Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30
THE ENGLISH WOMEN.
Some Of the Characteristics of John
Bulls Fair Daughters.
TOILET IN WHICH THEY EXCEL.
Features in Which They Differ From
Women of Other Nations.
A PASSION FOR GOING ON THE STAGE

rcoRREsPoNpENcE OF THE DrsPATcH.I
LON DON, June 15.-If ''manner maketh
man." dress is no Insignificant indication of
the inner core of woman, and an English
woman's toilet usually has stamp of its
own, distinct from the costume of most other
women. 1t shadows forth the peculisrities
of her race and her own nature. 1t would,
of course, be easy to pick outinstances where
national idiosyncracies are softened into alb
solute cosmopolitan fascination and perfectly
cultivated disposition, or hardened into
repulsive selfshness; but avoiding excep-
tional cases, we must consider the average
English woman as she is now; and "now"
means great deal-a wide difference be-
tween what she was even 20 years ago and
what she is at present.
"he mere fact of our having nearly 1,000,-
600 more women than men in these islands
is working wonders-not always pleasant
wonders; chief among them is the unavoId-
able necessity for large number of the
more helpless sex to be self-supporting.
This is the key to many radical changes
which often startle our mothers and grand
mothers. Apart from these, the ordinary
English woman is not easy to fathom, not
because she is profound, but because she is
shows less of those variations of mood which
give such interesting light and shade to
countenance and character among her Con-
tinental sisters-self-contained and self
reliant. Her ideal is duty, even when tenn
porally DETECTED from its pursuit; truth and
honor are inherent in her, and she demands
from others what she herself bestows.
GENEROUS BUT JUST.
Perhaps no other women are so pitiless
toward a peccant husband, or less sympa-
thetic to sinners of a certain order Yet the
English woman is not easily jealous; she is
by no means given to suspect evil; but when
the knowledge that evil exists is brought to
her, forgiveness is no easy effort. Her re-
ligion, though sincere, is touched with
something of the granite quality of her nature,
which makes her somewhat rigid about
mint and cummin," as well as the weight
ier matters of the law. Still it must be ad-
mitted that In large matters she can be
grandly just and generous, though certain
mental color blindness sometimes prevents
her seeing the value of little things; small
concessions, small indulgences, occasional
closing of eyes to what had better not be too
closely scanned-these relaxations act like
mortar to the big stones of the social edi6ce
binding together what might otherwise roll
apart.
Though most selfsacrifcing as mothers.
they do not, like French women, care to
have their children with them perpetually,
and show their love by the extraordinary
care bestowed on their bathing, dressing,
manners, eating, drinking, church going,
catechism learning and outdoor exercise
than by caresses; also in constant effort to
keep the girls from associating with other
girls, while the boys are unhesitatingly
plunged into the "olla podrida" Of public
school.
This, of course, is among the upper ten
thousand" as public schools are too costly
for ordinary pockets, and the more bourgeois
families generally send their daughters to
finishing establishments for young ladies'"
which are now being converted into more
sensible colleges for young women, where
really something may be learned"
SOME CHARACTERISTICS.
With the basis of such a moral nature, 1t
can be understood that manners and dress
are slightly solid, not to say stiff. There is,
however, one style of dress in which the
English woman excels, and has made pc
culiarly her own. 1t is the first morning |
toilet, when she comes down to breakfast. |
The fair skin and delicate color; the dress,
in summer and in the country, of some
washing material collar or lace cravat all |
so fresh and spotless; the soft golden brown |
hair so carefully yet simply arranged; the |
dainty refinement of all details makes her |
first appearance each morning on the do |
nestle stage thing of beauty and joyP'
In evening dress, zen grand tenu," she is +
also fair, but stately and more imposing,
perhaps than attractive.
1t is in the small coquetries Of adornment,
in that essentially foreign institution, "demi
that the English woman fails;
and grandeur alike suit her, but
a dressy compromise between the two does
not come so naturally. Coquettes are, we
know, naughty creatures, yet they contrive