Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-06
A WOMAN'S CONFESSION.
Shirley Dare Transcribes a Strange
Letter She Has Received.
1t is From a Discontinued Woman Who EnVies
the Lot of Men-Search for Love Out
side of MatrImOny.
To Shirley Dare:

To Shirley Dare:
Since you wrote that article months
since on the Apotheosis of Friendship,
have wished often to write you with q
freedom which might be Gispleasing. Six
months have carried that article, read
and re-read it, and composed hundred
letters to you, never written. To-nigh
a freedom comes over me, and I write
az feel for once in my life. Why not?
You are an utter stranger TO me; I shall
never see you, especially if l send this
letter. Who has not sometimes felt it
would be the utmost luxury to lay bare
ones thoughts, to make confession to
ones Maker, and for one hour to stand
free, unconcerned of self. and absolute
" true to nature. That hour mean to
have.
l write in pretty room, picturesquely
but simply furnished, as the rooms which
are at once studio and dwelling for wo-
men are apt to be. You can see the deep
sea- blue Venetian carpet, with oriental
border and polished floor beyond its
edge, the eases, the plush covered man
lection of fine wares, lockwood pottery
IN nasturtium red, brown and orange,
with pierced and gilt porceiains or blood
red faience. filed with white carna-
tions. A writing table IN one corner by
Il window has 81 store of books over 1t &,
and plenty of the best magazines, not
soied and dog-eared from a library, but
our own; for neither my friend nor care
TO handle books after other people any
more than we like TO use their nap
kinS The round table with its deep
blue cloth has bowl OF Cherokee roses
and dainty work-basket, a photograph
stand or two, with fine faces in them
You would, 1 think, like our chairs,
which are of the basket variety, easy, ,
light, cushioned in plush and drapcd
with lace and ribbon in approved taste
a tripod table with silver tea-Servioe,
a silver lamp, some fine pictures would
assure you that we were not in want OF
assistance, at least Immediately, for
though plainly reared, my friend and /
have made money enough TO crafty our
tastes and not dread rainy day. l am
particular about these touches, for a
woman is best known by her surround
ings.
Having read Prosper Merimee's Let
tiers 10 an IncOgnita, you would observe
two or three things and deduce from
them accordingly. That l wear q goblin
blue gown, would recall TO you Meri-
mee's opinion that a woman who wears
blue dress is always something OF q
coquette, which, / take, does not mean
tina: she triiies with admiration, but in
the true sense of the word that she is not
indifferent to men. Then the carnations
would tell you that here were women of
keen sensibilities and warm feelings, but
cool ideas, not uumindful or the Puritan
training. Neither agnostics nor formal
lSts, you may be as puzzled as some of
our strIcter neIghboFs here TO place US i.
No matter. At least you never knew a
woman Of bad nature TO love carnations.
Lastly, in the work basket lies man s
glove. in which the needle has been tax
ing some needed stitches.
In all your counsel and exhortations on
beauty, why do yon ignore the great
agent for making women attractive?
Why have you not laid open the secrets
of the lonely lives women are compelled
fo lead for want Of q little afeotion2 I