Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-05-23
WHAT IS A lADT7
1t IL Hard to Draw the Line In lin Milan
Say.
What Is a lady?


Say.
What Is lady?
That is what am trying to find ont,
and am having hard work Mt it, writes
Lena i. Pepper from Milan.
A friend informed me, when / first
came abroad. that no lady was allowed
to carry a package in The streets of
Milan. IL she made the attempt a
guard would Immediately approach.
politely relieve her Of her self-imposcd
burden, aud carry il to her destination.
Now here comes the rub: / have
carried many package In The most
crowded thoroughfares OF this ancient
city. and no rcsplendent guard mas
ever offered me his services.
Everyone who comes TO Italy studies
either music or painting. Considering
that when song Is sung II Is ended,
but when picture Is painted ii en-
dures for ages -more's the pity. per-
haps-I concluded TO study painting.
Well. whenever have needed ma
terials, such AS brushes. paints, draw
ing-papcr, etc. | have walked around
TO the store. got them. aud brought
them home myself. The only thing
that prevented me from bringing the
necessary canvas was that it was n lit
tie too large to handle with grace and
skin.
Each day when have ceased paint
ing. as little dissipation seems neces-
sary after such wearing brain-work, l
travel around the corner TO the chest
m, M - 81
hot roasted chestnuts. But no guard.
with spurs OH his heels, red stripes
down his legs, sword at. his side,
golden fringe on his shoulders. and
waving plumes on his head, has ever
offered to assist me in carrying them.
Aud so the question naturally occurs to
me: Am lady?
The guard evidently thinks not. and
places me on level with the bare
headed. wooden-heeled. slipper shod
peasant women who 90 clicking along
the streets, carrying 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 where forced
companionship. for the time being. a
necessity, | encountered during my re-
cent voyage three persons who inter-
ested me greatly.
One was an opera-singer whose name
had appeared in the leading journals
| for months, whose costumes had ex-
hausled columns of print, and whose
ninutest actions had been duly chroni-
cled and read by the masses with abb
sorbing interest.
Besides a maid. dog. and three par
rots for travelling companions. there
were train of cavaliers. There was
also husband somewhere on the ship,
or at least his name figured in the pas
sengcr list.
Another woman whose name had APP
peared often in the daily papers. in
type little larger perhaps, than the
| opera-singer's aud with a few more
startling adjectiyes and flaming head
lines was little trapeze-performe
She was quiet. modest, and industri-
Gus. While the opera-siDger spent her
time in wine-bibbing aud Irritation the
| gymnast's small hands mate yards and
yards of delicate white edging.
4
was as well known to the reading
| public as either of the other two. Her
artistic gowns had been duly described
| ip the fashion columns, and her din
ners and teas and receptions formed
the leading items in the society notices.
In charitable philanthropic movements
| she had always taken an active part.
Her husband is well known as great
and good" politician.
Strange as il may seem. strong
| friendship was formed between the
leader of aristocralic society and the
belle of the circus-ring.
sssssss. sss sSGsss.si.sa s s lion. s.ssss
recording. The one. true TO hel
philanthropic instincts. was remon
strating with the other on her mode o
| life.
Madam. answered the trapcze- per
former, You have given to your chill
dren the best educational advantage.
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 well difficult acrobatic feat
as your daughter might in rendering
well beautiful symphony or in pro-
ducing brilliant bit Of literature"
The two parted with warm express
sions of friendship and desire TO meet
again.
Each OF these women-the opera
singer. the queen of society. the athlete
takes to herself the title Of lady, and
the world smiles its sanction.
What is a lady. anyway Am onei
Are you one?
Who can tell me? - Kate Fields
Washington.