The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-19
a Wiae Xvnman,a Comnlnint

An elderly country woman. who has chnpe.
roned TWO charming nieces through the dan
gers and delights of a gay New York season.
CLAIMS TO have discovered one of the gravest
oNHs mehaeing modern society, and gave her
views az elaborate length the other dav
The ladylikc young man is at the bottom
of the mischief she remarked animatedlv
and as long as he is allowed TO flourish Of
course grs can't and won't marry. Who do
! mean; Why, that hybrid housekeeping
creature who is neither fish flesh nor good
red herring, who IS unsexed and has poached
further ON our preserves than ever Mrs.
briggs did on the manly Alliance whipper-in.
Cur first encounter with the now-langlcd
specimen was right after Christmas. when
cards came asking MS TO tea at Mr.. VS.
rooms. hcstated about accepting but
yielded and went. still ] felt for the poor
fellows natural pelplexitles and boughtanice
bag OF lumblcs. some lump sugar and took q
few extra spoons along to help him out in "a
tight place. We'll bless your heart when a
neat, wllte-cappcd maid answered the electric
bell, ami pushing aside long shadow curtains
Usherod us into an elegant parlOr.
/ began making every apology being sure
We had stumbled into the wrong place. But.
no. here came our host bowling and smiling.
begging us TO take of our wraps. and excus-
lug himself for pre-OcCupau Just "a have
q lone "a thousand times at home by saying
the kettle refused 10 boil Well while he
talked TO the girls began looking round for
some place ,O hide those OdlOus cakes and
heard the spoons rattlng in my pocket.
such splencor you never saw rich hang
lng- and porteres gracefully draped. long
broad divans ncapcd with plump sllken DIl-
lows of FAINT contrasting TINS. easy tuftsd
Longing chairs, tDotSt0O.s. q subtle perfume
pegmcatng me AIR. and buc-a-brac every
where. With each survey | took that paper
hag grew bigger and the silver lngled under
the folds of my dress But the polished mir
r0rs. bowls oI roses, embroidered scaris and
charniunly decorated walls were rs nothing
toa scene over IN the left-haud corner next
tine fireplace.
There sat the tea-table in all its glory. with
Mr.. " lowering round DO ike q protecting
spirit. lie had lady osieusibly presiding.
but no old maid could have kept sharper eve
on the tea-cups. lie discussed the different
varieties of tea with warmth, defended the in-
fusion process. gave his reasons for patrOniZ-
my particular bakery, and in the meantime
handed round b0nbOns and sailed almonds to
hiS haii-uozcn men and women guests.
Prom confectionery the talk driftery to
napery, and with glow OF Senulde pride our
entertainer exhibited a set of exquisite dOilies
lately added % hls linen closet He adyo-
Gated drawn work and the outline stitch IN
white floss rs rather superior style at after
noon functions. and then got on The subject
of china. which was evidently his hobby
Each fragile cup and saucer was diated upon
Iu turn. the dehc0cy and beauty of the pOr-
celan naturally leading 20 a wholesale abuse
of servant, Mr.. N- and q man e friend
sitting near agreed that they never permitted
Biddy - lay finger on the properties Of
their pantry.
They laundried every piece of china and
plate personally To insure safe handling. and
used only pure linen towels in order 10 avoid
lint. As you may imagine ! sat aghast to
hear such conversation etween two bearded
creatures, and was scarcely surprised after
ward when woman of the party yentured
am opinion on the subject of sweeping. to hear
both 0i them summarly suppress her Sure
lv, thought, there must be "a layer of dust. q
few cObwei g. some strong smelhng pipes, and
pair of rusty boots somewhere to redeem
these short haired, trousored mOIy-coddles.
MOI so.
The establishment was Immaculate
and when with true hOusewifely instinct the
man took me through TO admire his admirable
labor-saving domestic arrangements | was in
dignant enough 20 nave administered sound
spanking and dressed him up IN petticoats
and bib apron.
"Now want 20 know who our daughters
sisters and nieces are To marry continued
the wretched lady. Certainly not those
hncky Miss Nancys. and there are no longer
any bachelors, Ii appears. nice. jolly fellows.
who couldn't tell mop from range or q
broom from q lamTequin: who went Dutton-
Jess and with holes in their socks till some
nice girl took compassion them. who We're
lonely and needed companionship, helpless
and wanted q woman's hand TO keep neat
hearth and warm their slippers.
"Siuce that first afternoon last winter
/ have been % twenty teas of the same
sort i'm as many different departments New
York fairly sworms with this new type of hui
mantv, and with each exhibition of his aiiem-
macy grow more disguised. My girls are
athletic. ride, swim. hunt md use the horl-
zontd bar Naturally when their hosts talk
bread and butter they become painfully cw-
absurd mistakes. Tel me. is this really d
revolution Of nature. as they say? If so, the
apumeutal young man X decided step to-
ward q reversal of the sexes"