The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-11-15
TEMPORA MUTANTUR.
BUT HUMAN NATURE REMAINS
ABOUT THE SAME.

Ny DEAR LOUISE: Wedding gossip is thick
In the air-so are rumors OF certain engage
ments not yet publicly announced. The
young women OF this generation are pretty
well protected by the publicity given engage
ments against the defaulting lover We
scarcely ever hear OF q breach of promise suit
anywhere nowadays, and the gallant who
loves and rides away is figure of period
almost entirely passed. Kinsmen have much
less responsibility now than in the DAYS of "La
Belle Hamilton" when her brothers had to
ride post haste after her fiance, de Grammont.
to freshen up his memory about the girl he
had left behind him. "Chevalier de Gram
mont" said the brothers, "have you forgotten
nothing in London9 ?" "I beg your pardon,n
he answered, ~ forgot to marry your sister. u
The practical spirit of this day announces i'm
medlately the contract and the date of its full
fllment thus rendering of very small impor-
tance the custom Of the church In proclaming
the banns
Each period Of society like those of history
has its peculiar flavor. Thus the name
Of Plantaganet awakens pictures ofthe Red
Cross knights Of the Crusades, the name of
Tudor suggests memories of the reformation
In England, of argosies and armadas, of
Leicester and Amy Robsart, of Raleigh, and
Shakespeare, and Fotheringay, of transition
period when the doublet of velvet was begin
ming to take precedence OF the coat Of mail.
The very name Of Stuart brings to mind the
most adventurous and romantic of all ages
And SO 1t is with the history of society. Each
generation, as 1t plays its part, introduces
methods and customs born of new condition
OF things, but human nature remains the
same.
rl,o,o Am l.
the let-welaloners' of Sidney Smith-"the
people who are afraid to act and think it safer
to stand still. The up-takers-people who see
from their fingers ends and go through q room
touching everything. The clearers-who be-
gin at dish and 90 on tasting and eating
until 1t Is finished. The sheep-walkers-wh
go forever In the beaten track. The lemon
squeezers Of society-who act on you as a wet
blanket, see cloud In sunshine, the nails Of
the coffin in the ribbons of bride, extinguish
all hope people. whose very look sets your
teeth on edge; the people always treading on
your .gouty foot, or talking in your deaf ear,
or asking you to give them something with
your lame hand" We constantly encounter
these types, but the young people who come
on the scene furnish the variety that gives
spice to society. And particularly is this
the case here, where they gather in
all their crudeness with each political up
heayal. Every four years we are introduced
to new SET Although the sum and sub
etahce VI one expensive anu widely adVertl5ed
dabuts among US is marriage, there is no
doubt that married women have comparatively
little consideration. So well is this under
stood that number of blooming and wither-
ing matrons aspiring ''to be in it'' keep them
selves surrounded by bevy of girls And l,
for one, am inclined to look upon this exhi-
bltion of love for one's kind as meritorious
thing. 1t certainly ought to be pleasure to
Join friends on festive occasions. Bright
faces and joyful voices cheer the heart and
give refreshment to the spirit but to be able
to compass these things we must have friends
and young friends at that. Who wants to 60
to party composed exclusively of silver
grays and back numbers +? Everyone to his
taste, but 1t Ia easy to understand the usual
disinclination OF the average man for a col
lection OF human antiques
have been told, as dead secret that there
is disciple Of the wet-w weather dress reform
movement In this city who intends very soon
to walk down Pennsylvania avenue arrayed in
the weather protecting garments, which,
imagine from the description, must be some
thing in the nature of what was once called
Bloomer costume, picture of which I was
shown the other day. The thing has already
been done in Boston, and this is what I have
read OF 1t in the Courier: "They were shorter
than We anticipated they would be, leaving
bare not only the whole of the shoe but not
little part of the limb that is Immediately
above. The outline revealed was one that
would please the artists eye and one which
the owner evidently took pride in exhibiting
to the world" Should the daring girl here
carry out her intention what storm of Trades
will be let loose by the women who can't ex-
hibit with pride
You shall hear of the fate of the bold re-
former, provided her courage keeps up to the
sticking point. Ever yours, ALICE.
<>-e-~~