Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-24
IN BRIEF.


resolve
\ privileged interlocutor said ''why,"
ana when the two were left alone there was
IN explanation. Dancing she said, lis
4 beautiful form of pleasure. To dance
well one must possess grace, and certain
amount of cultivation Of the eye and of the
ear IS also essential. Then. too, as all cannot
he conversationa!ists in full degree, dane
ing supplies 4 lack and can be learned by i
willing pupil. Young people land the lis
tener believed herr, as 4 rule, enter into
The dance for the pure uualloyed pleasure
that is attainablc in this pastime, without
one thought of guile and if they pursue it
10 the extent of dissipation this is quite as
much the fault of those having the
guardianship OF youth, period in
the lives Of all with which the Wis
dom of age IS not often united,
Is of the young peope themselves.
] am not puritanical, the exuberance Of
young life is of itself ample excuse, if eX-
ruSc is needed. for frolicsomencSs that
finds an outlet in the dance. The objection
Is this. once | believed everyone who en-
gaged in the waltz and other dances that
are criticised regarded them as did my girl
associates and myself. and now, more IS the
pity, [ with others have learned this is
not the case. Between the TRADES from
pulpits and the columns of periodicals de
voted 10 our enlightenment, we have been
taught that the pleasure we have pursued
Is . wide gateway that treads to evil, and
that the wayed floor we deemed Level is an
inclined plane treading 10 outer darkness.
Whatever may be ones own opinion, and
here she spoke with hesitancy, if others so
REGARD IT, / for one do not feel willing to
defy criticism harsh and unmerited though
II may be. as that all''' No" And the
red blood maniled brow and cheek. Pos
siDlv our partners in the dance are not all
we nave thought them, and every girl who
dances knows there are among those who
pass for gentlemen partners who
are Objectionable, those against
whose mode Of dancing girl
is comparatively defenseless. Mind, | do
not say that the blame, or the risk, is al
together because of girls partner, but
the fact OF risk and the likelihood of blame
remains. = risk of misinterpretation, if
not Of actual violation, and there may exist
4 danger that the iuoceucy of the pastime
VIII not always be preserved. so for these
and other reasons have quietly withdrawn
from the list of dancers. | am no crusader,
let everyone choose for themselves; but
when l heard men say they preferred not
Il.
paused and reached my present decision
without any intention Of"
Miss b will You promenade?"
As this tall and graceful. girl took the
arm Of handsome man, also tine most ele-
CANT walter in the room, the listener looked
after them, and there was mingled with ad-
miration 4 belief that the pretty young re-
former was even then reaping 4 present re-
ward for an exercise Of the courage of
conyietion.
Ages ago EGeus bowers were closed.
The entrance forever barred it is possible
th2t the Young girls decision was 4 wise
one. ii least it had the charm of originality
and sincerity, and by an adherence to her
resolve she Will close the mouths of those
VINO interpret the acts' Of others through
the medium Of vicious thought.
There are subtle essences that defy
analysis. they permeate and pervade tine
material, but are too Intangible for the
deftesl touch. and the lack OF them oftener
attracts notice than does their presence. So
is il with refinement in woman. The
woman whose toilet is inconspicuous, it is
reat and appropriate. From the tips of her
glove fingers 10 the lie Of her bonnet. from
Tie white CLEAN of her soft handkerchief
10 her pretty buskin she bears that subtle
charm that is called refinement, which like
some delicate perfume steals insensibly over
the senses and sleeps them in delight.
Physical beauty has been largely es-
tecmed Us I power, and beautiful women
have freely welded 1t, but disaSsociated
from retirement is sway IS limited in scope
and in duration, While women Of refinement
not beautiful in the exercise OF this quality
Of force and power. have often in the
worlds history influenced kings and poten-
tates, overthrown empires ana established
dvuaSties CoutroversaliSts often maintain
their position by the use of the negative. so
in this case It is easier TO describe what
refined woman never is than TO give 4 COM
plete portraiture of her in the true light
Then negatively, she is never 'dowdy''
strictly literally, never; At home, abroad, in
plain attire, or walking in silks and satins,
wherever she may be, whatever her means
she IS never that. She never, not hardly
ever loads herself with jewelry, wears
shabby finery or untidy shoes and gloves
q calico dress may be Worn with queenly
grace, but no woman can appear refined in
soiled garments, no matter what the fabric.
If young, she does not affect the dress
of older women and if she is old
she does not exaggerate the defects
time has made by contrasting her age
with youth in the wearing of too youthful
garments or too gay eolors. In all matters
of dress she does not think the details too
insignificant for care nor does she deem
these so important as to give attention
Rfter leaving her dressing room.
Finally she will not dress extravagantly,