New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-28
SUMMER INTIMACY.
rom The Boston Journal.

From The Boston Journal.
The summer boarding house is each year the scene
word. for II farce enters tragedy Is not, therefore
absent The tragedy Is not red II is green; and yet
II the temporary jewellers the farm or by the sea
live together by previous Arrangements as s,uue,,,s
daily routine Of amuScmcnts may 20 I'LL the END OK
summer. undl,ubcd by slight Jars or open ; ana
House Is like the barbcr's chair, which receives
impartially all that seem able 10 pay pr sne
Iercnt tempcraments and opinions thrown into
close and cnfsrccd proximity They see each other
Agreeable weather they are Obliged huddle together
Ike sheep against the warning elements. They are
obliged 10 undergo tho severe test OF eating III
common. . . ,. 4. 49,
Tropnquty Is powerful aid to marriage: II also
creases me way to strife The men at these board
ing houscs often take an early trsin Tor inc Guy
and they are more seen until after inc neat ana
together comfortably for man Is naturally gre
garious animal The women SEQ each other con
country they have local Views concerning depor1mehs
and dress: they nave individual opinions concerning
Violent friendships founded on the mention OF a
common friend the secret consciousness OF
personal or social superiority. These friendships
stand the test of month or two months. ana inc
parting compcls mutual and loud protestations OF
Intense Interest In tho fuu'' lIvcS of the separated
Two women may for Instance. be t0Nn>fOlk ana
strangers. The approach Of intimacy is then mora
gradual references are ln,srcnnngcd IN welSr %S
they never met before They discuss together Their
nciChb ana tlelr huSplUbS. lIltN uPpDrF tlc
existence Of tho servant problem; they lay plans
for the winter: they agree to go to the same
gymnasium: urges the advantages OF Turkish
baths and the other, In gratitude, recommends q
fayOrte medicine.
This Intimacy Is thing OF summer. After tho
return 10 the city there chance meetings In
street or I'm shop. and OF immediate calls arr
the women not the same. and the intimacy sinks
quickly to acquaintance. The discovery Is made
that the laugh that was jolly on the piazza Is
coarse I'm the parlor: lurid wall paper exposes
lack OF taste: II leaks out that has singular
relatives In cheap quarter OF the city. and that
tho other one read Browning. Each woman
declares to herself that She has been taught lesson
She rescns the condolences that were exchanged
She feels n of personal injury. The discarded
friend f. n reflection on her Judgment. IL her name
I lived in n house with her last summer there
is n smile terrible than any epgram or sneer
And vet each man, the next summer. though
IN u different place. plays In the same comedy
The intimacy never sincere. CompanlonshlI
was sought rs relief from boredom. 10 Keel
there was an abandonment Of opinion; there was
reasonable admiration. . -
Or there Is IN explosion during the temporary
exile An illt,med criticism OF the manners OF 9
spoilcd child a disagreement in which question
~ proprietv is the bone OF strife undue attention
match The husbands are made n take SIDES; .
mistaken idea Of chvalry chokes common sense
There + commoton. There Is sudden deMruN
or glDomy STAY. Fortunately. such scenes are
rare But the violent intimacy and the consequential
decay Of interest and faith are social phcnomeni
woman thus hunting friendship saddens the SUDDEN
OF sociology. A friend Is not caught In lucky
moment with a scoop net