Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-05

social triumphs as the benefit accruing to
! woman herself by that Constant educa-
! Cation, which fits them for period too
often one of regretful looking backward.
| Engrossing as are the admitted duties Of
married life. there is room for the duty,
| quite as important, OF self-culture, for wife
| and mother must keep pace with husband
| and children, or lose their companionship.
There has been disposition to question
| the value to women of college training. If
such training is OF value to anyone, it ought
! 10 be TO woman, as women are cut OF by
| their sex and peculiar avocations from
| many sources from which men derive their
| after education. When a woman has
learned the worth of study she will be
found preparing for middle-age, in order
that she may not be dreary to herself nor
| embarrassing 10 others. With the prepare
ton that study gives, she will be neither
morbid nor cosby; she will have mas
tered the artof conversation, have attained
self-reliance, and, guided by experience,
she will not be liable to the mistakes of
youth; she can then gather around her
| circle of friends and maintain social pres
ti2c that would be otherwise impossible.
NIiddle-aged women thus using their OPP
portuEities are an ornament to society, and
it argues badly for society wherever they
are not appreciated and sought after. In
fact, there can be no society proper where
companies of young people only assemble
and where no flavor of ripeness is TO be
found. There is no better sign of present
progress than that women are fitting them
selves as never before for their place in
social ranks, and that society is growing to
realize the benefit resulting from the pres
ence of middle-aged women, who by their
brlliancy and culture, their readiness in
conversation and their finished manners
are demonstrating that even after the
freshness and beauty peculiar to youth are
forever gone there are charms to outlast
these and that middle life need not be void
of happiness, nor the middle-aged deprived
OF the power to bestow pleasure upon
others. -
There is ample reason for believing that
calling etiquette is not as carefully OBJ
served as it should be. Particularly does
this hold good in paying party calls. When
ever q person receives an invitation to
party the invitation should have an i'm
mediate response whether or not the mys-
tic 'R. S. V. P" appears; in fact, the
presence of these letters on the card is
somewhat of voiceless reproach TO the
one receiving it. If reason for respond
ing is required, it is sufficient TO state that
it is the hostess right to know that the in
yitation sent has been received. The duty
does not end here. The after-call obliga-
ton cannot be ignored by well-bred per-
son; and no more than ten days should
elapse before the party call is paid. This
payment is binding upon ladies and gentle
mon, and is not hinged upon attendance or
non-attcrdance. Social obligations are as
binding upon one sex as upon the other, and
noblesse oblige is the watchword of all we'll
bred men and women.
-
Returning first calls Is duty that is i'm
perative aud should be scrupulously per-
formed. The limit to brides and to new
corners should not be extended over two
weeks. Neglect in the observance of these