The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-31
rnRrr KINps 81 FLIRrs.
All OF Them Married lyomen--some Born,
Some Made.

Some Made.
The married firt IS pi9net which
thriyes only in the shadow Of city walls.
in country places we see little Of her
and hear less. She exists, to be sure,
but I'm another eorm, much scandali2ed
and tabooed person. for with us the en-
vironment of in a gay and more or less
fashionable society circle the married
nirt has no field save in adventure.
once let the married woman in small
town get herself talked about and her
fate Is settled al once. The tide of public
opinion runs high and strong in these
places where people have little expert
ence and consequently little charity, and
she must either reinstate herself slowly
by an excess OF prudence and reserve,
or drift on and out into defiance and dis
grace.
In the large cities, however. all is differ
en,. The conduct which in the village
wife would cause severe gossip and cen
sure from observers passes without COM
meDt iu town or even eXcites admiration.
The country matrOn who drives out
WIN her neighbor IS liable to meet cold
glances OF her women acquaintance when
next they meet; while the woman OF
fashion speeds by in her cart, with her
gallant beside her whispering compliments
While custom has much to do with our
ideas Of morals, there are certain princi-
pies which no custom or country can
change principles which form the divid-
tng line between night and mornng-be-
tween pleasure and license
believe a conception Of these principles
Is born In the soul Of every human be-
ing. There IS an instinct which prompts
every woman TO preserve her virtue.
whether she obeys It or not; and there IS
IN instinct called conscience which whis-
yers to every wife when she is overstep-
Ding the boundary-line OF discretion in
conduct, no matter whether she dwells
IN country or city.
The married hlrt can be classified I'm
three divisions The born flirt. the nirt
made by circumstances or books, and
the seemingly unconscious firt.
The born flirt Is a combination OF
selflshness. consciousness and love of an
plause. She feels that the world owes
her good time" though the heavens
are pulled down TO produce IT, She
lives wholly I'm her senses and an hour
OF solitude or. self-communion drives her
distracted. Books bore her and music
she cares for only as a cover for con-
versation. To be looked at. admired.
courted, to drive. dance and feast. this
10 her ideal Of happiness.
she nnds little 10 divert her I'm the
companionship of women. Men are the
stepping-stones TO the good of her desires.
She marries young. and soon finds that
one man cannot satisfactorily cater to
her various tastes for amusement and
pleasure and at the same time earn the
money necessary TO her comfort The
latter consideration is the first Ia be
considered so she allows the husband TO
keep at his money-getting while she
looks to other men for amusement and
diversion. The fact that women dislike
her and gossip about her only contributes
20 her diversion. She construes il as a
testimony 20 her powers. She is pleased
with her husbands jealousy and II she
brings up In the divorce court al last
she Is not abashed or disconnected be-
cause she is sull observed as an object
u interes, by the public.
The made ilirt is a more sensitive
sentimental and vain being. She has read
pooks~Ouida in particular-wherein the
married siren figured as heroine She
talks great deal about the Subtle
power which some women exercise over
men, and is indignant and disgustea If
you Intimate that she has other than a
spiritual and mental attraction for the
admirers VINO flock about her.
She feels that her husband does not
iuiiy understand her, and her variety
ana idealism lead her TO believe ana
eonstrue as sympathy all the nattering
speeches whispered in her ear and In
treasure all the notes and roses sent
her by other men. IL through these
indlscretions she Is led into newspaDar
notorieiy or toe courts she is crushed 10
the earth and believes herself the most
abused ana misconstrued woman on
earth. III she escapes this experience
she continues into middle life her lovers
growing younger as she grows older
and 1dicule taking the place OF crit
icisn on the public lip.
The seemingly unconscious married
nirt Is perhaps the most dangorous ana
certainly the most aggravatng OF ain
She looks straight IN the ewes OF mon
WIN ehid-iike trust ana seems not TO
understand their bold. suggestive glances
or their meaning compliments, but she
does.
Perfect mistress Of herself. absolutely
Tree from making any misstep. secure In
her husbands love and respect and I'm
punuc esteem. she yet leases and tennis
the admiration Of men 10 lean danger.
ously near the fame OF love by those
nomeless arts OF coquctry which are as
lnaescriDable as elluring II any man
torSs's himself and speaks words 10 her
when no honest wife should hear she
sssomes the air OF wounded dignity SO
isnaiisr 70 us through theatrical repre-
ssnsuon ard cries. ''sir. how dare your.