The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-05-16
THE FEMININE MALE.
A Species of Domestic Dudishness That is
Getting to BE Rather Nauseous.

Getting to BE Rather Nauseous.
An elderly countrvwoman, who has
chaperoned two charming nieces
through the dangers and delights of
gay New York season, claims to have
discovered one Of the greatest evils
menacing modern society. She said to
writer in the New York Sun:
"The lady-like young man is at the
bottom of the mischief, and SO long as
he is allowed to flourish, Of course girls
cannot and will not marry. Whom do |
mean? Why, that hybrid housekeep
ing creature who is neither fish, flesh,
nor good red herring Right after
Christmas, when cards came asking us
to tea at Mr.. VS. rooms, | hesitated
about accepting, but yielded and went.
Still, felt for the poor fellow s natural
perpleXities and brought nice bag of
junlbles, some lump sugar, and took a
few extra spoons along to help hlm out
in a tight place. Well, bless your heart,
answered the electric bell and pushing
aside long, shadowy curtains, ushered
Us into an elegant parlor, began max
ing every apology, being sure we had
stumbled into the wrong place. But no,
here came our host, bowling and smll-
ing, begging us to take Oft our wraps,
and excusing himself for preoccupation
lust as | have done a thousand times
at home-bv saving the kettle refused
to boil. Well, while he talked to the
girls | began looking round for some
place to hide those odious cakes, and
heard the spoons rafting IN my pocket.
Such spleudOr you never saw-rIch
hangings and portieres, gracefully
4. "a IA
plump, silken pillows of faint contrast
ing tints. easy, tufted lounging chairs,
foot-stools, a subtle perfume permeat-
ing the air, and hric-a-brac everywhere.
With each survey | took, that paper
bag grew bigger and the silver jingled
under the folds Of my dress. But the
polished mirrors. bowls Of roses, en-
broidered scarfs. and charmlngly deco
rated walls were as nothing to scene
over in the left-hand corner. next the
Fireplace There stood the tea-table, in
all It's glory, with Mr.. N--hovering
round i, like a protecting spirit. He
had a lady ostenslbly presiding, but no
old maid could have kept a sharper eye
on the tea-cups. lie discussed the diff
fercnt varieties of tea with warmth, de-
Tended the Infusion process, gave his
reasons for patronlzlng particular
round bon-bons and sailed almonds to
his half-dozen men and women guests.
From confectionery the talk dritted to
napery. and, with a glow of genuine
pride, our entertainer exhibited Sc.
of exquisite doilies, lately added to his
linen closet. He advocated drawn
work and the outline stitch In white
floss as rather superior style at after
noon functions, and then got on the sub
iect of china, which was evidently his
hobby. Each fragile cup and saucer
was dilated upon in turn, the delicacy
and the beauty of the porcelain natural
" leading to Il wholesale abuse OF serv-
ants. Mr.. N--and Il man friend sit
mitted Rid,1v to lay finger on the
properties of their pantry They laun-
dercd every piece of china and plate
personally 10 insure safe handling and
used only pure linen towels in order TO
avoid lint. rs You may imagine, | sat
aghast to hear such conversation be-
tween two bearded creatures, and was
scarcely surprised aiterward, when a
woman of the party Ventured an opinion
on the subject of sweeping, to hear both
of them summarily suppress her.
Surely. | thought. there must be a layer
of dust. Il few cohWcbs, some strong
smelling pipes, and 4 pair OF rusty
boots somewhere to redeem these
short haired. trousercd molly-coddles.
Not so. The whole establishment was
immaculate. and when, with true house
wifely instinct, the man took me
through to admire his admirable labor
saving domestic arrangements, / was
indignant enough To have administered
a sound spanking and crossed him up
in petticoats and bib-apron.
Now. | want to know whom our
daughters, sisters. and nieces are To
marry ~ continued the Wrathtul lady;
certainly not those tinicky Miss
NancyS: and there are no longer any
bachelors, II appears, nice, jolly fellows,
who couldn't tell Il mop from range or
broom from a lambrcquin; who went
buttonless and with holes IN their socks
till some nice girl took compassion on
them: who were lonely and needed
companionship. helpless ana wanted Il
woman,s hand to keep neat heartlland
warm their slippers.
since that first afternoon last winter.
| have been to twenty teas of the same
sort in as many different apartments.
New York fairly swarms with this new
type OF humanity, and with each ex-
hihitiOn Of has etteminacy, l grow more
disguised. \ y girls are athletic, ride,
swim, hunt, and use the horizontal-bar.
Naturally. when their hosts talk bread
and-butter. they become painfully en-
barrassed, feel out of their elemen mt, and
make absurd mistakes. Tell me, is this
really 4 revolution of nature, as they
say? If 50, the apartmental young man
i a decided step toward reversal of