St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-09-11
THE AMERICAN WOMAN.

Detroit Free Press.
The American woman, as described
by writer in the London Queen, is the
most versatile of her sex. She is at once
domesticated and yet pleasure-seeklng
in her tastes. With keen eye for the
material side of life, she has no less
ready appreciation for literature and
art; while eXacting as she is toward
men, there turks in her a sentimental
vein. which causes her to cast halo of
romance round even the most prOsaic
and dOllar-grabbing of husbands. In
the Middle and Westean states early
marriage is the rule, although the
age Is rising, and girl who twenty
years ago would have been married at
sixteen. now delays until from twenty
to twenty-four. Young wives, as rule.
have no home of their own. The girl
not infrequently brings her husband to
live In the house OF her parents, for the
mother-inJaw is no such femme terrible
as she is supposed to be with us. The
young people have suite of rooms set
apart for them, where they spend their
coy evenings alone, while they JOIN the
family circle for meals, or in turn enter
tain their relations and friends in tn, il
own little household. The young wife
is thus spared the worry of hOuSekeep-
ing for the first few years, while the
young husbond. who would have proba-
bly, remained a bachelor for ten years
longer, is encouraged to take the plunge
long before he is ready to keep up an
expensive separate home. Other young
couples take refuge in the ubiquitous
boarding house, where an Indifferent
table and still more indifferent fellow
boarders soon lead to promptingS of the
spirit to find home at all hazards for
themselves.
The American woman is essentially
genial. She is not so terribly anxious
to know the pedigree and occupation of
every stranger who may happen to
build house next to hers Or to take the
next pew to hers at church. She will
welcome the newcomer, whether her
husband happens to deal in land or law,
stocks or sugar. medicine or morals. 1t
is all business" in her eyes. and she
cannot understand the delicate lines
drawn between standing behind the
counter of bank or a grocery
store. Every house furnishes at
least a score of rocking chairs,
and ones first introduction to
ladies' social circle is decidedly a
bewildering one, for each individual
chair rocks its own time, and the effect
upon the brain is analogous to that
which would be produced upon the ear
were each individual instrument of an
orchestra to keep its own time.
The tone of American conversation is
proverbially high, and the questions
discussed i'll London drawing-rOOms,
often in the presence Of men and young
girls, are entirely avoided i'll America,
except by that limited and foolish set
who live to eat, dress and initiate moth
ing but the follies OF the English.
| On the other hand, the best and most
| Intelligent American women have a
| great admiration for the English; they
are envious to desperation of their full.
mellow voices, their bodily vigor, fine
The American woman has no rep0Se-
| hence the rocking-chair in which she
! works off the nervous energy which the
| eXhIlarating climate stimulates to so in
| tense degree. She is never sleepy or
| dull, but longs for the Restraining fac
ulty which would give her chance of
building up her frail body and strength
ening her nerves.
The American woman is hospitable,
| generous, intelligent, vivaciOus and
brave, but the lines which appear under
the eyes and round the mouth ere she
reaches thirty tell their own sad tale.
What she needs topsrfect and maintain
| her charms is the cold morning tub,
| less violet powder, more fresh air and
| Out-of-doOr exercise. and the utter eX-
termination of the horrid furnace,
| which, placed in every cellar, sends
| forth sirocco-like blasts of air INTO every
| chamber in the house, and SO converts
| the modern American home, in point of
| temperature, into a conservatory for
forcing plants.