Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-03-27

henslble system of street mashlng, but
certain it is that ladies while walking are
now exposed to more rudeness than ever
before. Several mashers have been com.
planned of to the police lately, and few
arrests have been made. 1t is fact that
those arrested have all been foreigners.
A very shrewd girl was disposed to rate
her own sex for the increase of the petty
depravity.
Il believe" said she, that this city has
its full share of good and dignified men
and women, but l also know that there
are thousands of women who influence
badly the habits of the street. AS our
careless men go out they find at every
turn some woman who encourages them
to be insulting. The light weights
among them gradually grow to consider
the entire female sex from one point of
view, and end by being impudent to any
woman that at all attracts their fancies.
And that is why you see men sidle up
alongside of pretty girl when she stops
to look in at a shop window, or crowd
unnecessarily close to her in q street car.
She may despise their advances, but she
is compelled to suffer an infiction reared
by her own sex. Those insulting men
have on more than one occasion beer
met with encouragement, and, not being
philosophers, have taken the contemplate
smiles Of unworthy women as signs oi
the best feminine preference. certainly
do blame my own sex for the increase o
masculine brutality. There will surely
be wholly admirable men in a city like
New York, but beastliness must have
something to feed upon, and can do ne
more than exist in passive state if il
finds no means of sustenance."
l found considerable truth in these
words when next day my attention was
attracted to truly royal example of the
female sex walking alone on Fifth ave-
nue.. She was young, tall, golden
haired girl, q perfect beauty, and hel
features were as delicate and high bred
as those of an ideal princess. AS she
moved grandly along, a man with black,
ugly eyes, short, pointed beard, and an
air of inexpressible conceit, came up
swiftly from behind and passed her AS
he did SO he deliberately turned and
stared at her face, for an instant merely,
but protractedly and insolently, in the
unmistakable manner of the professional
masher. The lovely girl was an honor TO
her sex at that moment. She held her
head at the same angle as before, gazed
proudly straight ahead, and never gave
the slightest sign that the staring brute
was in the world. Within half minute
the masher dropped behind and gave up
tne game. IL was easy to see then that If
all young women were as safe in their own
pride as that fair girl, street mashing
would be starvation employment in very
short order.
A beau took letter from his pocket
in order to read something from it to o
fair cousin who sat by his side.
"Ah! she mailed you kiss" the girl
remarked.
Not that know Of" was the fellows
reply.
Look there" and she ointed to q
crinkled place, down at the corner of the
sheet, such as damp spot might have
left. Haven't you learned the latest
sentimental thingP girl presses the
paper to her lips, leaving mark like
that, and SO incloses kiss without writ
ing word Of confession. That's whet
Jennie did. and you, goose that you are,
never noticed it."
The next thing the stationers turn out
may be ready kissed paper, with faint
tint of red lips and delicious scent of
fragrant breath pertaining thereto. Art
is ever quick to beat nature.
JENNIE DEAN.