The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-04-21

worthy or little consideration even
from the lords Of creation. The other
derivation of lady is from an old Saxon
word meaning the distributor of bread,
that is to say the housewife and general
domestic manager According to the
former derivation, the wife of King
Cophetua is the most prominent lady on
record, and fancy it would hardly suit
the dignity of an American woman to
claim the same title on the same
grounds.
Nor would there be any eager scram-
bic for the honors of the "bread server"
since, unfortunately, housewifery is an
almost forgotten art among us, and if
practiced is generally so subservient to
other interests and pursuits, at least in
large communities, that few indeed
would care to be addressed habituaIly as
Housewife So-and-so.
But since the original meanings are
obsolete and altogether inappropriate to
modern ambitions, what definition takes
their place, and what does "lady" really
mean among us?
Why it means absolutely nothing at
all, and had better be abandoned than
nlisused as it is
A friend of mine who devotes herself
to missionary labors at the east side of
New York tells me some funny stories
illustrating these statements, and they
are absolutely true.
Oneis of the white wife of NEGRO whom
she visited the other day, and found ly-
ing in bed and covered with plasters and
bandages. Asking for an account of
this condition, she was told that ''the
lady as lives on the floor above has a
great way of gittin tight an cuttin up
rough on washday, an when me an she
was hangin out our clothes on the one
shed we fit some, an in the end she
kicked me down the steps an broke my
head the way you see."
Trying to find nurse to care for this
poor creature my friend was told by
respectable woman in the same alley
that
you won't find lady, mum, that
win go and nuss body that's took up
with dark man, unless it's another
lady like herself"
A second dame complained that "an-
other LADY, was living with her Ghe
complainant's) husband, and they had
turned the "childher" into the street to
beg for their living.
Trying to trace one of her clients who
had temporarily disappeared, my friend
was told: "Oh, you wants the lady that's
gone to the Island for simple drunk
Well, she's gone, but there's another
lady in her room very bad with the
snakes, and maybe she'll do you Just as
we'll"
And yet another had attacked her
neighbor tooth and nail because she had
told her she was no lady"
We all have heard of the new servant
in some western town who announced
herself as 1.-The lady that came to work
for woman by the name of Brown,
if you're She"
And l myself, i'll sending for laun-
dress, was informed that the washlady
| wanted had come.
It is not uncommon to see placards in
the windows of milliners and dry goods
dealers to the effect that salesladies are
wanted within, and in one large estab-
lishment noticed placard, mo con-
versation with salesladies in business
hours"
But l think the drollest use of the
word have yet heard was when good
naturally accompanied friend into an
intelligence Office and heard the head of
1T inquire among his charges:
lis there any lady here that would &C
cept place as kitchen maid?"
One lady was found willing to con-
descend so far, and was brought into
the room were we sat. A conclusion
was reached. and the man, opening his
book, took down my friends name and
address, and then turning to the candi-
date for the part of kitchen maid, in
quired:
And your name, young lady?'
My names Brennan"
"Ah, yesl Well, Miss Brennan, you
will call at this address as soon as posi-
BILE, won't you?"
But here my friend interposed, quietly
saying:
81 fancy there is some mistake.
want to hire kitchen maid and not
young lady. and my domestics are al
ways called by their first names. Do
you quite understand"
But hereupon the young lady" be-
came abusive, the official tried to be joe
Mar, and we retreated minus the kitchen
maid.
This is funny, but it is also true
Now, if all the persons | have men,
toned wish to be called ladies, for one
have no objection in life; but let them
keep the title all to themselves, and let
us reserve the good old title of woman
for the rest of the sex. for one am
quite content to be called Il woman for
the rest of my days, and should never
fret If that Of lady were denied me.
Of course, however, the term does
still mean something among persons
who use language with discrimination
and appreciation, and the proper defini-
ton to my mind would be a. woman of
refinement, education and good breed
ing, brought up in such habits and man
ners that, however elevated q station she
may be called to fill, she will never
need to reform them. To these qua1ifi-
cations should add some acquaintance
with society and its rules, with the
laws OF good taste in dress, and sufi-
Gent tact and good feeling to set other
people at their ease and to feel EASY
ones self
Now, know very well that this def
milton will not meet the views of a large
class OF excellent people, who will ex-
claim in holy horror.