The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-14
FLIRTATIoNs
Some Views Worthy Of the Attention
of Men snd Women

The verb fiirt, says the New York Jouraa
of Commerce, signifies to move backward
and forward with short, quick motions, OF
10 throw with sudden jerk. Asapplied &c
the conduct of women it horrows it signih-
canoe wholly from the use of the fan which
centuries ago was the instrument used for
the attraction of gentlemen. The fan wa:
flirted in recognized signals; hencs, one
who employed tie fan for this purpose wa:
filrt, and the intercourse thus established
was called a Irritation. The modern
desire to secure attention is not usually
EXPRESSED by the use of the fan,
but the word remains without any etymo
logical connection with the means employed
togain the end. Adebating society recently
spent whole evening discussing the ques
ton, us it ever proper for lady to flIr.f
and when at the close a vote was callei fol
the assembly was equally divided, so no de
cision was reached. We asked one WHO
voted in the affirmative whether he tool
that side merely TO express an opinion rs Il
which OF the cOate ding parties bad thC
pre-eminence in the debate, or because b.
approved Of the action Involved in the ques
ton. He answered, Both he though. Ill
vns = laiy's priviie-e To engage IL thi:
harmless amusement"
o4t - IL 4 harmless amusement In its
tween unmarried persons Of the same social
position, 1t seems 70 US 10 be evil IN Its
nature, dangerous in its tendency and
always liable to excess by indulgence. II Is
born of vanity, f0stered by a love of admira-
ton, and subyeTsIye, when practlced, OF all
the finer traits If womanly character. Its
perentage is sufficient to condemn 1t.
Nothing that comes from the love Of midi
crini nate admiration, leading the one
under the control of the passion
to court the applause of ali beholders,
can fail to be wholly evil IN It's
influence on both the mind and heart. Some
people are attractive by nature. They have
charms Of person, Of manner, or of speech,
AID there is a magic In their presence that
compels the homage of others. 1t Is a very
dangerous possession. If born meekly and
with due modesty it is enhanced by the
graceful and becoming setting But the
temptations to pride are manifold. The
Involuntary applause of an admiring world
IS a most intoxicating incense, and few
can live in such an atmosphere and escape
its noxiouS effects.
But the flirt may not be, and generally is
not one richly endowed with gifts to attract
the world She longs, however, for the
incense, and she puts forth her utmost
eA ortS to win attention. BY all the little
arts she has learned TO practice she besets
every one she meets to obtain, if possible,
the food for her vanity. She studies her
intended victims with the keenest
scrutiny, to see by what avenue
she can approach the tender side of their
nature aud turn their love to herself
1t is sometimes a serious effort put
forth with skill and energy to win hus-
band and secure a settlement in life. Then
it rises above the gIddy temper which plays
at cou tship for the amusement of the pass
ing hour, aud becomes a daring huut for
place and maintenance. But Irritation, as
a fine art, has no such grave designs. 1t
puts on an amorous garb in the mere desire
TO be admired aud petted, to win attention
and admiration, to be in a shrine and wor-
SHIPPED. if that is possible, and not to be
installed as a saint in the household.
When the fllt develops into the coquette
she is generally incurabie. She trIfles with
hearts rs the player with the pieces he
moves in a game. She becomes hardened
to the anguish of those whose admiration
she has excited and purposely famed into a
flame of love. She has no pity for their
disappointment when she throws off the
mask, and she adds scalp after scalp
TO her girdle with the keenest zsst
in the hunt and the sense of triumph
In the final success. But not always are
the victims on the other side. 1t is dan
gerous amusement. the triflng with hearts
under loves disguise. The bloom is brushed
from the modest cheek, the feelings too
ofte grow wanton and escape control and
the fiirt loses in this exciting pastime all
that woman should most truly prize. A
ruined life and a broken heart are the Sc
quel of too many histories that began in the
simple effort to gain circle of admirers, or
TO make some one at least bow down in
adoring homage.
When one of Il married pair makes this
rash experiment the home is too often
wrecked before the scene is over and the
curtain falls. The fiirts are not all of the
feminine gender, although we have treated
thus far only of that class. The single
man who assumes the role is one who lays
aside the serious business of life, and must
surrender his own self-respect at the outset
of such q career. But we regret to saw
that neither in his success as trifier
with womans love, nor in his failure
as the victim of his own falsehood.
does he receive from the world at large the
punishment or the contempt he deserves.
And the married man, whether he hides the
fact that in every advance he makes to
another he Is false 10 the one he has sworn
to love anc cherish, or goes boldly and def
antly in the face of such claims to win and
wear upon his sleeve the trophies that show
his faiSehood, IS not scourged from the
society of the true and virtuous as he ought
to be IN common justice for the punishment
Of his offense
For the wife who LOOKS out from her
home with longing eyes for the amorous
gaze Of lovers in the world beyond there is
generally brief and emphatic condemnation.
In many. perhaps most of these cases, she
deserves the scorn thai curls every lip. But
we have seen not few thus BETRAYED who
nave excited our pity far more than oul
bitter reproach. A Catholic priest during
an interval when he was not in communion
with that church Ito which he has now re
turned as peniuent) told us in describing
some of the scenes at the confessional
where he had served in Italy that married
woman who had to acknowledge her un-
faithfulness to her marriage vow, almost
always began her story with the words
Father, my husband is the worst man in
the worldw This was doubtless very otter
more than mere shield, or excuse, for he,
own wrong doing. 1t is too true that man,
husbands are crimiGally indifferent to The
hunger that Is IN every true womanI
heart.
A clergyman two or three SUNDAYS age
somewhat startled e congregation in Brook
fyn, to which he was preaching a temporary
supply, by repeating the story of a very
plons man who brought to his home a wife
much younger than himself, and when she
greeted HIM after his first days absenct
with her extended arms and the offer of n
kiss repulsed her with the remark he had
no thought was brutal, Come, come. VIC
are married now; it is time te
have done with this NONSENSE There
are thousands aud thousands of
&C ing hearts in this country starvino