The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-18

lished relating to household economy,
the obligations and prerogatives of wives
and mothers, concerning personal adorn-
ment, and touching upon other mat
tiers that are properly addressed spe-
cially to womanly attention, that does
not fall within the Objectionable category,
but there is plethora of other matter ad-
dressed "to women through both the
newspapers and the magazine press that
is really an insult to womanly intelli-
gence.
We cannot do better than quote fur
Their from the essayist named in the
outset:
The press declares that it ''caters TO popular
taste" In the name of all robust and normal
Womanhood, where do the mental and physi-
cal lnanlties reside VINO crave such pabulum :?
from a pile OF respectable city journals, gath
ereo absolutely at random, have complied
lew cuolce Illustrations. The writers cover q
large range of subjects with great impartial
Ivy. They write OF actresses, clothes, Russian
lesi com pleXions, corSets and sleeves with u
versatility that suggests the combination of
scissors and hope, smiles and soap" IN the
Hunting of the Snarkl" One article unfolds
plan whereby two sisters may become-use-
ful and happy? Q, no, decorative" and
effective" In condensing the scheme l will
omit quotation marks, but retain as far as
possible the phraseology, as being likewise
both decorative" and effective" Girls who
20 IN Tor TINS sort OF thing can set each other
OH by wearing gowns that suit each other and
posing about tremendously, making pictures
OF themselves. They should, of course, pro-
vide themselves with good contrasting COM
plexions. One might be, for instance, a vivid
blonde and the other dull ashen blonde. AS
basis OF operations a corner is very appro-
priately suggested where they may best
weave the web of their destinations. The
writer assures us 1t works beautifully for
both; the pretty one, who hasn't very much
brains, attracts the admirers to the corner,
ana once there the plain but brilliant foil
does the entertaining. Another of these au-
thorities tells us that Empire frocks, being
worn without stays, have distinctly demon
allZlng tendency, for woman without cor
sets closes all moral backbone and wants to
loaf on divans, read novels and drink tea or
smoke cigarettes" still another of these
Dabblers-who seem to be the lineal descend
ants OF Tennyson's "Brook''-giVes hints for
the furnishing of boudoir. Statistics are not
At hand for the number of women in the
United States outside of novels who own
boudolrs. The boudoir is first defined: 1t is
the room where woman thinks, dreams,
dresses, talks and reads" The bed must be a
dainty DREAM" the pillows snowy invita-
lions" a silver rack must hold the ivory
backed brushes OF the "spotIess washing
stand" the toilet table must have its pretty
profusion of oXidiZed silver, cut glass and
| flowers" but, "of course, the principal thing
Is the looking-glass." The writing-table must
look into privacy the love secrets of its
owner" and contain two or three sorts of let
ter paper "for friends, for business, for lovers
and so on" Is any comment necessary Oh
| possible? am uncovering no new atrocity
Everyone knows the brand, and these are nc
! worse than dozens of other contributions
from dozens of other Industrious scribblers
for the society column.
Lillian Mercur should be encouraged
to go on in this direction of protesting
criticism. Manly men will smile APP
proval and womanly women will applaud
her. The men because they do not ad-
mire women who are content to waste
time in reading such 'stuff" as is indi-
Gated by the critic; women, because il
they have any respect for their sex de-
cline to consent to their classification
among the dolls, friyolities and useless
appendages of society.