Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-23
IDEAS OF CULTURE.
Boston Women Are Introducing Their
Minds to Philosophy
AND HUMBUGGING THEMSELVES.
One Enthusiastic Lady's Hard Struggle
With Volume of FIGHTER.
MRS. ALEXANDER SULLIVAN's TALKS
rconRrspoNDrNcr OF THE D1srArcB. !

rcoRREsPoNDENcE OF THE D1sPATcB.1
BOSTON, February 21.-of all the COM
plex products of modern civilization, it is to
be doubted if there is anything more aston
ishing or more inexplicable than that thing
which the Boston woman calls her mind.
Boston men, as rule, do not take the
trouble to assert their possession Of anything
of the sort, and if they have mind simply
use it and say nothing about it; but the
Boston woman has her mind on her con-
science, so to speak,
1t would be interesting to know just where
the Boston woman draws the line between
amusement and cultivation, if indeed she
draws it anywhere. She mixes lectures and
receptions, study classes and luncheon par
ties so thoroughly and with such an air of
looking at them from the same point of view
that one cannot tell whether she takes every
thing SO seriously or looks upon all SO friv-
olously.
At the present moment the Mind-it
should always be spelled with large Ms
given in about equal proportions to the
Greek play, to luncheons and afternoon
teas, ana to philosophy. The luncheons are
dreadful festivities, chiefly confined to the
fair sex, which last for about three hours,
have as many courses as dinner and COM
pletely spoil not only the day but the even
ing; of the Greek play there is more to be
said when the time comes; and the philoso-
ply is in the shape of lectures. In the first
-, af
lecturing in drawing rooms about Spinoza
and other distinguished and distinctly in
comprehensive philosophers. He has un-
doubtedly taught much, and one of the re-
suits has been the quickening of an intense
desire to master-or, as I am speaking Of
women, should I say to mistress?-sll
knowledge.
STRUGGLE WITH FIGHTER.
1T was SO fred by the lecture one day" Z"
Boston woman said, "that went straight
to the library for a volume Of FIGHTER. I
was determined to know all there was in his
philosophy to know, but I thought I would
begin with a small volume first I asked
the librarian for the smallest volume on
FIGHTER she had, and she gave me little
book that looked as though a baby might
But the viciousness of that volume cannot
begin to express to you. sat down with it
one night, and could not comprehend the
first word. It was worse than nonsense
rhyme, and it wasn't half 30 amusing. But
1 said to myself: Il have taken it in the
evening when my brain isn't clear But
the next morning when I tried it, it was
more incomprehensible than ever. said to
myself that ignorance was on the whole
preferable to idiocy, even in Boston; and
mildly but firmly carried the small book
back to the library; and now I listen to the
lectures as if they were not really meant to
be understood but only to be enjoyed as
music. They are charming on that basis. I"
Prof. Louis Dyer is also giving lectures to
the fashionable Boston women, and the con-
versation at the lengthy luncheons aforesaid
turns upon lofty subjects which the mascu-
line head reels merely to hear mentioned.
The women are as grave about it as children
over the make-believes of their childish
sports. They might really be in earnest for
all one could tell from their manner.
A WESTERN GIRLS OPINION.
"I am afraid I should never do for Bos-
ton," clever Western girl said the other
day. 'I have frivolous moments even while
the discussion Of the universe and the ulti-
mate end of man was going on. l even let
nv frivolous attention become absorbed in
the exquisite favor of an entree or a salad
while 1 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 question aside, it
is to be inferred from what you say that you
must really be Bostonian changed in your
cradle. Your attitude is precisely that of
the Boston woman, except that she con-
sciously and deliberately lets her mind
wander. Once a discussion is started in
which she does not have to bear part, she
deliberately turns her mind out to grass and
lets it run its unregenerate course. Her
only care is TO preserve an outward SEM
blance of attention; and for assuming a
comprehension and an enjoyment in topics
in which one has not the slightest interest
or understanding, the Boston woman is prob
ably without rival in the world"
'fHow perfectly nasty" the Western girl
protested. "Now, I think the Boston women,
mind and all, are delightful"
EVEN HUMBUGS HERSELF.
"DelightfulP' her interlocutor echoed.
"They are without equal in the world.
They are enchanting. Most women can
humbug men, but the Boston woman can 90
to the length not only of humbugging
women, but of accomplishing the doubtful
feat upon her very own SELF She is not
only delightful, but she is superb
1t is not alone the mind that receives at
tention in Boston. The great handicap
meeting, under the auspices of the Boston
Athletic Association, which is the athletic
section OF the Athletic Club, showed that
the beginning had been made of the
progress of Boston toward annual games
which may in time become as famous and as
honorable as those of Greece.
On Monday afternoon of this week Mrs.
Margaret Sullivan, the wife Of Mr.. Alexan-
der Sullivan, OF Chicago. spoke in the par
lors of Mrs Clara Erskine Clement Waters,
SO widely known as a writer upon matters of
art. The subject was the Irish question,
and an invited company, including a num-
Der of people of note in life or ID literature,
came together to hear. Mrs. Sullivan spoke |
warmly and eloquently, and it was evident
that she won the hearty sympathy of her
audience. Mrs. Sullivan's familiarity with |
the subject, with her clearness OF statement,
could hardly have failed to produce a deep |
impression.
SHE DIDN'T INTEND IT so.
Astory which is apropos of nothing is told |
here at the expense Of the wife of the Presi- |
dent of a prominent Western railroad. 1t is |
to the effect that when Mr.. Charles Francis |
Adams was chosen President of the South |
srn Pacific road he chanced to call upon the
lady in question, who was at the time in
Boston.
81 do not know just what 1 am to do, Mrs.
P, he said, in reference to his new dignity.
Sometimes it seems to me that am only
sort of fgurehead, for ornament rather than