Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30

to give good deal of life and pleasure to
the circles animated by their presence. for
the absence OF small airs and graces makes
life a trife too rigid.
The chief fault Of English women Is want
of sympathy. Though they possess more Of
this subtle gift than their countrymen,
this want makes them slow to perceive and
slow to reciprocate; this not so much from
lack OF heart as absence of quick fancy.
Ready instructive sympathy is akin to
genius, and by the magic OF fellow feeling
the hearts of others are revealed to her
whose nature vibrates in unison alike with
those who weep and those who laugh.
ONE OF THE FEATURES.
The sort of proud shyness which keeps
English women from speaking frankly Of
their likes and dislikes, their impressions
and convictions, is too apt to raise barrier
between them and any new acquaintance,
which lite is scarce long enongh to over
come; this, and certain reluctance to look
at life, dress, manners, habits through any
medium save her own special original spec.
tacles, are two of the faults most common
among the daughters of John Bull. Their
beauty, therefore, is more beautiful than
charming, and would they but let them
selves go" and trust to the safeguard Of
cir own rectitude, they would give more
pleasure and enjoy life more fully.
Travel and education are doing much
toward enabling English women to
"see themselves as others see them,"
and to deliver them from the
letters of self-consciousness, that
bane of English social intercourse. Another
baneful ingredient in the mental atmosphere
Of the ordinary English woman is the snob-
bish fear of associating with anyone who Ia
not accepted by the Mrs. Grundys of her
acquaintance, without ascertaining whether
their objections are well grounded or not;
also an over-eagerness to be received BY
anyone who by dint of audacity, luck, birth
or wealth has attained to what is termed "a
high position" These are weaknesses, how
ever, by no means peculiar to the British
fair, but may be observed in every civilized
society under the sun.
the occupations of English women are
many and various. Of late years there has
been perfect rage for work" even the
daughters Of men Of wealth and rank affect
ing tn take up art, needlework, music, etc.,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. too profession-
ally, as in their realism they trench on the
province of those who sorely need the re-
muneratlon for which they toll. The pas
sion for going on the stage lately displayed
by girls and women of good family and by
no means reduced fortunes is anything but
passing away, and young ladies are return
ing to their normal pursuits of art, needle
work, music, tennis, wood carving, church
decoration and district visiting among the
poor, whom they are ever ready to help
these last under the direction of the rector
and his staff of curates.
AN IMPORTANT FACTOR.
1.-THE clergyman" is an important factor
in English social life. He is adored BY the
women, and tolerably popular (if he has q
little common sense) with the men. That
the women make much of their spiritual
pastors and masters is not to be wondered
at. Perhaps the only class of men to whom
women are really important and valuable is
the priestly class. Among women they
have found their best helpers, their most
liberal supporters; their mental training fits
them to understand and appreciate the deli
cacy, the weakness, heroism, devotion and
cowardiee of the female heart. They, too,
as class, are the only men Tin England at
least), who really like female society, apart
altogether from the attraction women pre-
sent as objects of love.
Men in general have very little sympathy
with women, save for those for whom they
happen for the moment to be in love, or,
perhaps, for sister with whom they have
interests in common. At the present time
it seems to us that young men and women
are drifting more and more apart. 1t is rare
to find man who seeks the society of women
with the idea of companionship; for all in
terchange of thought, for all that "chum-
miness" which is so pleasant an ingredient
in everyday life, men turn to men.
1t is true that women are going through
an uncom sortable transition period; they
are ceasing to be pretty petted toys OF obedf-
ent servants, and are long way yet from
being trusted friends. But as nature is
stronger than any other force, and men and
women were made for each other, they will
find their relative places in ''the coming by
and by" Meanwhile, the parsons are their
true knights, and verify they have their
reward. Mrs. ALEXANDER.