The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-09
Ways Of SWEET WOMAN
Some Things That Interest Wives,
Daughters and Mothers
in London Town.
A Remarkably Good Woman's
PAPER That Has just Made
It's Appearance.
rhe Quarrel Of the styles In Dress--Ar-
Yhs Quarrel OF tho styles In Dress-Ar-
tistlc Work Done by Women
The Engaged Girl.

WOmAn'S paper mas mace lts AisS @ppo0A
ance in London this week, ana IN one OF
its most interesting articles a sliSht sketcn
is eiyen of the first newspaper published
for the amusement and instruction OK
women. Il was called the Ladies' Mercury,
and first appeared in 1893, during tho reign
of King William III. The editor of Hearth
and Home tthe new paper) says that'
..rhose we're the days of small things IN
journalism, and the sheet called the Ladies
Mercury, was scarce the size OF a school
bows copybook at the presents day.
numbers of this quaint paper are preserved
in the British museum. and In an e1plana-
tory paragraph. which opens the first edl-
ton, the editor, evidently wishing to dis
miss any jealousy that might be felt by the
sterner sex, says that
.While religion and heaven and other
sublimer points are your Gamaliel studies,
we are for setting down. with Marthas
humber part. a little homely cookery; the
dishing up a small treat of love-" Then
saws this gallant editor to the ladies that he
will undertake to "answer all questions
YOU shall vouchsafe to send u.s." adding
that, "We declare ourselves such religious
homaeers of virtue and innocence that We
vould not force a blush into virgins
checks, having that true value for beauty
as to adorn it with no other vermilion than
its own" Upon examination, this precious
sheet turns out to be simply a; series OF
questions about etiquette and various dell
cate enquiries about matters of morality or
casuistry, supposed to be of interest to the
fair sex. All these interrogations we're an
syerod BY the editor with more or less
cleverness, and the only advertisement that
appears in either paper is that OF 'Davld
Poyey, Operator of the Teeth"
1t is amusing to listen to q stormy discus
sion between a party of ladies who are
deavoring to reform" modern feminine
attire and another party of ladies who
think the present style OF dress quite sui
fciept unto the day. Very many excel
lent arguments are advanced on both sides.
and one ia never quite sure who IS to get
the best of it. One of the reasons for
wearing divided skirts, according to e. re
former" is the entire absence of restraint
for legs or for feet. tho movement of these
members being unimpsded; walking Is
NECESSARILY much easier and less firing, the
muscles have fuller play, and the mind is at
rest, because no thought is required for
muddy petticoats and bedrabled LOUNGES
indignant at this point. and for
a hearing. Her remarks occupied a con-
siderable length Of time, and we're most
interesting. The substance OF her
argument was that petticoats were the ouly
natural clothing for Il woman's lower limbs
in the temperate zone. 1t should be noted.
she said, by dress xeformers, that eastern
women wear trousers, and are proverblally
law and unfit for %exertion OF any kind.
The only women in warm climates who
work are of the lower castles. and they do
not wear the trousers, but Il single Ions,
n 49, IL Ah-% 1~nr,o thn mi
free and u~nhampsred. The only northern
nation, she continued, whose women wear
the same neither garments as men are the
Laps and Esquimaux. but they have to
tramp through snow and ice, and do not
wear full trousers, but tight-ftting gar
ments precisely like a mans. The nations
where women wear full trousers are where
they are least respected, where they are
treated as toys and as beings without souls,
and as a rule these countries are polyga-
NOUS. Therefore, why should We wish to
copy our dress from women who are barba-
rians, and as a rule, brainless puppets!
The Armourers' and Brazlers' company
have been Lolding an exhibition, at which
some of the handsomest and most artistic
work shown has been done by women. A
first prize of $40 was taken by a young
woman who had executed an exqulsitely
wrought repoUsse plaque OF brass. Then a
specially commended design, by another
Ma "oO q SS"A paw ~ 'A''S 'spA -
bold design in poppy flowers engraved upon
it. Altogether go man. and beautiful were
the designs of feminine brass-worksrs that
they bid fair to be formidable rivals to the
mon, who have hitherto preserved, und1s-
puted, for themselves, this artistic and use
full line of employment.
The engaged glrl' nowadays scorns s
diamond ring "a a pledge of good faitf
from her beloved. She must have a ruby
This is the most lucky of all precious
stones, and it seems was always uset
in the eighteenth century for {;
love token. 1t is supposed t,
Arrive away bad dreams, make the weare
torgst all evil, expel sadness. and keep on
in good health. Then, too, it is said to b
the gem of loves, because, while the be
throthed ones are true to each other, i
shines with a clear radiance: bat if eithe
should prove false it grows clouded an
dark. Surely all these tales ara romant
enough to make one believe in the occul
power of thisb beautiful stons!
There il Il singular and very clever pic
ture in the Royal academy this year, whic
as yet seems to have escaped the critics. ]
Austen, the beautiful wife of Professc
Roberts-Austen, G.. b., /. X. g., of IL
Mint. 1t is by Mrs. or Miss Emily CraW
ford. The remarkable feature of tn
picture is the fact that it ia life
size and full-length. and yet it
OOut Ill NatSI ColCiS. u diSpidJ
both power and delicacy of touc
and there is a daring combination of ligh
and dark red that is ~suggestlvs OF the styl
of the old Italian masters. Prof. Roberts
Austen. it will be remembered succeeded
DIR. Percy's chair of Metallurey at Sout
Kensington, and he is second in conman
at the royal mint. His wife is we'll know
IN q beauty IN London. She is very fai
with wonderful golden hair, and eyes
that rare deep blue SO seldom seen. ST
dresses with consummate taste, and, it
said, designs all her own gowns, which al
always slnRularly original and beoomin
She is we'll known in those rather grimy r.
gions where the mint edioins the histor
tower, and she is always spoken of in r.
spectful accents az "the beautiful lady
Tower Hill"
At the German exhibition now being ne
Mt Earl's court, ill the dist let OF Kensin,
ton, one of the moss popular and fashion
able suburbs OF London, a lady guide
on hand, who for & Small consideration
will show pilgrims and strangers all Il
points of interest and entertainment in t
vast pleasure grounds. A rather amusil
story is told apropos of lady guides'' wi
willy ways. A party of tourists were beir
shown through one OF highlands 'shc
mansions" recently by a nice looking you
person, who explained in Il most INTEREST,".
and Intelligent manner all the histosi,
pictures, the tapestries. the carvings al
the statuary. AS the party neared tho @
of their tour of ms ~pection a halt was ma
in tie banquetting room, and IL ratl
shabby man stepped from the backgrou
hat in hand He stopped in front of t
amiable pilot, and surveying her with a r.
erential eye, addressed himself to
astounded audience. Really, ladies a