Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-04-03
WHAT Is a LADY,"
One Who fried to Find Out But Had
Hard Work At 1t

Hard Work Att
That is what | am trying to find out,
and am having hard work at it.
A friend informed me, when | iirst came
abroad, that no lady was allowed to carry
a package in the streets of Milan. If she
made the attempt.a guard would imme-
diately approach, politely relieve her of her
self-imposed burden and carry 1t to her
dest ination.
Now, here comes the rub: have carried
| many a package in the most crowded
thoroughfares of this ancient city, and no
respondent guard has ever offered me his
services
Everyone who comes to Italy studies
either music or painting. Considering
that when song is sung 1t is ended, but
| when picture is painted it endures for
ages-mores the pity, perhaps con-
cluded to study painting.
Well, whenever have needed materials
such as brushes, paints, drawiL g-paper,
etc, | have walked around to the store,
got them and brought them home myself.
The only thing that prevented me from
bringing the necessary canvas was that 1t
was a little too large to handle with grace
and skill
Each day when ! have ceased painting.
as a little dissipation seems necessary after
such wearing brain-work, travel around
the corner to the chestnut mans and get
two cents worth of hot roasted chestnuts
But no guard, with spurs on his heels, red
stripes down his legs, sword at his side,
golden fringe on his shoulders, and wav-
ing plumes on his head, has ever offered to
assist me in carrying them. And so the
question naturally occurs to me: Am | a
lady?
The guard evidently thinks not, and
places me on a level with the bare headed,
wooden -heeled, slipper-shod peasant wom-
en- who go clicking along the streets carry
ing the necessaries of life tied up In
square of cotton CLOTH
But, according to Webster, they may be
ladies.
On shipboard, where so many people are
thrown together, and were forced compan-
ionship is, for the time being, a necessity,
] encountered during my recent voyage
three persons who interested me greatly.
One was an opera siager whose name
had appeared in the leading journals for
months, whose costumes had exhausted
columns of print, and whose miputest ac-
ti0ns had been duly Chronicled and read
by the masses with absorbing interest
Besides a maid, ii dOd, and three par
rots for travelling companions, threra were
were train Df cavaliers. There Were also
a husband somewhere on the ship, or at
least his name figured in the passenger
list
Another woman whose name had appear
ed often in the daily papers, in type a
little larger, perhaps than the opera
singers and a few more startling adiec-
tives and flaming head-li lines was a little
trapeze-performer. She was quiet, modest
and industrious. While the opere-singer
spent her time in wine-bibbing and fiji ta-
tion, the gymnast's small hands made
yards and yards of delicate white edging.
The third person who interested me was
as well known to the reading public as
either of the other two. Her artistic
gowns has been duly described in the
fashion columns, and her dinners and
teas and receptions formed the leading
items IN the society notices. In charitable
and philanthropic movements she had al
ways taken an active part. Her husband
is we'll known as great and good poll
tician.
Strange as it may seem strong friend
ship was formed. between the leader of
aristocratlc society and the belle of the
clrcuS-ring.
overhead conversation between them,
part of which at least worth recording.
The one. true to her philanthrcpic
instincts, was demonstrating with the
other on her mode of life.
Madam" answered the trapezepre
former, you have given to your children
the best educational advantages in your
power. My parents have done no less for
me; they gave me all the advantages they
were able to in their own walk of life. |
take as much pride in doing we'll a difficult
acrobati2-feat as your daughter might in
rendering well beautiful symphony or
improducing brilliant bit of literature -
The two parted with warm expressions
of friendship and desire to meet again.
Each of these women-the operP singer,
the queen of society, the athelete-takes
to herself the title of lady, and the world
smiles its sanction.
What is a-lady, anyway? Am one?
Are you one?
Who can tell me?