St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-07-28


N les to some pe0-
pie, and sometimes to themselves; sur
priSeS, too. And as for their character
being formed at any age, as people will
tell you, it is ali a mistake. Character
is changing every day; forming, per-
naps, but certainly changing. as every
thinking woman will tell you. New
experiences develop hidden quail
ties that were hitherto unknown and
entirely unsupported. The quiet, seri-
Gus woman, when thoroughly aroused,
will astonish every one by her actions,
as much as the calmness of an irritable
person in time of great danger.
How can woman know how she will
feel. or what she will do, in certain cir
cumstances? They may say that they
would do this or that. but there are ten
chances to one that when the hour
comes they will do just the reverse.
There is not much that is new in the
way OF experiences, sensations, pas
sions, thoughts or feelings, except as
they are new to the individual.
-
The amiable, sweet little women pass
through life without being perceptibly
affected by any internal tempests, but
1t may be because they have great self
control. There are hidden possibilities
that may not always be read in the face
nor guessed at until the hour arrives
that brings them forth. The most
angelic face l ever saw belonged to a
girl of nineteen, and, to look at her
face, one would not believe that she
was mischieYOus rOmp. Sweetness of
disposition she had and just one month
after l saw her she met her tragic death
by fire with wonderful herOiSm.
The women who always say and do
just what you feel sure they are going
to say and do, are not brilliant com
paniOnS; novelties and surprises startle
and please. | know woman who said
of certain young girl that she enjoyed
her because she never knew what she
was going to say next. The girl was
neither coarse nor vicious in her con-
versatien; she was original. 1t is easy
enough to cultivate a certain kind
of tiippant repartee that passes for
wit, but originality must be born in
one; it cannot be cultivated. Women
who are not original know this, and
they freely steal the original ideas of
other women in dress and household
decoration, as well as those concerning
other matters, and pass them off as their
own.
This is so frequently done in society
that a woman often forgets and exhib
its to another woman as her own the
very idea that she has taken from this
same woman. Such an instance is
of common occurrence, as | can testify
from actual experience. However, in
social life such things are of small con-
sequence. 1t is only in the "everlast-
ing war for bread'' that the stealing of
ideas counts, and women who depend
upon their ideas for living are learn
ing not to give them away. 1t may seem
selfish to keep a money making idea all
to ones self when so many women need
money, but it is no more selfish than a
copyright. know several women who
make comfortable incomes by the manu-
facture of some speciality, some dainty
article of fancy work, or some dellcacy
for the table, but they tell no one what
1t is.
And speaking of originality, there is
10 be an attempt made to revive the art
of conversation, and the saying of orig
inal things. Some fashionable ladies'
probably those whose beauty is begin
ming to fade, and who realize that they
must bring the powers of their minds to
the rescue, or they will be left out in the
cOld-are to organize society among
themselves for the promotion of the
noble art of conversation. After years
of idle gossip | hope they do not expect
to acquire brilliancy and wit all at once;
but their attempt is laudable one
To start subject, touch upon it on all
sides, Skillfully drawing out the opin-
ions of the person to whom you are
talking. and then drop it at the proper
moment and take up another, is indeed
an art, and one we'll worth cultivating.
n iot in
a woman. especially at dinner party.
To go from one subject to another be-
fore either has been properly discussed,
shows an ill-regulated mind. and is not
conversation. But do not forget that
with the art of conversation
must also he cultivated the art of
listening, for the one cannot be carried
on without the other. The woman who
listens well is quite as much sought by
some as the woman who converseS well
is sought by others. To listen with alb
sOrbing interest is the most flattering
attention woman can pay man, and
a iudcious question or expression of
sympathy or interest, as the case may
require, adds an additional charm to
the listener i'll the eyes of the speaker.
4 =
In speaking of talents once to very
young man he told me that be did not
care for the small talents" such as a
talent for music OF for painting; he
cared only to possess the big talents,
among which he mentioned oratory. He
was a descendant of a distinguished
lawyer, and was studying law, but as
have never heard of him as public
speaker. and as he shortly after our
conversation married the daughter of a
wealthy man, | concluded that he had
become Indifferent to the big talents as
well as to the little ones. A genius can
afford to sheer at small things, but as
few of us have genius, we must cult
Vate the small talents and the small
arts.
49,
And one of the neglected small arts is
the art of being graceful. If you are
observing you will be able to count Oh
the fingers of one hand, and have a
finger or two left over, the really grace
full women whom you know. Girls are
taught to dance. to ride, to bowl, to play
tennis, and other active accomplish
ments; but how many of them can enter
or leave room gracefully? One would
suppose that so much exercise would
make girl graceful, but it does not
Tight lacing has something to do with
this lack OF grace, for woman cannot
move gracefully when tightly cased in
bone and steel. OF course, some girls
are naturally more graceful than others;
but the art can be cultivated Many
fashionable mother lamentS the aWk-
ward movements of her daughter, and
the ungraceful way in which she crosses
room, but they seem not yet to have
learned how to remedy the defect.
Why should not some gifted woman
undertake to instruct the coming de-
butantes in this important matter? A
pretty face is almost lost sight of if the
shoulders are round and the gait SLOW