The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-26
from the selfish reason which the poet COM

&
PHILOSOPHY has got a charm
q thought of Martin Iupperl,
And offering mamma my arm
took her down 10 supper.
gave her Pommery tcoto uorl
Which seethed in rosy bubbles:
called this tteeting life 4 bore,
1t ia to be feared that the life of a chap
eron in America is not q bed of roses.
Kept up late, pushed into Il corner, the
mother of a society girl becomes only Il
sort of head chanbermaid. Were she in
Europe she would be the person who would
receive the compliments and tho attention,
not asked to dance the german.
A competent critic of our manners spoke
of this in the following sensible words:
1.-THE evils arising from the excessive lib
be passed by. If we ever root it out we
must begin with the family life, which
must be reformed. For young people
parental authority is the only sure guide.
Coleridee we'll said, that he who was
be bot s sS,s ID s. govern othe n''''' and " sse
p%erience has shown us that the children
of civilized parents are az little able to gov
ern themselves as. the children of savages.
The liberty or license of our youeh will
have to be curtailed. as our society. is be
coming more complex n artificial, like
older societies in Europe. The children
will have to approximate to them in status
and parents will have to waken to a
sense of their responsibilities, and sub
ordinate their ambitions and their
should go out more with their daugh-
tors and join in their pleasures, never
permit themselves to be shelved.
Society is in a transition state i'll Amer
lea. In one community it is considered
proper for a young man to call for a young
girl and drive her off alone to a ball. In
another society this is considered VERY bad
FORM" In Europe it would be considered a
vulgar madness.
Therefore it is better for the mother to
resume her rightful place as guardian, chap
erOne, friend.
Women are gifted with SO much tact and
so intuitive a faculty that in the conduct of
fashionable life they need but few hints.
In the leaving of cards, in the first visit,
in the granting of invitations, or the with
holding of them, the art of entertaining III
fact. should be founded on first, good sense.
a quiet considerateness, a good heart. a
spirit of friendliness; next ask what is due
to others and what is due tooneself. There
is always a social conscience in ones Or
ganization which will point Alright. But
the mother never should be shelved by the
daughter; that is always bad taste.
And the outward performance of con
ventional rules can never be thoroughly
learned unless the heart is we'll bred.
Fashion has. however, elected men to be
more polite to the mammas, to give the
chaperon a decent seat, ana sne mas an &C
casional invitation to go down TO supper.
Many ladies are now introducing dancing
at crowded day receptions and teas. Where
people are coming and going this is objec-
tionable, as the hostess is expected to do too
much. and the guests being in street dress
while the hostess and her dancers are in
low evening dress, the appearance of the
party is not ornamental.
Evening parties are far more formal and
the most elaborate dress. Every
lady. who can wear a low-necked dress
should do so. The great trouble in New
York is now the ridiculously late hour.
eleven or twelye-at which the guests ar
rive.
If a card is written:
Mrs. Brown at home, Tuesday evenings"
Some sticklers for etiquette say that she
should not put Il. s. V. p. on her card.
If she wishes an answer she should say:
Mrs. Brown requests the pleasure of Mr.. and
Mrs. Campbells' company. h. s. V.P.
Perhaps the latter IS the better form. 1t
is more respectful.
The "At Home can be used for large
and informal receptions where an indi-
vidual acceptance is not required.
M. E. W. SHERWOOD.
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