The Washington critic. (Washington City, D.C.) 1890-1890, 1890-02-16

glad I let myself go. 1t was delight
full"
Among the products of modern so.
ciety there is none moro remarkable
than the juvenile attendant cavalier. A
dozen rich and highly-rcspcctcd New
ork matrons now provide themselves
each with what she Is pleased to call "a
useful boy, and to do her justice II must
lie acknowledged that she compels the
young man 10 earn his qualifications.
Mrs. Grundy herself has accepted him,
and the husband needs him not.
Indeed he is rather regarded by that
individual in the light of an under
study. as he relieves Monsieur of many
little social duties which would other
wise sadly interfere with his own en-
gagements, whether Of business or of
pleasure. There was time when
married lady of personal attractions
would scarcely have ventured to 30
about everywhere with a good.looking
young man who was not her husband
Nowadays We look for the harmless,
necessary tame cat" The fashionable
matron takes much pride in the appear
ancc Of her cavalier, and TO qualify for
the position he must in measure he
ornamental as well as useful Further
more he must in no wise be awkward
He must be able to put cloak round
Mndam's shoulders as carefully as her
maid, and TO adjust an opera. hood
without ruiliing the hair.
II being part of his duties, too, to at
tend TO fans. bouquets, opera.glasses,
programmes, dogs, and all such inn
pediments. il is necessary that he
should moi indulge In the old fashioned
occupation of wool gathering, while or
no account must he permit himself to
cherish the usual masculine aversion to
shopping for when he is not dis
patched alone to execute my lady's Or
ders, which may range from box at
the opera TO box of pearl powder, nc
is required TO be in attendance when
she makes the round Of dry goods EN-
poriums. To the on.looker the value
of his presence on these occasions ap-
pears limited, for it seems that he does
nothing but balance himself on tho
edge of chairs, adjust his tic in every
available mirror, and occasionally make
mildly facetious and more frequently
impertinent comments on the goods
AT the restaurants he secures lunch
con, and, being well drilled in madam
likes and dislikes, he thus saves her the
trouble of choosing her own fare and
the iniliction of getting what she de-
tests. He is useful. too, in finding the
carriage after the theatre or afternoon
party, and, added to all these service
able If not exactly intellectual qualities,
are the advantages that he can be
snubbed at will, that he never dare
grumble like husbands, and that he
never bores with the wearisome atten-
tions of older men.
To what end do these perfumed dan
dyettes run errands and act as footmen
TO other mems wives If not to play at
| being gay Lotharios? Their reward is
that they get taken everywhere and
everybody has to treat them with some
degree of civility. Then, they are in
the train of pretty, or at least of u
popular woman, distinction which all
youths envy. They live on the meta
| phorical milk and honey of the land;
they bask in luxury and revel in all the
best entertainments. pick up good
tips" and eventually, if they are smart,
secure a rich bride.
THAT is the most beautiful woman I
have ever looked upon
| Ii was at a theatre the other night that
! ] heard these words The actress who
had called out the remark from the
! young lady who sat near to me, was un-
doubleday q creature of marvellous
physical splendor, probably as we'll
modelled and tinted as any woman in
| New York. Between the acts the
young lady who had been dazzled by
the beauty rapturizcd about her to her
escort, and, among ether questions she
asked, was this: "How was she ever
made so thoroughly lovely?"
well. replied the gentleman at her
side, Il have no doubt that her parents
were tinelooking people"
was tempted to direct the attention
of this couple toward box filled with
people. They were the most ordinary
looking lot in the theatre. An old
man who could never have been
of prepossessing appearance in his
best days of youth. A raw boned.
! large.featured woman, with hard
mouth and ugly ringletted hair, and
two girls of twenty five or more, with
out a grain of beauty to serve for both
of them. This discouraging assort-
ment were obviously closely related to
one another, for general plan of ugli-
ness overspread them all
The old parties were parents of the
unlovely girls. 1t seemed unfortunate
that children should inherit total lack
of physical attraction, and the artist as
well as the Psychologist would have re-
| GREETED in looking at them that a mar.
rage which could perpetuate such a
painful profusion of homeliness should
have ever been Consummated.
But The interesting part of it all is
that that old couple are the parents OF
the magnificent actress as well as hel
excessively plain sisters.
How very little of true character
even the wisest of men can divine from
the outward appearance of feminine
beauty. The other day minister oil
the gospel, who is noted for his pro
found moral convictions, and also fol
his attractive physical appearance, wa
walking along the sunny side of Fiftl
avenue when his eye caught sight of I
charming young woman who trippeC
across the muddy pavement. She seemed
of most evident excellence of mind a
well ms body for one's attention was no
more pleased with the wholesome grace
of her handsome figure than with thu
! thoughtful and refined expression o
her pretty face.
"Now, there is a lovely child,' salt
The minister to his friend. "What i
there more encouraging and sweet t,
see than pure minded and noble ex
ample of Childhood. such as make n,
doubt that one Isl 1t is the fresh, younl
faces like hers that speak as plainly a
flowers or stars of the worth and mean
ing of total cleanness. There is moth
ing coquettish in her.
AS the minister was speaking, he
with his friend. drew nearer and neare