The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-19

leaving their mothers grave to carry on a
disreputable meeting. at least one listener
was sickeDed and sore at heart.
Protest was unavalllng: In vain TO plead
that with entirely respectable families
euch visit from "a man with daughters OF
his own, an old family friend in bereave-
ment. was not considered a breach of
dec0rum. especially with two girls to-
gether. Useless To suggest that the most
abandoned women would hardly leave
their mothers deathbed for an ASST gnation.
or that they would plan it in house SO
notoriousiy strict as all women's hotels
are known to be. Useless all. I'D view OF
the fact that the manager had been brought
up TO regard visit TO lady1s room as im-
possible, and if those motherless girls have
q shred of character left, or live down the
scandal OF the stay at that house, 1t 10 not
the fault of the manager, with her infiu-
entail friends.
The lady who acted as reference for the
boarding house acquaintance. and 1t she
is q TOOL, she probably believes them
worthless, disreputable creatures and has
deplOred the fact with dozen or twenty
friends. If she has grain of womaniy
feeling and sense, she 10 aware that in q
country of Daisy Millers such things hap
pen without offense or intention OF 1t. The
fault is not that the manager forbade visits
to the ladies' room. but that she lost no
chance of blasting two women's reputa-
even OF intended improperly.
Girls hardened enough to carry on in
triguea over their dead mothers grave
would be experienced enough not to plan
their meetings In house where they were
most certain of detection. But granting
the worst likelihood. hotel manager
would have quietly dismissed such guests
and held his tongue IN compassion for girls
in such plight. Business men can be- merci-
full to erring women. knowing it is no more
lvnp Ia a haf
trieve and shake themselves free from err
rOr than that they themselves. as
men, should revolt from their own
fast youth. They know too well
and beloved, hold honored places solely by
the silence of the world upon a past bitter
IL repented and effaced in lifelong PEN
ance. But women who hold the keys of
social life and death for breach of decor
um, possibly no fault at ALL must brand
girls just orphaned. making free with their
names to strangers who had no earthly in
terest In the matter, on the all-suthcient
plea and excuse that they didn't like their
looks"
1t would be unjust to quote IL, but wOmen's
hotels seem bound to vindIcate their own
sDOtlessness by making such examples. and
women's instincts prove their infallblllty
by lighting on the wrong person. Such
wholesale condemnation could hardly
happen in a mixed household where any
decent men were found. for their justice
would cry shame upon 1t. But 1t is the
rule in women's communities
The gossip of q woman's roof is simpl y
maddening. and when IL comes to be known
that TO sojOurn there Is to leave some part
of credit behind. that all the famIliars are
informed that this woman has carried of a
tumbler in her travelling bag. aud wom-
an. hurried in leaving, who forgets tri1ing
balance due on large bills promptly paid. is
placarded as going off without paying her
BILL as if she we're an absconding debtor,
in spite of the fact that she writes for her
bill and doesn't get it.
When these things come to be known,
women prefer the ordinary hotel. whose
managers have learned by force of expert
ence the rules of human intercourse. Re-
ticence. dignity. decency in private speech
are too rare in wOmen's intercourse, and
the want of these dIsinregrates every effort
for their benefit and will, until the founda-
tions of wOmen's social ideas and self
worship are shaken. Artistic furnishings,
sanitary perfection. rigid respectabiity
will not avail to keep wOmen's schemes to-
Rether unless the stone which they have
rejected becomes the maidstone of the
corner. and that is the charity which is an
other name for simple justice.
SHIRLEY DARE.