The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-28
"THE BUD's BETE NOIR."
She Would Re Obliged II the Tiresome OLD
Follow Would Lot Her Alone.


Follow Would Lot Her Alone.
The mostformidable bette noir of the society
debutante is the antediluvisn fop the elderly
cavalier, who inevitably dances attendance
upon young girls, and whose gallantries, al
though uncOmpromlsnG, are none the 1888
incessant aud undressing. There arc
two advantages which the elderly cAEA-
lier makes most Of: one is bis age, the
other is his position. which, by the time
he passes his zenith. he has attained with
all his presumptive prestige lie may De poet
sayant or philosopher at any rate. no Is no
longer student He seltishly seeks, through
the camera of young eyes that hash mourning
glances at him, glimpse OF that falrylsn9 OF
the past, in which he may no longer abide
which he has trayersed, and b which there Is
no returning. The bud is ut all times curious.
Such men may amuse her fCy a half hour, but
M the expiration Of that time the wlttlest sal
lies fall hat. tho silyery speeches no longer
sound melodous, and she Graves for the com
mOnplace chatter Of the collegan. Inc elderly
fop who may be bachelor or wldower, Is not
dismayed either by the silence or restyeness
OF his auditor. He ep1eayors. by all the pol
ished arts Of etiquette, 10 make an impression,
not upon her heart, but hor understand
Ing and when. after prolonged seance, ne
bows bis departure. he - too egotlstlc@ % Cd
serve the yawn concealed behind hertan, or the
bud. she is constrained 10 appear interested;
to listen, with half an ear ut least. TO the re-
cital Of events that occurred before the
war" OF T. incidents that were history before
she was born Just out of school. she re-
cards the historian in much the same light as
She had looked upon her tutor IN chemistry.
To all Of his speeches she adds perfunctOry
yes" no, or indeed, and by no possible
chance can he elicit from her an opinion, Tor
' ba
simply acquesces. but see her eyes sparkle at
the retailing of some practical Joke by
juvenile companion. She IS then anything
but apathetlc.
In society the bud is oyershadowed by the
married belle. who. having acquired certain
freedom which licenses opinion, does not
hesitate to proclaim 1t. The bud, on the
contrary, IS tlmOrOus.
She has ideas which she dares not express,
views which may be crude. impressions which
are at once vague and defined. that le I'M
prisoued ia her brain. and which. having no
outlet fOment the pOssessOr In congeniai
company these ideas are liberated. and ny
away like so many doves to their cote Iete-a-
tete the elderly cavalier becomes q jailer.
His mental atmosphere Is as unwhoiesome 10
her az the air OF "a dungeon, where the victim
breathes mechanically, without ozone or IN
SEPARATION The young man Is more fortunate
lie may bask beneath tho Establishments Of
married belle. or. should he prefer, consort
with other youths Of his like. At any rate he
Is not forced 10 entertain those wintry heroes
whose anecdotes and Anticipated personalities
are not in touch with the times.
When society allows the bud little more
latitude in the same direction she will become
less bread and butter miss, and the
elderly fOp. less egOtistical and ubiquitous. as
he finds himself debarred from thrustlng his
wholesale attentions upon shoulders too ten
der to be thus handicapped A certain debu-
tante announced bitterly the disappointment
attending her first ball. She had anticipated
it with all the eagerness Of Cinderella, only
to have her dainty glass slippers trodden upon
during the waltz by the heavy boots of a re-
tired army officer. while her fairy prince"
had been relegated % a round of cOtllOns
with wealthy widow.
The wing of the chaperon casts Il shadow in
the wake of the bud in every case save that Of
the elderly fop who 10 thus absolyed, without
being appreciated. As a matter OF fact, how
ever the plaintiye bud would prefer 10 be
placed under guard of a dozen duennas than
consigned to the frozen gallantries Of fn dc
steele septuagonaran.-New York Truth.