The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-03-24
HER TWO DAUGHTERS
HOW THE AMERICAN MATRON LOOKS
AFTER YOUNG LIVES.

how or admiration Tor Jne New \ DIRK Cor
nelia. There was never any one so ex
quisitely fine and finished and neat You
may find this lady with her temper in DIES
habille, but you never find her with hel
hair out of order. That flawless headdresS
is never marred by a loosened hairpin or 4
displaced curl. You cannot, even in
thought, associate her with Il rumpled col
lar or muddied skirt.
She is always at the same pressure OIL
cool, complacent perfection. When you
run into her on Broadway on Il wet day she
is still exquisite and unruffled, clear as to
skin and eye, smooth as to hair, placid rs
to manner, dry as to foot.
The American matron, feeling that she
is the custodian of the morals of the future
generation, is of course very firm in seeing
that the children imbibe learning and ideas
from only the purest sources. Her two
eldest are two dear girls whose career is
decided upon when they are yet in their
swaddling clothes. Well recommended
governesses and the most expensive schools
are going to do the educational part of the
business. The morals will be attended to
by church every Sunday morning and one
chapter of the Psalms read every day on
rising.
TRAINING THE DEAR GIRLS
But the American matron makes her
strongest point in never allowing the dear
girls to make any acquaintance out of
their own circle. "Keep to your own class,
she says constantly to the girls All the
girls just their own age, in just their own
class, are sorted over and passed upon forap
prevail. Several fall below the average nee.
essary to reach before being permitted to
enjoy the friendship of the dear girls One
of these turned her back hair up at the age
of fourteen and wore spotted wells over her
school hats. This was an evidence of II
mind too prone to frivolity and love of un
profitable things. Another is having her
voice trained. 1t is a remarkable voice
undoubtedly but rather too remarkable to
be altogether in good taste She sings, too
like professional. When later it tran
spires that she really does contemplate be
ing professional, actually is going on the
concert stage, the American matron can
not be sufficiently thankful that she
tabooed her in time. What a dangerous
acquaintance for the dear girls
The acquaintance permitted the dear
girls are all up to the standard of compla
cent mediocrity that the American matron
approves. Very clever people or very
dashing people are not encouraged by this
careful lady. That young woman, who is
the Montgomery Smiths first cousin, was
never asked to the house a second time.
The first time she came to Il dinner
she talked so much-so brilliantly some
people said-that the men on the opposite
side of the table would not do anything
but listen to her. They entirely neglected
the girls beside them just to hear what
this remarkable young woman was saying.
Then they began to talk across the table,
which is not at all nice thing to do, and
she answered them and said all manner of
extraordinary things, which made every
one roar with laughter The American
matron was on pins and needles during
that dinner. She had never before had a
person in her house who created this sort
of a sensation.
A PROFESSIONAL! e.
Even her own daughters seemed to be
amused 1t would take weeks to bring
them back to their usual state of tame
gentility.
Then there was dreadful man that she
herself had asked to the house. She liked
him, and never suspected what sort of a
person he really was. He was most pre-.
sentable individual, dressed just like any
one else, had refined voice and an En-
glish accent, had his hair parted and cut
just like a gentleman and would really
have deceived any one. One evening some
question of piano playing came up, and
one of the dear girls played 1.-THE Monas
terry Bell' in the way she had been taught
do I AM off orH
that quiet, personable, unassuming com.
monplace young man got up and played
on the piano in such way that every one
sat around paralyzed. 1t was so unpleas
antly striking that nobody talked. They
all listened, which is thing nobody ever
does.
And of course every person there knew
there was something queer about it, and
then it leaked out that he was profession.
al The American matron had to make a
round of visits afterward and tell all her
friends how she really had been entirely
ignorant of what class of man he was
when she asked him to the house. After
that it blew over, but at one time it really
looked as if it might grow into quite a
scandal.
But men have to be gathered for the de-
lectation of the dear girls, who, fulfilling
the destiny of women, will marry decently
and in order at the age of twenty-five or
thereabout, start up nice, well appoint
ed little establishment, have nice, we'll
brought up little family, and develop into
the severest type of American matron.
THE YOUNG MEN.
These young men come of respectable
families moving in good sets. They have
moderate incomes, and are all so much
alike in style, manner, appearance and gen
eral cut that knowing one you know them
all. These young men dress well and never
make bad breaks" in any way. A cursory
investigation into their pa, careers reveals
no desecrating crimes. Iaty can tie their
cravats and dance the waltz rs well as any
young men in New York.
Conversationally, they do not startle one,
but they advance opinions on all topics.
They prefer girl ''who has look of
blood" they will tell you, and do not care
for good looks unless the "style" is equal
ly good. They do not like anything that
is conspicuous-no, that's not good form.
The surest way to be always in good form
is to do just exactly what all the others do
When the young man pays his calls on the
young woman the American matron sits
beside them, working on large square of
tapestry. York Cor. San Francisco
A