Tombstone epitaph., 1890-06-21
THE BOSTON WOMAN.
She Is Not Only Transccndentally De-
 iiChtful, But Sho Is Superb.


 civilization it is to be doubted if thoro is any thing more astonishing or moro incxplioablo than that thing which tho Boston woman calls her mind, writes Aolo Bates in the Chicago Tribune Bos- ton mon, as a rule, do not tako tho trouble to assert their possession of any thing of tho sort, and, if they have mind, simply use it and say nothing about it. But tho Buston woman has her mind on her conscience, 50 to speak, and while shc has left nonc of tho super sensitivcness toward conduct which plagued her ancestors, she docs agorice over tho proper cultivation of her mind, her ethical sense cxhausting itself in this direction.
 It would be interesting to know just where the Boston woman draws tho line between amusement and cultivation, if, indeed, she draws it anyN here. She mixes lectures and receptions, study classes and luncheon parties, so thor oughly and with such an air of looking atthem from the samo pointof view that one can not tell whether it is that she takes every thing so seriously, or looks ! upOu all SO 1E1NOlOuSlys 1uG LII pr6SSIOn which the looker-on inevitably gets is that whatever her attitude toward one is her attitude toward all but masculine perspicacity is seldom able to discover just what this is.
 At the present moment the Mind-it should always be spelled with large M, and my unftness to treat of the subject is, it is to be feared, shown by the low crease letters above!-is given in about equal proportions to the Greek play, to luncheons and afternoon teas, which are as thick as leaves in Vallombrosa, and to philosopny. The luncheons are dreadful festivities, chiefly confined to tho fair scX, which last for about three hours, have as many courses as dinner, and completely spoil not only the day but the evening. Of tho Greek play there is moro to be said when the time comes, and the philosophy is in the shape of lectures. In tho first place, Prof. Royce, of Ilarvard. has been lect- uring in drawing-rooms about Spinoza and other distinguished and distinctly incomprchcnsiblO philosophers. He has undoubtedly taught much, and ono of tho results has been the quicBening of an intense desire to master-or, as am speaking of women, should l say mis- tress?-all knowledge.
 q was so fired by the lecture one day." Boston woman said, 'that went straight to tho library for volume of Fichter. I was determined to know all there was in his philosophy to know, but thought would begin with small volume first. l asked tho librarian for tho smallest volume on Fichtcr she had, and she gave me httlo book that looked as though a baby might master it, it was so small and pretty. But the | viCiousnoss of that volume l can not be- gin to express to you. l sat down with it ono night, and 1 could not comprehend i tho first word. It was worse than Q non sense rhyme, and it wasn't half so anus ing. But I said to myself: I have ] taken it in tho evening when my brain isn't clear But tho next morning when 1 I tried it it was more incomprchensible than ever. said to myself that igno- ranco was on tho wholo preferable to idiocy, even in Boston; and 60 l mildly 1 but firmly carried tho small book back to tho library; and now 1 listen to tho lect- ures as if they wore not really meant to be understood, but only to be enjoyed as music. They arc charming on that basis"
 Prof. Louis Dyer is also giving lectures to the fashionable Boston women, and the conversation at tho lengthy lunch cons aforesaid turns upon lofty subjects at which tho masculine hcad reels mere ! ly to hear mentioned. Tho women do play thCir part most admirably. They arc as Gravo about it as children over tho r1al1c-bclicvcs of their childish sports They might really be in earn est for all ono could tell from their manner.
 q am afraid would nevcrdo for Bos- ton," a clever Western girl said the other day. ''l have frivolous moments even while the discussion of the uni verse and tho ultimate end of man is go- ing on. 1 even let my frivolous atten- tion become absorbed in the exquisite flavor of au entrce or salad while l am hearing the deepest truths of philosophy discussed at an intellectual luncheon"
 ''You forget" she was answered, "that philosophy has no truths; it has only theories. But, laying that ques- tion aside, it is to be inferred from what you say that you must really be a Bos- tonian changed in your cradle. Your attitude is precisely that of the Boston woman, except that she consciously and deliberately lets her mind wander. Once discussion is started in which she does not have to bear part, she de- liberately turns her mind out to grass and lets it run it's unregenerated course. Her only care is to preserve an outward semblance of attention; and for aSSum- ing comprehension and an enjoyment | in topics in which ono has not the slightest interest or understanding, the Boston woman is probably without rival in the world.'
 ''How perfectly nasty" the. Western girl protested. Now, I think the Bos- ton women, mind and all, are delight | ful''
 ''Delightful!' her interlocutOr echoed. | ''Thoy are without equal in the world. Thoy are enchanting. Most women can | humbug men, but the Boston woman can go to the length not only of hum- | bugging women, but of accomplishing that doubtful feat upon her own self. She is not only delightful, but she is superb"