The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-06
4 FORTUNATE ENVIRONMENT.
Why the American Woman lnherits her
Peculiar characteristics.
New York Herald. J

Peculiar characteristics.
New York Herald.
On a certain occasion some years
since half dozen tilted ladies were III
the aute-room of the German Empress
by appointment. Her Majesty was
engaged for a time, and the audience
was delayed beyond the limits OF ordl-
nary patience.
At last one of the restless group re-
marked in French to her neighbor that
the prolonged wait was growing irk-
some, all the more so to her personally
because it had been her good fortune
to be born in America, where the
routine of court etiquette is unknown.
TO her surprise the lady addressed
rep!ied that she also had been born in
this country. In few minutes others
ioined in the conversation, and 1T was
discovered that the whole company
without exception, though members OF
that privileged class known iii Europe
as the nobility, were native Americans.
1t is unique incident.
When the Grand Duke Alexis of
Russia was in this country, where he
received the warm welcome which we
always extend to distinguished stran-
gers, he expressed himself in terms OF
highest praise for the American wo-
man. She was a revelation to him,
quite different from the type found
elsewhere. Her grace, her indepen-
dence, her physical beauty and mental
acumen, her dash and daring, restrained
only by the natural modesty which is
everywhere her safeguard, her aggres-
sire demand for the respect of the ster-
ner sex seemed to him especially i'm
pressive.
The criticism of the Grand Duke has
been echoed by every careful observer
from abroad.
The women Of America are the result
of fortunate environment. They In
herit certain qualities of character
which are discouraged by the institu-
tions of other countries. They are, so
to speak, a new social product, impossi-
ble under a monarchy. The enjoy a
wide freedom of action here-too wide
some pessimistic fossils audaciously de-
clare. The air they breathe, the un-
hampered spirit of the time and cline,
the moulding influences of a republic
almost force them to become self
centred and selfdependent. Their
sphere of action and thought is indefi-
nitely enlarged and they therefore ac-
quire breadth, a candor, an honesty
of utterance, a poise, which are not
more startling than admirable.
And, again, it is the habit of Ameri-
can mothers and fathers to place a
we'll nigh unlimited confidence in their
children. In most other lands a young
woman in her teens, or until the re-
sponsibilities of the parents are trans
ferred to Il husband, is looked upon as a
creature to be jealously guarded from
the temptations Of life. The theory Of
education seems to be to keep her in
ignorance of all preying evils, to treat
her as an orchid which will wither at
the first cold blast. No reliance is placed
on her ability to protect herself, but
prevailing fear exists that she will
helplessly fall into embarrassment if
the opportunity presents.
This theory may have its advantages;
it has also its serious disadvantages. 1t
is artificial, obstructive to personal
independence and frequently results in
au unpreparedness for stern realities,
which makes the last act of domestic
life tragedy.
The American woman is the outcome
of wholly different educational prln-
ciples. She is taught at great pains to
rely on herself, and her judgment in all
matters which personally concern her
is carefully fostered. She is accorded an
astonishing degree Of liberty in her
relations with gentlemen, but it is sell
dom mlsused, because she is the Gus
todian of her own future. Not books
alone, but all phases of life, are her
constant study. She is permitted to
observe the various factors Of the social
circle in which she moves, to see for
| herself its beauties and its evils, its
ideals and its horrors. Her marriage
is rot planned for her, but is sacred
and solemn responsibility which she
must assume, and the consequences of
which she must bear.
If the tendency ofall this is to make
her coldly calculating, cautious, lest
she may be entrapped by some honey
suckle villain,n and ambitious to oc-
cupy an enviable position, why, the
reply is at hand that it is no worse for
| her to arrive at her own conclusions in
these matters than tor her parents to
decide them for her. The danger of
unhappy domestic relationsis no greater
in the one case than in the other. On
the contrary, it is Infinitely better that
she should be taught to be careful about
such a step than that her parents
should send her to the background as q
nonentity, make arrangements which
involve the happiness or misery Of a
lifetime and then demand that she shall
accept the contract.
Whether amid the ''polished pertur-
bat;ons and golden cares of a foreign
| court ,,r tho narrower and in many re-