The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-04-09
Talks WITH QUE READEEs.

TALKS WITH OUR READERS.
Fashion IS not Of necessity divorced from
questions of manners ana morals. il fact. its
dictates enter society and there is pre-
vailine code, or It may perhaps be more APP
propria,eiy termed fad. that IS often
quite rs much a fashion as is the cut Of
garment. There are few sensible peo
pic who can see without regret u growing
tendcncr on the part OF republican Ameri-
cans 10 become ''snOEsr Thackerav
showed up This class among his own couu-
trymcn IN d light that has made it contempt
ible. and il is time some of our own writers
should handle the subject with the same
polished weapon as did he. Anglomania is
not particularly harmful so long as It con-
fines itself 70 wearing a monocle and the
drawing Alterations of speech. for dude
can when the occasion arises become
brave man, but when it enters society and
leads to rudcness. chilling the better na-
lure. ii becomes vicious. An American
woman not long since was being shown
through the portrait gallery OF an English
noble and the question was asked her if
She had no family portraits OF the same
period. No, - said she, my ancestors at
lnat time were too busy cutting down trees
10 build log cabins and clearing land 10
have theirs painted Afterward visiting
the chapel and examining the tombs attcn-
ton was called 10 the heraldic devices,
she was asked as 10 the coat Of
arms Of her family, TO which she patriot
ally replied, Stars and stripes and the
. eagle, and our book Of heraldry IS the con-
stitution by which all men are declared 20
be free and equal in the pursuit of happi-
ness" The Englishmen aksed wonder
irglv, Are there many Of your country
women like YOURSELF" "Thousands,'
was the rcply-which was followed b. the
second qucrv. do they ever come abroad
Doubtless he had seen but few, Vet there
are thousands in American homes who love
their native land and hold that there IS no
better patent of nobility than honest, ear
nest effort. right living and gentle courtesy.
While this IS true, with shame it must De
admitted, that there is growing tendency
rs wealth increases TO foster a spirit
that is not republican and not emo
bling. The nobility that obiiges an exhibit
Of heroism that is tender and gentle alike
10 the hum blest and most exalted is above
praise. but when 4 claim is urged because
of some half savage ancestor who came
over with William the Conquerer, or be-
cause of a left-handed marriage with roy
atty. or with noble families, the claim is
valueless even in a land whore titles
abound. Energetic forefathers have Gre
ated the American 400 and should men
or women be despised because in this
day they too are toiling for
The upbuilding of their children?
A society based on wealth is sordid, even
meancr than that of a dccayed aristocracy
where unsavory doings are notorious. In a
new country new conditions exist, and be-
cause man on woman has worked or docs
work in any honest calling ought this to be
It reason Tor an exclusion from good society?
Most certainly not Adam delved and Eve
spun. aud their descendants have had TO DO
the sane in al ages, and ii exemption from
Toll IS the only claim 10 gentility then to be
RenJeel IS not worth the struggle. The
guinea stamp no more make the man now
than when Burns wrote, and society that
condoneS vicious living and admits into its
charmed circle giIded sin has no right 10 be
called good.
The truth is often harsh but at times it is
beneficial. and one of these times, is when
ike the surgeons knife, il pluueS away
diseased growth until healthy surface is
reached. Women have been charged with |
cruelty to each other, one man has termed |
them The Manneress Sex" and they are
also charged with cherishing 4 spirit of |
envy towards each other. 1t may make |
l,s vince 10 ADMIT il, bat is 1t not true that |
We are less generous towards each other |
THAN are men. \ man may rise from low |
estate and men point 10 him with pride rs |
an example OF what pluck can do in free |
America: is it so with women" We leave |
with them The question.
Women mould society to their will, shall |
F be- said in the hour upon the dial which |
marks wouan's emancipation from the |
bondage traditions have imposed that she is |
Jess generous than man. Surely not.