The Helena independent., 1891-01-22
SOCIETY, PAST AND PRESENT.
A Few Pertinent Remarks by an Excel
lent Authority.

Few Pertinent Remarks by an Excel.
lent Authority.
A century ago it was Eyelina and Harriet
Biron, in caps and aprons and sprigged
muslins, with their soft hair strained over
cushions and their jimp waists stiffened
with busks; it was they and Cecilia and the
rest who were the buds of society, and who
smiled, and listened, and blushed, and
dreamed dreams, and knew in their hearts
that nature broke the mould when she made
her Lord Orvilles and Sir Charles Grandi-
SONS, Gays Harper's Bazar.
And then it was our grandmothers, in
their skirts, and ski,np waists. and slip
pered feet, and mitts, who became buds,
than whom the 'nosegays' they carried
were not sweeter or roster, and who bashful-
ly admired our grandfathers, notwithstand-
ing their nankeen trousers high stocks and
pumps, and yoyaged with them to the For
tunate isles.
In turn came their daughters. our moth
ers, in the flush Of happy girlhood, drop
ping conciliatory courtesy to the great
social Sanhedrim, tricked out in more vo-
luminous draperies, with satin-smooth
button gloves, and something, alas! the
convexity of hoops.
But, however, the fashion Of their raiment
varied, and however the standard OF their
etiquette changed, to each generation Of
debutantes pertained the same sweet, wide
eyed, innocent faces, to each belonged the
same radiant and virginia. hopes.
But were they the same? Surely there js
a difference; for as the thoughts of men are
widened with the process of the suns, there
comes in our day touch of seriousness,
sense of responsibility, even into frivolous
lives and thougbtless souls. Harriet Biron
and Evelina were deeply concerned about
and the coming routs and the right sort of
chaperon, and they talk without limit
in the parrot fashion of their time; but of
the world of ideas they had never glimpse.
If Lord Orville and Sir Charles Grandson
had not been Tapped in the measureless
content of complete self-satiafaction. they
would have been bored to death by the
loveliest of their sex in the sweet seciusion
of the domestic hearth.
The bud of to-day, however, is probably
an alumna of some excellent school, pos
sibly the possessor of a certificate of quail
ication for the Harvard Annex, and Ger
tainly the custodian of a greater or less
knowledge Of the literature Of foreign coun-
tries, as we'll as her own. Personally she
rides. drives, skates, plays lawn tennis, be-
longs to gymnastic class, and perhaps
rows, swims, bowls and fences also. Her
1.-THE, firm body is trained to as obedient
service and as elastic health Is her BROTH
er's. She has hundred intellectual and
social interests where her rRreat-grandmother
had one. The life that awaits'her, there
fore, must be richer investment, society
must be more valuable aggregate than the
life and society Of the past.
This larger culture and deeper experience
are to save oar lovely buds, let us assure
ourselves, from the mistake Of so MANY
debutantes Of the past, who believed that
going into society was kind Of new
blrth-a rite which conferred mysterious
change of being, bestowing perpetual in
terestingness which should make the pogtu-
liant everywhere desired and invited. no
matter Row dull or unaQreeable she might
hitherto have been. From this point Of
view, secIety WAS matrimonial agency for
the insuring Of young ladies' advancement.
and not to make a rich marriage in the
course OF one, two or three seasons was
| really to be discredited as desirable ac-
quaintance and visitor.
But the later comers know that society il
not concrete good and gain to be seized,
like gold field. by tie hand of the spoiler
| any more than it il wife market. like
| those great assemblages Herodotus tells US
Of. 1t is n large congregation of well bred
| and agreeable people. who are glad to vel
come any newcomer who iB also we'll bred
and agreeable. A fine society 1s the fine
hbwer of civilization, and to be allowed ad-
mission Is to give tacit pledge to bring tc
Ut ones youth. loyelIness, intelligence and
sympathy. taking from it the highest com
panionship. To 20 into society with snsf
an understanding of its scope and privileges
IS TO secure gayety, companionship, delight
fnl conversation. but yet reserve time for 4
life OF ones own, with study, work, and un-
selfish service for others.