Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-19

with, however. II the chaperon hers,,
does not dance, and IL she carries in her
train a second protege who is popular or
extraordinarily attractive, VINO Is not a
debutante. and who accordingly draws
men to where they stand.
1 make no special mention OF mothers.
because unless a mother possesses the
qualities Of a good chapcron. she would
better stay at home and allow her daugh-
ter to come out under the auspices of
a younger and more active woman.
HARD FACTS.
There is no gainsaying the fact that
girls social success depends upon the
favor OF the other sex. and men are. in
an extraordinary number Of cases, the
creatures Of first Impressions They are
Ike sheep grazing In old pastures, un-
mdnful of the fresher fields close by.
Suddenly one jumps through the fence.
I and presto, the whole flock Is through In
a minute.
Most desirable men have a large ac-
qusintance among attractive girls. and
! they do not care To enlarge their ac-
| quaintance and increase their social du-
! ties thereby. unless the new girl is a
distinct acquisition 10 the list
Hence a disposition, slight perhaps.
! but stiil a disposition. to avoid new in
/ Productions.
1t is this which every new girl OF or
dinary appearance has to contend
against.
If, by means of a good chaperon or by
any means. she oyercomes it. at the first
party. everything becomes easy for her,
If her first attempt is failure, or a
partial failure, the second Is likely to be
more difficult, and so she finds herself
engaged I'm a long. hard fight. while had
proper precautions been taken, an easy
success would have been assured
| know girls whose whole social life
has been ruined by bad chsperons. Be-
ginning with capltai enough 70 secure
success under proper management they
have made first failures, tried again and
again and been defeated.
Then comes loss Of sslf-confidence and
self-esteem, and finally defeat. Some
have retired altogether, and are never
seen in drawing rooms other than their
own. Others bnger out a dull sxlstsnce
as "wall-tiowers," gazing constantly at
the happiness of other girls, which they
still hope for but can never SHARE.
AS To MALE ESCORTS.
What is true OF girls with charwrons
Is true in many cases where the old Gus
tom exists of "golng Out' with a male
escort
The new girl who trusts her social fu-
ture wholly TO one man Is 4 plain IDIOT
and deserves to fail.
Where the escort system stRI pre-
walls. u new girl should arrange with
some girl acquaintance, or acquointances,
TO meet In the dressng-rooms and proceed
together to the dancing-room. There
they can arrange upon some point OF rem
devious. 50 that when not engaged for a
dance they may be together.
These girl friends should be chosen by
Miss New with as much care as a chap
eron. They should be popular with a
good class or men, and they should be
unselish enough to see that their protege
gets fair share OF attraction.
If Miss New chooses an unpopular gal
as companion she will share In her un-
popularity, and the men viii pass them
b. on the other side.
No new girl can afford TO attach herself
10 an uDattractive chaperone or compan-
ION. 1t may mean utter failure but IL
success does come IL does so I'm. the face
OF lightweight handicap, which few
girls are strong enough to carry.
The primary step OF choosing a chap
eron having been taken, there are many
other steps that and concerning which
the advice Of an experienced and observ-
ing man may be useful. But of these I
shall speak in another article.
HANS LEIGH.