The Dickinson press., 1889-06-22
MODEST CRAVINGS.
SMALL LuxuRlEs WISHED FoR BY
SOME REFINED WOMEN.

SOME REFINED WOMEN.
Why Diamonds Are Worn-They Excite
the Envy of Other Womcn-Some Curl
GUS Opinions of What True Feminine
Luxury Mcans-Turkish Baths and Maids.
Curious. isn't it, what queer ideas some
women have of luxuryt Probably most men
suppose that nil women think alike ON the
luxury question. If asked, they would very
likely say that to women luxury with u big |.
means horses, laces, diamonds md nothing
to do. This is looking ut it entirely from the
outside. and taking Il general view of it. II
wrong way to judge. for there ale many de.
tails to be considered. Doubtless to many
women horses, laces, diamonds and nothing
to do does mean luxury, but not to all. for
all womc do not think alike on this question
A group of women were talking together
the other day, when one of them started the
question, What is your idea of luxuryf With
out n moments hesitation n very bright wo
man answered: The possession Of something
| don't own" A silence had fallen ON the
group when the question was asked. but this
answer was received with applause. And
then they entered into detail. They were all
clever, refined women. but none of them
owned distended purses. They generally wore
pretty gowns, stylish hats and neat gloves
and boots, but as Il whole they did not swathe
themselves in lace, nor did any of them own
horses. there were not more thar a dozen
diamonds among them all, and they were
none of them oilers. nor did they wish to he
One Of them. noted for her extreme neat
,,,-r sc t-n-~ - AHA t- ~
meant clean linen twice a day and a Russian
bath once n week. She declined to say how
often she INDUCED in clean linen, but no
member of the group had ever seen her when
her ruches at neck and wrists were not i'm
maculate, nor when there was the tiniest
speck on her snowy petticoat. As to the
Russian baths, she said that she managed to
take two q year, instead of ffty-two. They
are expensive luAuries to woman of small
means who has her own bathtnb wherein
she may splash by the hour without extra
charge.
The next woman, who was the cnvied pos.
SCISSOR of a magnificent quantity of hair. said
that she wanted a maid to take caro of it.
that would he luxury to her. The care of
her hair required time and strength, and
quite exhausted her. But she met with no
sympathy She was promptly told by all
the women present that if she could acquire
so much hair without a maid she did not need
one, and should be willing to undergo any
amount of fatigue to be able to possess her
''crown of glory" The unlimited supply of
clean linen and the baths appealed to every
woman present, but they seemed to think
that women with hair did not need a maid to
take care of it, only women with scant hair
needed one to brush and shampoo. and so i'm,
prove what little they had
Woman number three said that her idea of
luxury was having plenty Of pocket money.
not money for household expenses, nor for
gowns, boots and bonnets, but money to
spend on little things. For instance, if she
went into a shop and saw anything prctty-a
picture, vase, scarf or glove box-she would
like to he able to buy it without stopping to
ask, Can | afford it. And without stopping
to say. ! will give up such n thing that [ need
for this that is so beautiful. | must havo it.
She cared neither for diamonds nor horses,
but she did enjoy spending money, and spend.
ing it OH pretty things. 1t was hard for her
to pass by al the beautiful things in the shop
windows, but her limited purse compelled her
to do SO more than half the time.
SHE MET WITH SYMPATHY.
The next woman said that she wanted a
maid all the time. Shoe buttons were trou-
blesome. dusty dresses played havoc with her
temper. neck ruches were refractory, and
mendinS kept her nerves in n constant state
of irritation. She said that she could face
a great and terrible trial with calmness and
courage, but that these little things made her
quail, She openly confessed her c~owardice
in these matters, and said that she wore q
pair of shoes until all the buttons were off
and then put on another pair, md so on until
all of her shoes were buttonless, and so on
with mcnding and brushing. She did not
care anything about that stitch in time that
saved nine; she never had the timo until she
was reduced to a state of almost nudity, and
then she devoted a day to putting things to
rights. and it was equal to IL surgical opera.
ton.
This woman met with q great deal of sympa-
thy. there are very few women who enjoy
these small details of the toilet. they put up
with them because they must, but there is
hardly woman who would not lave a maid if
she could. There are. of course, q few examples
of total feminine depravity who lave dc.
clared against maids, but such cases are rare,
IL they are generally women who are rich,
but too stingy to part with sufficient money
to pay a maid. Often. too, the strong
minded declare themselves quite independent
of any such help, they would scorn to have
done for them what they cannot do them.
selves. But the average woman dearly loves
to have a maid, it is such II relief to get rid
of ones back hair.
There was another woman who said that
her luxurious soul would only be satisfied
with an opera box; she was p~assionately fond
of music. and she desired an opera box fol
every operate performance during tho sea.
son. And yet another woman wanted a sad.
die horse. She did not care for driving, il
was tame work. but she liked the excitement
of a swift canter three or four times a week.
These are modest luxuries enough, but they
represent the ideas of the average woman of
refinement. All women do not crave dia.
monds, they are baubles, and do not add
materially to ones comfort. they excite the
envy of other women, however, and that is
why they are sometimes worn.-New York
Star.
America In Asia,