Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-16
THE ENGLISH s'sMART', WOMAN.
Characteristics of an Able aud shining
Personality.


"a great deal has been written lately about
woman, her position in the world and the diff
ference between that which she now holds and
that which she held century ago." remarks a
writer In the London Horld, yet little has
been said as 20 the new feminine type which
has been developed by contemporary society.
The smart woman is, however. one of the most
important factors which sway the social sphere.
and as amazons in times past claimed their
place and kept their names in history. so should
the smart woman Of today have her distinctive
features noted. that some slight portrait Of
herself and of the powers and prerogatiyes she
wields may be handed down 20 future genera
uons, enabling them TO understand in what
measure and by what right she reigned
The quality OF smartness is difficult TO de-
tine, for Its essence is very variously distilled
Some smart women are of high rank and
great wealth; others are rich, but by no means
well born; others well born, but by no
means rich, while some who can claim neither
birth nor riches are yet undeniably. even SUI
premely, smart. The women who belong TO
tins freemasonry are easily recognized the mo-
ment they enter a room. Their clothes are
perfectly put on and look as If their wearers
had been poured INTO them. while their hats
and bonnets. instead Of looking like the mod
genius who has known exactly what flowers or
feathers are fitted to the face they frame
Tho smart woman is always tidy, and her
hair, whatever the fashion of the hour may be-
Is IN II, yet not OF II. tor there is always a
tain cachet about the smart woman's couture
which Is never produced by court coiffurr.
The truth is that the smart woman has an in
diyiduality OF her own, and il Is this which
gives her social sway 10 which, on other
grounds, her pretenslOns are often somewhat
scan;y; generally, too she is superbly self
confident. She is almost always good looking
and thoroughly aware OF that fact and also of
such further details the perfection Of her
dress, both IN fit and fashion, and the fascinA-
ton OF her conversation.
AS she enters room dispensing greetings
ranging from bows and smiling glances 20 the
regulation handshake the smart woman feels
that she is one Of the most important people
there, be the rest who they may; and whether
she stands IN a crowd chatting 90 n select
coterie, or sits petit comite discoursing to
her intimates, her talk Is ripened by her knowl-
edge that II will be listened 20. aud that ffng-
ments OF 1t will doubtless be remembered aud
quoted. When negotiating il the country the
pretty patronage with which some smart wo-
man makes her entree ID botn interesting aud
amusing. The air OF amiabilIty which seems
to say, How dull you are. you poor. dear folk!
Cheer mp; have come to amuse you for a Bit
Is very nice; and the way in which she estab-
fishes herself in some comfortable chair. with
her feet well out in front of her, and of course
crossed, is decidedly distinctive.
1T rs obvious that unlike the unfortunate
freshman who had 10 play cricket in a frock
coat because he had no confidtn nee in his shirt
the smart woman is very sure OF her shoes.
Undoubtedly, to be bien chaussee bien gantee,
is great matter, but 10 know It is greater,
those doubling damsols can bear witness
who enter ball room filed with trepidation
concerning the fit of their gloves and the pos
sibilItes of some sudden split. or who climb TO
the roof OF coach enduring agonies OF mind
az to the effect produced by their boots. &c,
in the eyes and minds OF those below. To the
smart woman such pangs are all unknown: she
Is, indeed, serene in beauty for every detail
of her dress is always what IL ought TO be. And
not in dress only does her discretion show it.
SELL The smart woman never goes 20 the
wrong-i.e.. the unsmart-places; and IL she
cannot always go 10 the right ones she stays st
home.
No woman who cannot exercise this self
denial can claim the cachet Of smartness. for to
be seen at the wrong places or TO go 20 the
right ones, such as Ascot. in the wrong way sets
that fatal stamp middle class upon her career
and cr}lshes ~. however promising. To be in
tine fashion is nothing. 10 bo the fashion 10
the thing, and the woman who contrives 10 90
TO the right houses, TO accentuate her presence
there sufficiently for IL TO act a passport TO
fresh woods and pastures new and who. by
judicious selection OF her cavaliers. has made 10
the fashion to be seen walking with her in the
park, 70 take her to operas, theaters. &c. has
constituted herself a smart woman sans redire.
The type is one which finds no parallel
among the great ladies and the reigning beau
ties OF a former age, and now there are 30 few
great ladies, while beauties come and beauties
go. but tho smart woman flows on forever.
Often she has a taste for clever and out-of-the-
way people, and when she has means TO enter
tain her friends, shows some skill in the min
Cling OF wit and worldliness-an art 20 which
the ordinary hostess is wholly a stranger.
The smart woman often reads good deal and
rather widely fact for which only those who
know her intimately give her credit. and she IL
more often pleasant person, ready 20 do her
friends good turn whenever she can, than the
world IL at all ready to believe.
'Of course there many rude smart
women who affect TO forget peoples names and
Identities, only recognizing those whom they
deem sufficiently smart TO add 20 their own
glory. Occasionally, through not catching
name when an introduction is murmured or
some such accident, they drop an acquaintance
which they are not afterward, when Its value ID
discovered, allowed to pick up again. But tins
10 a Judgment which oyertakes them too rarely;
for this type OF woman 10 an aboninAtion ana
wholly useless In society, where discrimination
and tact are 80 much needed-qualities which
will win the day in the end; for only she who
possesses them will ever be crowned queen Oh
the day Of smart women"