The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-11-29
AMERICAN WOMEN.

oU COTthtn OCcASlOH HOtn6 year
since half dozen titled ladies were ii
the ante room of the German empress
by appointment. Her majesty was
engaged for time, and the audience
was delayed beyond the limits OF ordi
| nary patience.
AT last one of the restless group re-
| marked in French TO her ueighbor thai
the prolonged wait WAS growing jrk-
some, all the more SO to her personally
because it had been her good fortune
10 be born in America, where the
routine OF court etiquette is unBno"n
TO her surprise the lady addressed
replied that she also had been born in
| ilis country. In few minutes Others
joined in the conversation, and 1t was
discovered that the whole company.
without exception, though members Ui
that privileged class known in Europe
as the nobility, were native Americans.
1t is unique incident.
When the Grand Duke Alexis,
| Russia, was in this country, where
| received the warm welcome which :,
| always extend TO distinguished strang-
ers, he expressed himself in terms OF
highest praise tor the American woman.
She WAS Il revelation To him, quite dif-
ferent from the type found else where.
Her grace. her independence, her phys
ical beauty and mental acunen, her
dash and daring. restrained only by the
natural mOdesty y.hich is everyw here
her safeguard, her aggressive demand
ior the respect OF the steruer sex SEEM
ed to him especially impressive.
| The criticism Ct the gra"h duke has
been echoed by every careful observer
from abroad.
The. women of America are the re-
suit of a fortunate environment. They
inherit certain qualities of character
which are discouraged by the iustitu-
tutions ot other countries. They are,
so to speak, new social product, i'm.
possible under a monarchy They
enjoy a wide freedom of action bere-
too vide some pessimistic fossils auda-
ciously declare. The air they breathe,
tine unhsmpered spirit of the time and
clitae, the moulding influences of a
republic almost force them to become
self f-centred and self dependent. Their
sphere of action and thought ia indefi
niteiy enlarged and they therefore
acquire a breadth,s candor, an honesty
of utterance, a poise, which are not
more startling than admirable.
And, again, II is tho habit of Ameri
can mothers and iethers to place well
nigh unlimited confidence in their
children. In most other lands young
woman in her teens, or until the
responsibilities of the parents are
transferred TO husband, Is looked
npOn "a a creature to he jealously
guarded from the temptations of lite
| of NIL s.,,, h..
keep Ter in ignorance OF all preying
evils, 20 treat her as all orchid which
> will wi!her at the first cold blast. NJ
, reliance is placed on her ability Il
a protect herself, bnt a prevailing teai
, exists that she will helplessly fall into
. embarrassment Ii the opportunity pre-
:. sents.
, This theory may have its advantages
it has also its serious disadvantages.
# II is artificial, obstructive to persona
h independence and frequently results il
+ an unpreparedness tor stern realities
n which makes the last act OF domesij,
lie tragedy.
:, The American " womau is the outcom
:. of wholly different educational princi
y pies. She is tanght at great pains
&. rely on heraeli, and her Judgment i
70 all matters which personally concer
!. her is carefully fostered. She is Sc
corded an astonishing degree of lihert
iu her relations with gentlemen. but
is is seldom misuseu, because she is tn
" custodian of her own future. NJ
u books alone, but all phases of life, al
ft her constant study. She is permitte
y to observe the variOus factors OF III
~ social circle in which she moves,
IN see for herself its beauties and it's evil
it's ideals and its horrors. Her maj
n riage is not planned for her, but il Is
is sacred and solemn responsibility W hiC
" che must assume, and the consequence,
rs OF which she must bear.
v II the tendency of all this 10 to NAL
cii her coldly calculating, cautious, lie
she may be entrapped by some "hone
re suckle villain,' and ambitious to Occur
as All envisble position, why, the reply
rs at hand that il il no worse for her
cil arrive at her own conclusion in the
matters than for her parents to deci
"a them Tor her. The danger of unhapI
n domestic relations is no greater in 4
III one case than in the other. On q
CHI contrary, il is infinitely better that 9
should be taught to be careful abO
such a step than that her parents shou
send her to the background as q no
entity, make arrangements whi
involve the happiness or misery of
lifetime and then demand that she sh
ed accept the oonti act.
N. Whether amid the "polishad pc
cc turbalions and golden cares" of
I'd. foreign court or the narrower and
do many respects happier duties OF I
I'D humble household the Americ
lid woman loses nothing by cOmpsris
|, i, with her equals in any part OF I
nv globe. She wears her honOrs wi
bis grace and assumes responsibilities W
the courage of seit reliance Take
he for all in all-repressing for the II
he ment our impulse to ''idly profaue
MT time" with criticism---she is the In,
aid agreeble result which the laws # soc
H." evolution have as yet produced.