The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-03-12
AMERICAN WOMEN.
Why They Oufshine Their Sisters Ia Eng.
landau English Papers Views.

reserve and the habit of following con-
versationally in the mans wake check
that spontaniety and liveliness in talk
which is woman's natural dover. Wom-
en- ought to lead conversation, and in
America they do.
They introduce topics and vary them,
and consider it their bounden duty to
draw out the dull or shy or absent man,
and to assist him to shine and to enjoy
himself in society. 1t is almost wom-
ans chief function in America to enter
tain men, and in order to fulfil it prop
erly she acquaints herself with the
topics and the events of the day, and is
well stocked with that information
about things in general which even
clever English women often lack. Her
knowledge may not go deep, but it is
sufficient for conversational purposes,
and is of kind that enables her to talk
to the man about what really interests
him. She sees great deal of men, and
gains sound. practical understanding of
them and their world. Consequently
she is neither shy, nor awkward, nor
self-conscious with them; she can be
decided without appearing dogmatic
and tiresome, and fresh and clever
without the air of posing for effect.
She is too accustomed to mems
Difference and admiration to be
spoiled by it: she gets it in common
with too many others of her own
sex. No doubt she firts little, but
in an open and, therefore, tolerably
harmless way; the men are used to it,
and take to it kindly, and generally
know what it means. Besides, they are
ready to forgive her much for the sake
of the generous entertainment she pro-
vides. She is seldom bored herself with
people, consequently she seldom bores.
She treats men with genuine kindliness,
with frank, good nature, and is on
terms OF genial comradcship with many
whom she never considers at all from q
matrimonial point of view.
In commending the conversational
gifts of American women, am quite
alive to the extreme tiresomcness of
ceascless empty-headed chatter. But
the great majority of Ameri-
cans are fairly quick-witted,
and the women's wits are turned,
full tap, on to talk. The cultivated
Englishwoman may have quite as much
to say, only she does not say it, and
through lack Of practice fails to acquire
the art of ready speech. America has,
of course, its vapid takers, but SO have
we, although the vapidity that is silent
is more common with us. And it is en-
tirely a matter Of taste whether it is
more tiresome to have your neighbor at
a dinner party running on" ainlessly
about unconsidered trifles than to have
her, whatever topic you introduce, do
no more than pelt you at regular inter-
walls with such feeble and unstimulating
rejoindcrs as ''Oh really '.Indeed.'
.ies?" How very NICE .IIow inter-
esting!" and SO forth. to the bitter end.
In this matter of talk. the American
allows herself the best of all possible
external snpports-namely. a taste
full and well-made toilet. have heard
more than one ingenious lady confess
that the consciousness of being well
dressed was quite essential to her ease
in conversation. With an American
woman dress is almost a religion. She
regards it as a solemn duty to herself,
her relatives and the world ut
large. to wear elegant costumes .
She is never discovered dow
dy or negilee. Through all the
most thrilling crises of life, with nerves
never SO highly strung, she still con-
trives to keep one corner of her mind
cool and concentrated on her attire: she
no more thinks of losing sight of that
than of her virtue. We English may
have improved in our dress of late
years. but we keep the best Of it for
the privacy Of home, while the Amcri-
can aims at adorning the street as much
as the drawing-room. Men, especially
Englishmen, have a habit of bantering
women about their care for dress; but.
nevertheless, they like it to be &C od,
and are insensibly influenced by it. No
doubt English husbands would be
appalled, at the sums spent by An.eri-
can ladies on their clothing. but, con-
sidering their dowers. they may well be
pardoned little extravaganza.
Last, but not least, among an Amer
lean womans attractions or merits il
her practical ability. She is energetic
and able-has. indeed. almost genius
for getting things up" and carrying
them through" We may think her a,
times too restless and bustling; bu,
strong nerves. ut least, enjoy the sense
of life" and ''go" in their environment
and fear above all things dullness ant
stagnation. Besides, her activity i.
largely of that useful and wholesom,
kind we call domestic" She is
tirst-rate honsekeeper whenever she ha
a house to keep, and does much Will
her own hands that few English ladie.
would attempt. This domesticity i
partly forced upon her by the scarcit,
of servants, but she seems to enjoy tn,
exercise for her quick wits and activ,
body that the management of home
affords. In England it is common for
mistress to think she has done he
whole duty when she simply orders
room to be thoroughly cleaned" o
"a nice dinner sent up but an Amer
lean mistress usually knows exactl,
how room ought to be cleaned, an,
exactly how the dinner ought to b
cooked, and enters into all the details
London Queen.
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