Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-20
INSIDE AN OLD BOOK.

|
Advice Given Women q Century and
Ean Ago-The Rule for Wives Il tn
Efacement of Sclf-A Slavery Lik'
That of Japan.
WRITTEN FOR THE DIspArcH1
Before me lies sober, slightly volume, ,
small quarto heavily bound in gilded calf
with the title, 'The Whole Duty of ,
Woman; or, An Infalllble Guide to the Fail
Sex, Containing Rules, Directions and OBJ
servations for Their Conduct and Behavior
Through All Ages and Circumstances il
Life, as Virgins, Wives and Widows.''
Perhaps this book is what some of us have
been looking for and rejoice to find, though
late. As life is short, let us hasten to learn
the whole duty of woman. as held in 1887,
the date of this cherished relic The good
advice of the first ten chapters 1 cannot
spare, for need it all myself In sooth, ii
is a sweet and searching monitor in its chap
ters ''Of Modesty," "Of Meekness," 'Ot
Compassion" and ''Of AfaDility" The
manner of behavior toward men has some
plain spoken advices, to use phrase in
keeping, as when it bids women have "no
ill-bred affected shyness nor a roughness un.
suitable to their sex and unnecessary to
their virtue, but looks that forbid without
rudeness and oblige without invitation, or,
leaving room for the saucy differences mems
vanity suggests to them upon the least en-
I cOuragement."
Always Appearing Pleasant
Plain enough is the encomium on another
character of the good -humored woman who
I-b
broad smile because good humor is an
obliging quality. This necessity of appear.
| ing at all times to be so pleased is grievous
mistake, since in handsome woman that
invitation is unnecessary, and in one who is
not, SO ridiculous. Conquest" we are
told, 'is so tempting thing that it often
| makes women mistake mems submissions,
which with all their fair appearances have
generally Less respect than art in them.
Women should remember that men who say
extremely fine things many times say them
most for their own sakes, and that the vain
gallant is often as well pleased with his own
compliments as he could be with the kind
est answer"
Most shrewd and experienced monitor,
Polonius to his daughter! No woman's
hand ever revealed this fne-edged truth
What woman's mind was ever free from
webs of vanity enough to admit this, when
men said courtly compliments to her? Small
wonder that the authors name was with-
held, since he had In mind to speak such
cutting truths. One advice "to conclude
this head is, that women should every seven
years make some alteration in them toward
the graver side, not like the girls of 80, re-
solved to be always young, whatever Time
trary."
Appearing Young When Old
Unnatural things carry q deformity in
them never to be disguised; the liveliness
Of youth in ripper age looks like new
patch upon an old gown; so that gay
matron, cheerful old fool may be reason
ably put in the list of the tanner kind of
monsters. Such an old butterfly is of all
Great ures the most ridiculous and the SOON
est found out. Mark we'll the distinction.
It is unnatural liveliness carries the de-
formity, the effort to be sprightly when one
feels least like it. There is strong vital
ity which keeps it's green far into Novem-
Der, which looks well and elastic because it
is well, and the spring is not and perhaps
never will be out of its yeins. As we'll
quarrel with a climate for its late autumn
as with women whose well ordered lives
cheeks, the spirits and the wit of their |
prime, far part 80. As we'll censure DR.. |
Holmes for his jaunty step and alert look .
as he goes down the sunny side Of School I
street because most men afe bent and grim |
at his years. Such perennial freshness is |
hopeful omen for the race, a possibility |
which We may all share with good treat |
ment.
But there Is no comment necessary for
the next passage, which is pithy enough to
fix itself in minds which need it 1.-THE |
- LII
to get down; we will only say that it is q
guard to good woman and disguise to an
i'll. It is one of 80 much use to both that
those ought to use it as an arLifce who re-
fuse to practice it as virtue"
Enslaving Advice to Women.
This is the very gold of worldly wisdom,
coinage for which one would not sell ones
soul; no, nor stoop to ever so slight evasion
Or deceit. But the mere keeping still, re-
framing from idle criticism or jest upon an
other, how safe, how wise it is, and how
we'll the world inclines to reward snch for
oearance. A sane person cannot tolerate
he smeary touch of the professionally ami
,ble person who says agreeable things that
cave you with a sensation of being ham
He'd with honey daubed fingers. But the
person who through preoccupation or fair
ceiling simply omits to be spiteful, how
comfortable is an hour of his society.
There is curious lore between these pages,
essons in the deeper cares of a woman's
ife, ''Of Behavior to Drunkard," and
Behavior to a Jealous Husband" and 'To
Husbands Relatives" the model every
where being patient Grizel, and an eface-
nent of self, which has made many a hus-
,and adore his ill-used wife and compelled
he affection of contemptuous relationship
aw and sent good many more Grizeldas
blessed with every virtue fading into sup
,ressed grave. 1t Is but one degree re-
moved from the Japanese servitude of a
Fife to her husband and his family. 1t
7as, perhaps, the only practice In day
vhen women could not call their souls their
wn. It is very sensible to manage a cho-
eric or covetous or sullen man by studying
lis humors if there is no escape from them,
pen mind to like living with people who
7hom the least inattention when one is
AIKEN up with business will estrange or ir-
itate.
Husbands Who Require Managing. [
One must know the comfort of growing
D with sincere, faithful, steadfast souls to {
now the supreme contempt evoked by I
atures which require managing. Patient
irizel learns to manage, to sit serene, un-
caring, while the gusty temper blows of
r the egotism or brutishness rules, and
oaxes The offender into decency again,
ever betraying her nausea at it's contact,
IL the while she wishes herself at the
lrther side of the moon, and the pitiful
,ul which mars her life dropped over the
1gc of nothing, where it belongs