The record-union., 1891-02-08
The Frank Opinions Expressed by
an English Authority.
The Yankee Girl's Charm Arises from
the Fact That She is the Best
Treated Woman in the world-She
Makes Herself Mans Companion
and Friend.

lie, so 1t is important to have it pleasant;
we may never have occasion to go beyond
it, and when satisfactory, it is always so
much to the good. Now, the external at
tributes of the American lady are excel
lent She talks well, she dresses well
and she plays her part well socially. 1t
may be worth our while to discuss these
merits little in detail.
Mr.. Bryce, in the third volume of
his American Republic," leads the
way. He enlarges on the brightness and
quickness of American women, their
perceptivity and receptivity, their keen
and intelligent interest in the drama of
human life, as well as their readiness to
act lively part in it. They are both
capable and eager, and all alive to their
finger tips. Further, they are thoroughly
self-reliant; they take their lives into
their own hands, and manage their own
affairs, for the most part, without mems
intervention. They expect men to be
gallant enough to give assistance when
1t is asked for, especially in the shape of
money. But they do not tolerate inter-
ference or constraint. Now, setting aside
the occasional charm of a "clinging" at
titude in women, it must be great relief
to most men to get rid of all care and re-
sponsibility in regard to them. Besides,
there is more to interest the man as a
spectator; the play of life among the
womankind is more entertaining, more
fresh and varied to him, when he is not
the sole motor and guide of it ALL In this
way he gains in amusement what he loses
in glory.
But the American woman does not con-
fine herself entirely to what we call in
England the feminine sphere;'' she has
CT h ff<r 4
takes an interest in all that goes on in the
world of business and of politics, and has
decided opinions upon it, which she ex-
presses freely and with the incentiyeness
which distinguishes conversation in her
country. She not only talks well, she
talks a great deal. 1t is conventional
with us to regard this as drawback, but
| venture TO think that on the whole it is
IAN excellent thing in women" English
women do not talk nearly enough, and in
general society they seldom talk with
effect. Timidity, innate reserve and the
habit OF following conversationally in the
mans wake, check that spontaneity and
liveliness in talk which is woman's
natural dover. Women 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 enioy
himself in society. 1t is almost women's
chief function in America to entertain
men, and in order to fulfill it properly
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 Englishwomen
often lack. Her knowledge may not
go deep, but it is sufficient for conversa-
tional purposes, and is of kind that
enables her to talk to the man about what
really interests him. She sees q great
deal of men, and gains a sound, practi-
cal understanding of them and the 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 1t in common with too many others
of her own sex. No doubt she fiirts
little, but in an open and, therefore,
tolerably harmless way; the men are
used to it, and take to it kindly, and gem
orally know what it means. Besides, they
are ready to forgive her much for the
sake of the generous entertainment she
provides. She is seldom bored herself
with people, consequently she seldom
bores. She treats men with genuine
kindliness, with frank, good nature, and
many whom she never considers at all
from matrimonial point of view.
In commencing the conversational
gifts of American women, L am quite
alive to the extreme tiresomenesS of
ceaseless, empty-headed chatter. But the
great majority of Americans are fairly
quick-witted, and the women's wits are
turned, full tap, on to talk. The culti-
waited Englishwoman may have quite as
much to say, only she does not say it,
and through lack of practice fails to ac-
quire the art of ready speech. America
has, of course, it's vapid takers, but so
have we, although the vapidity that is
silent is more common with us. And it
is entirely a matter of taste whether it is
more tiresome to have your neighbor at
dinner party running on" aimlessly
about unconsidered trif1es than to have
her, whatever topic you introduce, do no
more than pelt you at regular intervals
with such feeble and unstimulating re-
joinders as "Oh, reallyv ''Indeed"
"Yes?" ''How very nicew "How inter-
estingr' and 50 forth, to the bitter end.
In this matter of talk the American al
lows herself the best possible of all ex-
ternal supports-namely, a tasteful and
well-made toilet. I have heard more
than one ingenious lady confess that the
of being well-dreSSed was
quite essential to her ease in conversa-
ton. With an American woman dress
is almost a religion. She regards it as q
solemn duty to herself, her relatives and
the world at large, to wear elegant cos
tunes" She is never discovered dowdy
or negligee. Through all the most thrill
ing crises of life, with nerves never so
highly strung, she still contrives to keep
one corner of her mind cool and concen-
trated 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
American aims at adorning the street as
much as the drawingroom. Men, es-
pecially Englishmen, have habit of BAN
tering women about their care for dress;
but, nevertheless, they like it to be good,
and are insensibly influenced by it.
No doubt English husbands would be
appalled, at the sums spent by American
ladies on their clothes, but, considering
their dowers. they may well be pardoned
a little extravaganza.
Last, but not least, among an Ameri
can woman's attractions or merits is her
practical ability. She is energetic and
able-has, indeed, almost genius for
getting things up" and carrying them
through We may think her at times
too restless and bustling; but strong
nerves at least enjoy the sense of 'slife''
and "go'' in their environment, and fear
above all things dullness and stagnation.
Besides, her activity is largely of that use
full and wholesome kind we call ''domes-
TIC" She is first-rate housekeeper
whenever she has house to keep. and
does much with her own hands that few
English ladies would attempt. This do
mesticity is partly forced upon her by
the scarcity of servants, but she seems to
enjoy the exercise for her quick wits and
active body that management of
home affords In England it is COM
mon for a mistress to think she has done
her whole duty when she simply orders
a room is to be thoroughly cleaned or
"a nice dinner sent up;" but an Ameri-