Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-18

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- purview OF American
politics.
went almost directly afterward to sa-
loon where gentlemen interested in ward
politics nightly congregate. They were not
pretty persons Some of them were bloated,
and they all swore cheerfully till the heavy
gold watch chains on their fat stomachs
rose and fell again; but they talked over
their liquor as men who had power and un-
questioned access to places of
trust and profit The magazine
writer discussed theories of govern
meat; these men the practice. They
had been there. They knew all about it.
They banged their fists on the table and
spoke of political pulls" the vending of
votes and so forth. Theirs was not the talk
Of village babblers reconstructing the affairs
of the nation, but of strong, coarse, lusttul
men fighting ;or spoil and thoroughly un-
Outstanding the best methods OF reaching 1t.
Grimy Realities of Politics.
! listened long and intently to speech 1
could not understand, or but in spots. 1t
was the speech of business, however. had
sense enough to know that and to do my
laughing outside the door. Then 1 began
TO understand why my pleasant and well
educated hosts in San Francisco spoke with
8 bitter scorn of such duties of citizenship
as voting and taking an interest in the dis
tribution of offices. Scores of men have told
me without false pride that they would as
soon concern themselves with the public
affairs OF the city or State as rake muck
with steam shovel.
1t may be that their lofty disdain covers
selfishness, but l should be very sorry ha-
bitually 10 meet the fat gentlemen with
shiny top hats and plump cigars in whose
society [ have been spending the evening.
Read about politics as the cultured writer
of the magazines regards 'en and then, and
not till then, pay your respects to the gentle
men who run the grimy reality. I'm sick
OF interviewing night editors who lean their
chair against the wall aud in response to my
demand for the record of q prominent citi-
zen answer: "Well, you see, he began by
keeping a saloon" etc.
The American Maidens.
prefer to believe that nv iniormants are
treating me as in the old sinful days in
India 1 was used to treat the wandering
globe-trotter. They declare that they speak
the truth, and the news of dog politics
laely vouchsaied to me in groggeries in-
clines re 10 believe, but [ won't. The peo-
pie are much too nice to slangander as reck-
lesslv as l have been doing. Beside, L am
hopelessly in love with about eight Amer
lean maidens-all perfectiully delightful
till the next one comes into the room.
O-Toyo was darling, but she lacked several
things-conversaiion for one.
Gcu cannot live on giggles. She shall re-
main unmarried at Nagasaki, while roast
battered heart before the shrine of big
Kentucky blonde, who had ior a nurse when
she was little a negro nanny" Bv con-
sequence she has welded on Cali 'ornjan
beauty, Paris dresses, Eastern culture,
Europe trips and wild Western originality,
the queer dreamy superstitions of the
quarters and the result is soul shattering.
A Variety of Stellar Attractions.
And she is but one OF many stars. Item,
q maiden who believes in education and
possesses i, with few hundred thousand
dollars to boot and a taste for Summing.
Item, the leader of a sort of informal salon
where girls congregate, read papers and
dariugly discuss metaphysical problems and
candy-a sloe-eyed, black-browed, imperi-
Gus maiden she. Item, very small maiden,
absolutely without reverence, who can in
one swift sentence trample upon and leave
gasping hal! dozen young men. Item, a
millionairess, burdened with her money,
lonely, caustic, with a tongue keen as
sword, yearning for sphere, but chained
up to the rock of her vast possessions.
Item, Typewriter maiden earning her own
brsdd in this big city, because she doesn't
think a girl ought TO be burden on her
parents, who quotes Theophile Gautier and
moves through the world D:anfully, much
respected lor all her 20 inexperienced sum-
mers. Item, a woman from cloudland who
has 60 history in the past or future but is
discreetly Of the present and strives for the
condolences of male humanity on the
grounds of sympathy (methinks this is
not altogether a new type). Item, a girl in
q dive" blessed with Greek head and
eyes, that seem TO speak all that is best and
sweetest in the world. But woe is mel She
has no ideas in this world or the next be-
yond the consumption of beer "a commits
sion on each bottle) and protests that she
sings the songs allotted to her nightly with
out more than tine vaguest notion of their
meaning.
Comparisons Very Odious.
Sweet and comely are the maidens of
Devonshire; delicate and-of gracious SEEM
Ing those who live in the pleasant places of
London; fascinating for all their occurrences
the dansels OF France, clinging closely to
their mothers and with large eyes wondering
at the wicked world; excellent in her own
place and to those VINO understand her is the
Anglo-Indian spin" in her second season;
but the girls of America are above and be-
yond them all. They are clever they can
taik-yea, it Is said that they think. Ger
talnly they have an appearance of so doing
which is delightfully."- deceptive.
They are original, and regard you between
the brows with unabashed eyes as q sister
might look at her brother. They are In
structed, too, in the folly and VANITY OF the
male mind, for they have associated with
the boys from babyhood, and can discern
lnEiy minister to both vices or pleasantly
snuo the possessor. They possess, moreover,
lie among themselves, independent OF
any masculine associations. They have So
cletes and clubs and unlimited tea fights,
where all the guests are girls. Thev are
seif-possessed, without parting with any ten
derness that is their sex-rlRht: they undsr.