Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-02-14
GOSSIP AND ISLANDER.
DOES THE RESPONSIBILITY LIE WITH
MEN on WOMEN


MEN on WOMEN
Opinions Thst Differ ON the subjees--A
Charge Against Mems cIubs--They Are
Hotbeds Of Scandal Hat disappointed
Women Are Worst Of All.
Who is responsible for the scandal. the
Islander that Is abroad in the worlds Man
fays it is worzsn. ard woman stands with
accusing finger pointed at man. A young
girl came &c me the other day and said.
I've made fool OF myseIfp' I politely
tried to look surprised, though / wasn't.
Yes" she continued, II have; and I'm 90
mad with myself that / could bite my
tongue out and use my head for football.
"ng1 This Is why. The other evening
TWO gentlemen called to see me. Oae was
afriend ! had known from childhood.
great, splendid, whole hearted fellow that
brings an atmosphere of cheeriress and
perpetual good nature with him He Il
always 50 courteous, 50 considerable, 50 ap-
preciative and SO complimentary that It Is
pleasure to be in his company.
The other gentleman was a man Of
great intellect. whose desire to meet me
had filed me with a sense OF citation. I
was walking on air. We talked Of al sorts
q sub9scts. and felt that never had
spent more delightful evening OF it, kind
In my life. But dear ne-just before tts
close something happened" and the
young girl looked so lugubrious that moth
ing would hare surprised me. "You see,r
Continued she, 1--WE had talked about peo-
pie and things. At last the name Of a Ger
tam woman was mentioned The person
enjoys considerable prominence One OF
the gentlemen said, DO you know hers' L
know who she is Did you never meet
her-sheis so charming a conyersationalist
am sure you would like her. Yes re-
pied, aEd there must have been something
IN my manner which challenged a oues-
ton, for Immediately it came. What do
you know about herr You evidently do
not approve Of hers'r
Now the young girl has more wit than
discretion and she replied, .sweIl, IL you
must know. I've heard she was shady
and some one ouce took the trouble to
warn US girls not to be seen talking In
the streets to her. or to have anything to
do with her.n Both the gentlemen looked
shocked. Why said the man Of intel
lect, Il hare visited her many a time, and
have never seen anything in her behavior
that could be considered the least out OF
the way"
Then the young girl forgot she was talk
ing to men, not that she wished to discuss
undesirable subjects, but she forgos what
Is always said when one woman fails to
agree with man in his high estimate Of
another woman. So in the heat of the ar
gumens she exclaimed: s.WeIl, all know
is that some of her associates have been
dropped by society, and il won't do for
young ladies to attempt to go counter to
the dictum Of society leaders 1t may be
very sweet and lovely and all that, but IL a
girl does attempt to do SO she herself suf-
fers without being able to do one thing to-
ward rehabilitating the shady person in
the garment Of responsibility" Then both
the gentlemen looked panied As well as
shocked
Il know they went away thinking that
would lend myself to the envious detrae-
tion of another woman, and / wouldn't.
III the first place both of those gentlemen
oyerestimate the importance Of that per-
sons position. They do not know as do
that many doors are closed against her;
they do not know that, from the stand
point Of my set, she does not possess one
single attribute Or ettainmenf that can
arouse envy"
My friends experience led me 10 make
inquiries. where do you think scandal
originates | asked bright society WON
an. young in years, bur old in worldly wis
dom. Where, With women,r she re-
piled unhesitatingly, and then added, But
let me modify that. With the memory of
all have heard in ms life, and the knowl-
edge that it generally could be traced to
ha az of Ii
must take that back. mems club Is the
very hotbed of scandal. Those fellows, old
and young, want to be thought irresistible
or omniscient; they can't deny themselves
the pleasure of being thought successful
where others have failed. By a smirk
when woman's name is mentioned; BY q
significant look, a shrug of the shoulders.
even twirl of one side of mustache, the
insinuation is made-to say nothing OF the
open discussion of wonan's charms, and
the speculations as 10 her being able to
meet the requirements of Caesars wife.
Il don't mean to say that perfectly
pure, good woman, whose conduct has al
ways been above reproach, will become the
prey of their conversation, although such
cases have happened. But you know II ere
are hosts OF women and young girls who
will do imprudent things. Many of them
are women now in a stratum of society not
where they belong by birth or education.
They don't know how to behave. They
are not thoroughbresis, you see. They
fooiishly take pleasure in defying public
opinion They don't mind being talked
about. They boast of their escapades, and
yet they do have lots OF friends, sweet girl
friends, who absolutely refuse to believe
that dear - is aught but so impru-
dent, and some man comes home from the
cluh-some father. brother or husband
and warns the women of his family not &c
be seen with 'Se-and-soi any more; that
her name has been mentioned in the club
Oh, my dear" continued the society
woman, "the shores Of clubdom are strewu
with wrecks of reputationsl
"on the other hand, the worst detractors
of women are married women every time
You take a woman whose own career has
! been failure. She is always on the look.
out for improper behavior among younger
ami more attractive women. She canno,
I forgive them for receiving what she pc
longer can hold-the admiration of men
/ When you find such women in hotels and
/ boarding houses. they are to be dreaded
I They make wild endeavors 10 hold rheil
own with the younger women; they fail
I they are bitter; they devote themselves K
+ lying in wait for fresh game ali the time
/ their grip is weakening, but they clutch al
the same. Oh, my dear, il you ask me
/ how scandal originates, must go back &c
my first answer and say with women, with
tagged out. iaded, disappointed passes
women. A young matron, secure in hel
position in society, happy in her husband;
i love, and surrounded by her children, j:
I too sweetly selfish, too wrapped up in hel
own happiness To be envious or Jealous