Frostburg mining journal., 1890-04-19

would be especially reasonable IN youl
charges" said the woman.
The costumer looked at her in aston
ishment. OF all women in New York he
considered that this one mi hit afford to
pay what she was asked for an article.
L don't think l quite understand you,
he responded to her remark. why
should mako cheap terms for you, my
dear madam"
Because, replied the lady, when it
becomes known that am having my cos.
tune made here many of my friends Will
come to YOU.
The costumer could not see the ques.
ton in this light, and the discussion
ended by the lady deciding to take her
work elsewhere. In the meantime heI
two children were having a little trouble
together in another part of the loom.
What's the matter, dear?" asked the
mother of one, who was crying bitterly.
She stole my five-cent piece" sobbed
the little girl, indicating her ster.
The mother secured peace by restoring
the money to its rightful owner, and
promising the other similar amount il
she would be very good until they got
home. AS the family went out to its
elegantly appointed carriage, the costumel
aid:
1
Now that | have struck into crltica!
vein, let me moralize briefly on the mel.
ancholy fact that mendacity is common
feminine failing. Men have a contempt
for small lies. They may perjure theil
souls to any extent for a suitably large
stake, but they would certainly feel
ashamed to make the untruthful asser-
tions that women will indulge in, not
only on the slightest provocation, but
oftcn without a sh9 dow of necessity.
Ii is but Just to the feminine Sex to say,
however, that gain is not always the cause
OF their lack of verarity. 1t seems rathel
that the habit of wandering away from
the truth is kind Of constitutional de-
fect-a flaw in woman's nature. She lies
not so much from malice aforcthou9ht
as because it becomes more natural to
her than to make q plain, unvarnishe !
statement. Moreover, she is compelled
by her own sex to do SO. Women resent
the attempts Of rcformers in this respect.
There are certain lies, they argue, that
society demands shall be told. They
are recognized formula, and to offer the
truth in their stead would not only be ex-
tremely unpalatable to the majority, but
would without question bring about a
state of affairs which must inevitably
wreck the whole social system. 1t is
often the anxiety to keep themselves up
to the standard HXed by the unwritten
laws of their "set" that further leads
women into the crooked paths of men.
dacity. But all the same, the knack
comes readily enough to them. Thel
tongues utter "taradiGdles" glibly enough,
whatever be their cause; and then there
are, besides, so many of these sugar co IT.
ed falsehoods told daily that need never
be uttered at all, and which may be said
to come under the head of feminine petty
immoralities.
There are no subterfuges that the gentler
sex will not practice by means Of the faclG
falschood to secure ''somcth ng for moth
in :" such as theltor tickets, cntran, % to
exclusive entertainments or similar shows.
They will, for such coveted prizes, men,
daciou-ly commit themselves 10 almost
any extent, and with n wholesome disre.
tho male friend whose aid is sought at
these times. remember on the occasion
famous ball it was stated that society
malrons had absolutely stepped them
selves III untruthR in order to get invita-
t ons, and can believe it. Wien such
matte,s are at stake, truth stands but q
poor chance, and having been once slcri-
feed, moreover, is not easily reinstated,
for he who tells a lie will inevitably be
forced to invent twenty mo to maintain
it," and thus it comes about that veracity,
which at best is but lightly esteemed IN
feminine circles, gradually ceases 10 hold
any important place in the female code OF
morality Jennie Dean IN Chicago
Ledger.