Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-27
WHAT is A LADY 2
The Word Originally Sighted
. Bread Server.
MADE oDIoUs BY RANK MISUSE


- - krD4 ~
~ eon6nsa 70 IL
WNN original dsniAcar
N0 uoas, 80 Of
~ which = ssthe
ssissd enc. 1 q. raissd ~ marriage 70
coalition superior 70 that of birth md
wosthy of tttls confederation even
fron the bords of creation The other
eerivasion Of lady v from an old Saxon
word meaning the distributor Of bread,
hat u 10 say The house wife and general
lomsseic manager According To the
:ormsr dsr1yxtlon. the wife Of King
cophetua Is the most prominent LADY on
record. and fancy II would hardly suit
ne dignity Of N American woman to
claim tina same titls on ~ same
yroundA
Nor would there b any eager scram-
DIE for the honors OF the bread server"
vince. unfortunately. housswifeFy y IN
almost forgotten art among us, and II
,racuced Is generally 90 suhservient 70
,rner interests and pursuits. at leags IN
Iargs communities. that few indeed
would care to be addrcssed habitually e.
Housewife ao-snd-so.
But since the original meanings ara
obsolete and altogether inappropriate TO
modern ambitions, what definition takes
their place. and what does lady" really
mean among u.s.
Why il means Absolutely nothing ct
al. and had better DO abandoned than
nisuscd ~ 1t u.
A friend OF mine who dsvotes herself
10 missionary labors ut the east hide of
New York tells me some funny stories
illustrating these statemenss. and they
are absolutely true.
Oueisof tbs white wifeof negro whom
shs visited the other dsy. and found ~
ing in bed and covered with plasters and
bzndages. ASKING for an account of
this condition. she wzn told that tho
lady a. lives on the floor above has .
great way q gittin tight an cuttin mp
rough ON wsshdsy. an when me an she
ives hangin out our clothes on the ono
he'd We st some. m In the end she
kicked me down Tho steps "A broke my
bead the way you So"
Trying 70 find nurse TO care for this
poor creature my friend was told by q
respectable woman in the same alley
that
You won't hnd . lady. mum. that
viii 60 and mus body that's took up
with . DARK man. unisss it's another
lady like heraslf."
A second dame complained that IAN
other lady' was living with her fthe
ro,nplainauk's) husbond. and they had
turned the .'childhsr" into tho street to
beg for their living.
TYying 20 tsace one q her clients who
had tsupee1r2y disappeared, my friend
was told: ''oh, you wants the lady that's
gone 70 ne lslsnd for . simple drunk.
Well. She's gene, but there's smother
lady In hsr room very bod with the
snakes. anA naybs shs'u do you just -
well"
And yst anoSher had attached her
nsighbor tooth and nail because she had
told her abe s'wus no lady"
We M have bard OF The new servant
In some wsst1En town who announced
hersslf - .'the lady that came to work
for . woman ~ the name OF Brown.
u you're ahe."
Ard myself, in sending for . lsm-
drsss. was informed tha9 the washlaAy
] wanted had oome.
Is y not unconmcu 10 80 placards IN
the windows u uaillinsrs and dry goods
dsoless to TIE eject that salesladies are
wun1ed within, and In ono largo estab-
fishment noticed . placard. mo con-
versatiou wifh saleslsdiss In business
bouxu."
But think the drolleGt use Of the
word have yet heard was when good
naturally accompanied . friend into N
intelligence once and heard the head Of
II inquire among his charges:
rs there any lady here that would 90
-ept place - kitchen nsidT
One lady was found willing 70 con-
descend % Tar. and was brought into
the room were We sat A CONCLUSION
was reached and the msn. opening his
book. took down my friends name and
address. and thea turning to the caudi-
date for the part Of kitchen maid. in
quirsd:
And your name. young LADY,
MY names Brpnnan.~
An. ycs: Well. Miss Bruunan. you
vill call 1t this address ~ soon - possi-
bic. won't yon7
Gut hsrs my friend interposed. quietly
sayine:
Il fancy there b some mistaksl
want 20 hire kitchen maid and not .
young lady. and my domeseics arc al
ways called BY their mrs names. Do
yon quits understands~
Hut hercupon the young lady" b.
came abusive. the c1l,cisl tried to Be joe
Mar. and We reseassd minus the kitchen
maid
This is funny. bot Il b also true.
Now. ii all the perso0s | have men-
tienesi wish to Be called ladies'. for one
have no objection in life: but let them
Keep the title all 20 themselves. and let
rs reserve The good old title u woman
for the rest Of the SCI. | for one am
aaste content TO he called . woman for
tue rest Of NJ days. snd shoald never
fret IL that Of lady were denied me.
~ eourss. however, the term dos
snsl uaesn somsshiax among persons
who NE language with Discrimination
and sppssciasipa. snd The proper sietini-
ton 70 my mind would b . woman Of
refinement. education and good breed
ans. brought up N such Habits sod man.
ners that. however eisvatrd sent1co -
nay b~ c>Alel - ST. shs viii sever
n-~~. sosefmm them Ia fbeee qnalid-