Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-10
IN BEIEF.

IN BRIEF
Emerson says: 'fLife is not so short
but that there is not always time for cour-
tesy.n A sentence that deserves to be
written in letters of gold, and worn as a
phylactery.
Walter Besant in the New York Press
asked, What is womap's greatest charm2"
In response there were thousands of an
swers more or less diversified. After a
careful review of those published, courtesy
would seem to embody the larger part.
Kindness, tact "bonne carmara dsrie"
usefulness, adaptability, unselfshness and
charity are component parts of what the
world calls courtesy.
There is little question that one Of the
ehiefest charms to most men in woman is
her quick sympathy with him in his labors,
his pleasures and his whims. Shakespeare
understood this when he said, "Age cannot
wither her, nor custom stale her infinite
variety"
Beauty may attract, but woman infused
with the sense of her own beauty is seldom
gracious, she is bore because to her the
language of compliment is daily food, and
men tire of dealing it out.
A woman who can look intelligent, can
listen interestedly, enter alphabetically
into mans talk and plans may have tip
TILTED nose and a mouth too large to suggest
kissing. but her graciousness wins.
The charm of doing and saying every
thing at the right time and place is charm
that age nor LONELINESS can dim. Neither
is it necessary to assume the virtue of
courtesy, for it is one that may be culti-
waited Think grace and the face will be il
lumined think kindness and the act will
second the thought. Does notour inner life
even mould the features, and shall 1t not
direct our actions2
Habitual giving of ready sympathy, hab-
itual observance of those acts which smooth
rough places habitual expressions of good
fellowship will make the plainest woman
charming and what is better give her the
grace of true womanliness.
~
When Sara Bernhardt was in Memphis
she visited Alice Mitchell, the girl muir
derer now in jail The thrifty Sara has
always an eye to business, and is as ready
to advertise her own shame IS that of
others if it puts francs in her purse. The
care with which she Is said to have col
lected information relating to the case indi-
Gates the probability that Memphis may
furnish material for sensational play in
" hich Sara will take leading part The
real victim is Lille johnson, who allowed
her romantic friendship to make her an
accemplice.
There are times when it becomes neces-
sary that severe remedy be used TO stop
the iusidlous growth of a deadly excres-
cence.
1t has been said before in these columns,
and cannot be too often repeated, that
great charge is committed to the guardians
Of young girls, and the responsibility is in
tensiied each year until mature woman
hood.
Such plays as Bernhard and her imitators
present, such novels as lola and his fol-
lowers write, erotio poetry of modern
schools and whatever tends to foster the |
emotional and the imaginative to the detri-
ment of the rational and real is harmful. |
Against this assertion there is no argu-
ment. Mothers know more than is neces-
sary or advisable to put in print, and no |
mother who does not check tendencies such |
as led to the Memphis tragedy or who does |
not endeavor by every means possible to |
keep the daughter pure hearted is guilty in |
a degree that no right minded woman can |
contemplate unmoved.
Second only in grave responsibility is the !
teacher. Any woman who regards teach |
ing as merely q means of livelihood, tenn |
porary bridging Of the straits of daily needs |
is unworthy the vocation. To the teacher |
is largely delegated the training of the i'm |
mortal nature, and there are few good |
women who do not gratefully remember /
the wise direction some faithful teacher |
gave their early ambitions, and to whom I
they are indebted for much they have been
fitted to accomplish.
-.
In matrimonial disagreements blame /
usually attaches to both parties, and it is /
not probable that the Blaine affair is an
exception. Still no woman can help ad-
miring the courage born of motherhood /
which makes Marie Nevins Blaine confront
a strong combination. For the sake of
giving to her son the inheritance of
mothers unsulDed name she is even
willing to make public letters that women
hold sacred. The man who has been known
as 1.-THE Plumed Knight forgot chiyalry
when he attacked defenseless woman
bearing his family name, whatever may
have been the provocation,
-.
The women Of Denver, thoroughly
imbued with the spirit of Western enter
prise, are at work to raise the sum Of $1o,-
o0e for the purpose OF securing a copy of
Powers famous sistuary, ''The Last Of
the Tribes as part Of the Colorado ex-
hibit at the Worlds fair
The women of Texas have laborea SO