Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-24
WOMAN OR LADY, Which
Gertrude Gaiety Defends the Honor
Of Womanhood.
no DISGRACE TO EARN A LIVELIHOOD
Whsther Over Washtnb or In 'fhs
Lady's boudoir''-frudsry of Society
Leaders Thoroughly Exposod-A
Grsad Rapids Duchess


There are ladies and there are women.
and there are those who are neither the
one nor the other. but this latter class
10 not the subject in hand. The term
lady has been abused in these days; that
is. people Of certain class claim that
il has been because the word Is often
applied to working women, and one
hears of saiesladies, the lady who sews,
the lady writer. ETC., etc. 1t is not quite
clear why women of this class may not
be ladies, nor Is 1t altogether certain
that large proportion OF them are not,
but many, very many, of the sO-called
upper class would decidedly prefer to
be called persons or anything else
equally indefinite if those who toll for
pay are to too classed as ladies. In her
own estimation, the simple. minded
Holland glrl. even if she is q domestic,
becomes q "lady" when she marries,
but 1t generally requires more
than marriage 10 make lady
out OF what may be termed crude ma
tcrlal. 10 the simple minded and ig-
norant the difference may he only that
between employer and employee, but to
those of broader views and ripper ex-
perlence, the question Is more of q
problem. Ii 10 really more of prob
tenn to everyone than it should be. All
the world should be able to tell at q
glance who is q lady and who Is not.
There should never be any doubt on
the subject nor should it require much
scrutiny. To be sure, mistakes might
sometimes be made, for instance, the
kitchen maid might sometimes be
called the lady and tine mistress pass
for the maid, most grievOus mistake.
Quite often, too, the milliOnaire's wife
might pose az the chambermald or wee
verse. People of the most Obtuse in
tellectsand unObserving habits:are ready
to acknowledge today that such an in-
terchange in the individuality of the
feminine elements OF the house would
make more harmonious FANNY in
more senses than one.
True Test of womanlinsss.
To the real lady, she of the broad
mind and many personal graces, the
| matter Of environment should cut no
figure with her visiting list. Should she
make pleasant acquaintance with q
working woman she should accept the
situation and make that lady her friend
II the acquaintance Is personally agree
able to both. The fact that a woman
earns her own living by honorable EN-
ployment should never initiate against
her even in the most exclusive circles;
rather should it be to her credit and
should be rated rare accomplishment
far outweighing many of the useless
soul-belittling talents (?) of the fashion
able lady. Who can tor one moment
| compare the art of earning a dollar
with the gift OF uttering q hackneyed
compliment, or where can the graceful
platitude surpass or even equal any of
the great work accomplished by one of
the vast army Of female wage-earners.
In america IL is said there is no such
thing as caste. All is democratic. All
is of the people, for the people and by
the people. Happy delusion. En-
trancing statement for the clever and
| INSCRIPTIONS politician-for it is but
little else. In no country IN the world
| are the lines more strictly drawn and
woe betide the unlucky adventurer who
dares to overstep the boundaries.
The first lady of the land, the present
mistress of the White House, has
taken one step and maintained it. She
found Miss Sanger, her husbands Of
iicial stenographer, lady worthy the
name, though wage Garner. Mrs.
Harrison had the courage and tcmerlty
to admit Miss Sanger into the White
house US a particular friend and an
equal. She introduced the young lady
to her friends and urged her attendance
at the most formidable of official
receptions. Washington society stood
| aghast and all the Capital City Jenk-
inses poured forth a tale of woe by
telegraph. Women who were brave
enough to expose the charms of one
| half their bodies night after night in
assemblages where the large proportion
| of guests were men of every grade of
morality, from the irreproachable
statesman to the dastardly trlfier, were
actually afraid to touch this young girl
with their gloved hands for fear OF
contamination. But the gentle lady of
| the White House persisted IN shower
| ing attentions upon her young friend
and the semi-royal ladies are not AFRAID
OF her since they have discovered that
she corrupts neither their manners nor
| their persons, and is as perfect in de.
pertinent as We're dc We're.
The Prude of Grand Rapids.
In striking contrast to the example
set by Mrs. Harrison are the actions Of
= well-known society woman of this
city. She was the victim OF fad and
she called If charity, but the term vain
| glory would have been more appro-
pirate. Once upon time. as all the
story tellers cay, her charity was short
| of funds. She did not want TO advance
the necessary money herself, nor were
her friends at all anxious to supply the
deficiency. After much thought she
| appealed privately to a class of work
ing women in this city. These women
we're few in number. but the character
of their employment gave them a
! certain recognizable power. At first
they almost refused, "a each one felt
| unable to stand. the inevitable loss of
lime and the increased claim on their
already well taxed strength. The mat
/ ter was finally presented to them IN
I such light that they consented, and
having once taken the matter IN
charge they worked Indefatgably for
several weeks, neglecting all their own
interests Tor the charity. When the
day which was to crown their work
came, the person who first collected and
urged them TO aid her work vas
present and the grsciousness of her
/ presence was overwhelming. She
acknowledged the success and
thanked the workers. bat that night At
party she remarked openly to her
/ friends, "ph. yes; IL vas success, but
did not enjoy myself one bit, for there
wasn't one OF my set there" Now, the
writer would ike 10 ask IN this case