The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-24
The Smart Woman.

decided opinion: but the question deserve
some consideration."-Ne York Times.
The Smart Woman.
4 great deal Sheen written lately abou
woman. her position In the world, and IN
difference between that which she nov
holds and that which she held centur
ago. vet little has been said As To the mes
| feminine type which has been developed b.
contemporary society. The smart woman
! is. however, one Of the most important fac
tors which sway the social sphere; and a
amazOns in times past claimed their plac
and kent their names in history. so shoul
the smart woman of to-day have her dis
! tinctiye features noted. that some Sigh
portrait Of herself, and OF the powers am
prerOgatiyes she yields, may be hande
down to future generations, enabling then
| 10 understand in what measure and by VIVA
right she reigned.
The quality of smartness Is dlilcuIt Z
define, for its essence il very yariously dis
| titled. Some smart women are OF high RAM
and great wealth: others are rich. but b,
no means well born: others are well born
but by no means rich; while some who caI
claim neither birth nor riches are yet un
deniably, even supremacy, smart. tn
women who belong 10 this treemasonry ar
easily recognized the moment they enter
room. Their clothes are perfectly put on
and look as if their wearers had beer
poured into them; while their hats and bon
nets. instead of looking like the models O
mere milliners. appear the creations OF ;
genius who has known exactly what flow
ers or feathers are fitted 10 the face they
frame.
The smart woman is always tidy. auC
her hair. whatever the fashion OF the houl
may be, is in il, yet not Of 1T. for there l.
always a certain cachet about the smar
woman's couture which is never produced
by court couture. The truth is that the
smart woman has an individuality Of he
own. and it is this which gives her socia
sway TO which, on other grounds, her pre-
tensions are often somewhat scanty; gen
orally. too, she is superbly sell
confident She is almost alway'
good-ooking. and thoroughly aware
Of that fact, ana also of such further de
tails as the perfection Of her dress, both il
iit and fashion, and the fascination Of hel
conversation. As she enters a room, dis
pensing greetings, ranging from bows ano
smiling glances 10 the regulation hand
shake. the smart woman feels that she Il
one Of the most important people there, be
the rest who they may; and whether sht
stands in crowd chatting 10 selec
coterie, or sits on petit cOmite, discoursins
to her ntimates, her talk Is rlNened by th'
knowledge that il will be listened To, ano
that fragments of it will doubtless be re-
membered and quoted.
When yegetatng in the country the pet
tv patronage with which some smart wo
man makes her entree is both lnterestlht
and amusing. The air Of amability whicl
1. ia
dear folk, Cheer up: have come 10 amus'
Won for a bit" is very nice; and the way il
which she establishes herself in some com
Portable chair, with her feet well out II
front Of her. and Of course crossed. Is de.
cidedly distinctive. II is obvious that un
like the unfortunate freshman who
had 10 play cricket in irock-cOal
because he had mo confidence II
his shirt" the smart woman is very sure Of
her shoes. Undoubtedly. TO be bien chaus-
see. bien gantee is a great matter, but e
know il is greater, as those dOuDtihs
damsels can bear witness who enter ball
room filled with trepidation concerning the
ft of their gloves, and the possibilities o.
some sudden split, or who climb 10 the ROOF
Of a coach enduring agOnies Of mind rs 4
the effect produced by their boots, etc. ~
the eyes and minds of those below. To the
smart woman such pangs are all unknown
she is. indeed, "serene in beauty. for every
detail Of her dress is always what II ought
to be. And not in dress only does her dis
erection show itself.
The smart woman never goes Ito tn
wrong. e., the unsmart-places; ana II
she cannot ALWAYS 20 10 the right ones, sh,
STAYS at home. No woman who cannot eN-
ercise this self-denial can claim the cache!
Of smartness: for TO be seen at the wrone
places, or to 90 to the right ones, such a
Ascot, in the wrong way, sets that fatal
stamp. "middle class upon her career.
and brushes It, however promising. 10 bt
in the fashion is nothing. To be in the
fashion is the thing: and the woman who
cOntriVcs 10 20 10 the right houses, 10 accen.
tuate her presence there sufficiently for u
to act as passport 10 fresh woods and
pastures new" and who. by judiciOus Sc
lection of her cavaliers. has made 1t the
fashion 10 be seen walking with her in the
park. 10 take her 10 operas, theatres, etc
has constituted herself "a smart woman sans
redire.
The type Is one which finds no parallel
among the great ladies and the reignln.
beauties of a former age, and now there are
so few great ladies. while beauties come
and beauties 20, but the smart woman now
ON forever. often she has taste for cleYei
and Out-Of-the-way people. and when sh'
mas means 10 entertain her friends, shows
some skill i'm the mingling of wit and world
illness art to which the ordinary hostess
is wholly stranger. The smart woman
often reads Il good deal and rather widely
a fact for which only those who know he
intimately give her credit; and she is more
often a pleasant person, ready to do he
friends good turn whenever she can. thar
the world is at all ready 10 believe. o
course there are many rude smart women
who affect to forget peoples names AM
Identities. only recognizing those whom
they deem sufficiently smart 10 add to theI
own glory.
Occasionally, through not catching
name when an Introduction is murmured
or some such accident, they drop AN &c
quaintance which they are not afterwards
when its value is discovered, allowed 10 PIC
ND again. But this is a judgment whlc
overtakes them too rarely, for this type
woman il an abOminatiOn and wholly us'
less in society, where discrimination an
tact are so much needed qualities whlc
will win the day in the end; for only sh
who possesses them Will ever be 'owne
queen Of 1.-THE day Of smart women. '-LoI
don World.