Ts.
Women, says an exchange, stab each
other daily in conversation without intend.
ing to be malicious. Tact is, perhaps, the
rarest and most valuable CT gifts. There
are several don'ts which should be observed
whenever two or more women are gathered
| together, but which, alas! are frequently
disregarded. For instance, don't say to a
friend chow stout you are growing? nc
lady likes to be told that she is growing OIL
| doubtless quite we'll aware of it, and
anxious to keep others from discovering it.
| You would not think of saying to her,
| Chow ugly you are growing" yet what
you have said is of very much the same
nature, for most ladies consider any ap
proach to stoutness as SO many steps taken
| in the direction Of the loss of beauty.
If you are really polite you will do all il
your power to turn your friends thoughts
from any distressing or annoying channel
Don't say, "How thin you are" either
for both women and men loathe to be tolC
that they are either stout or thin. Unless
you can say, Glow well you ale iookingP
it is better 10 make no remark on the per
sonal appearance of your friend.
ssDon't tell a friend who has on particu
larry becoming gown or bonnet that she
looks ten years younger in that than in any
thing you have ever seen her wear. Tha
is at best but dubious compliment. Yor
mean it to be hattering, but it is equivalent
to saying, "All your other gowns are unbe
coming and make you look DID," No lady
wants one garment praised at the expense
of every other that she possesses.
Don't tell her, either, that it is the mes
becoming thing you have ever seen hel
wear. That is an impeachment of her tastt
heretofore, though you probably have nc
such thought.
If you should notice bit of black court
plaster on a friends cheek, don't try to be
witty by pointing to it, and asking her il
she has been fighting. Nothing could be
less delicate. Il forces her TO speak about
it, and that certainly cannot be agreeable
to her. She knows it is there, certainly, OIL
it would not be there, hence it is superdu-
oHs as well as offensive to speak Of it.
In these days, when hair changes its
color with much greater facility than the
leopard can charge his spots, don't ask a
friend if her hair was not lighter or darker
some years ago, when you first knew her
Such question may be embarrassing &c
her, and may force her to explain what is
entirely ber own affair Whatever pertains
to ones toilet 10 OF q strictly private nature,
and the well bred stranger or friend inter
meddleth not.
When elderly persons are present DOM
tell how you dread and hate the thought Of
old age.
Don't introduce subjects of conversation
which could prove offensive to any one
present. For Instance: Be very sure that
there is no one present who has been twice
married before you begin to talk about
whether woman can love more than once
or not. If some thoughtless person brings
up this or any other subject in the wrong
place, use whatever tact you are master Of
to give the conversation another trend.
Don't discuss the divorce question unless
you are entirely sure ne divorced person is
among the company.
The subject of ages has peculiar fasci.
nation for certain order of minds The
Glow old is she?" is forever on their lips.
Let it be noted right here that this curiosity
about the ages Of others is in itself sign
Of age as infaliible as wrinkles and tottering
steps. They who are sure of their own
youth arc not interested 10 the ages of their
friends. Whenever woman begins to show
curiosity about another woman's years. it
is safe to assume that she has entered the
era Of comparing herself with others, aud
wonders whether she looks as old as this
one or as young as that.
In the first place it is impolite to discuss
the ages Of your friends; in the second ii
gives rise to suspicious about your own
Many persons have not learned that years
are not what makes one old. There are
human beings who are old at twenty-five,
or were born old, and others who never
grow old, no matter how long they live.