New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-29
THE "MAYFAIRY,"
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENGLISIIwOSIAN
OF SOCIETY

THE GIRL MAN WANTS FOR SISTER OR
DAUGHTER THOUGH NOT FOR A WIFE
THE ENGLISH wOMAN's TREMENDOUS
FOOT AND LARGE APPETITE.
The difference between the Iarisenne and the
"Mayfary." /. may be permitted to thus describe
the fair denzen OF Mayfair. Is much the same that
exists between the Venus Of Medici and the Venus Ct
Milo. While inferior to the Parsiennc In grace and
elegance both OF body and mind. the ana, fniry' Is
superior regnrds scupural perfection Of form and
soldity OF mind. Her face too. Is more regularly
beautiful. though II lacks that animation and that
appearance Of sparkle and vim which constitute the
particular cachet trademark Of the Parisenne and
o. the daughter Of Uncle sam. Like the Venus OF
Milo. the EngiishwOman Is lacking In elegance ana,
with some exceptions. In grace. Perhaps. owing
10 her fondness for outdoor life and exercise. she Is
far more masculine both In form and mind than her
French and American sister. Her train Of thought
and her manner Of looking At things are essentially
those Of the stronger and the result Is that she
constitutes a more practical and better hepmate TO
her husband than the more attractive Parisiennc bic
possesses what tue latter lacks namely n strongly
developed Of order; and while the Parlsienne
| when giving dinner. Will devote her principal at
tcn,ion TO the graceful arrangement OF the flowers
and fruit the Mayfair hostess will neglect the latter
IN tho cxcrucating manner for the sake OF the
vnnds, which excellent This II perhaps due TO
the fact that she is far heavier eater than either
the Psrlscnnc the far New-iorker. She does not
live on "petits gaeanx," like the former. nor on
bonbons and candy. like the latter but demands
fair share equal to that Of man, OF nutritious food.
principally meat. Nor does she dsaain glass OF
wine; and whereas Parisienne would never be seen
drinking anything stronger than wine and water, Inc
EnGIlshwoman, tho other hand. does not hesitate
when dining In public. to take not one but sew
eral glasses Of sherry burgundy port or other strong
and generous wines. She Is n woman Of strong and
sterling friendships OF memory for the past Of thought
for the future: and while the Parisicnnc l. full OF
generous impulses, which cfcrvesce like champagne,
and then fall fiat those OF the Englishwomun Lac rich
burgundy, seem hattcr at first. though developing
strength and warmth as time goes on
The London woman has sense Of fitness rs re-
cards dress. and nothing Is more distressing than to
an Engtslwoman arraycd In the creation OF some
great Partisan couurcr. the most glarng hck OF har
mony between the wearcr and the gown being patent
TO every eye. The attire In which the daughter OF
Albion looks thoroughly well are those masculine CUR
ments thoroughly in keeping with her appearance
and character. yclept taiormade gowns. and perhaps
she is her best In her riding hahit-e'pccaily IN
those older fashioned which are long enough 10
lust hide the feet For II the foot Of the Partscnne
and Of the fair New Yorhcr Is a poem, that OF the
Mayfairy must be described piece OF prose and
q rather heavy one ut that something after the pom
derons style Of Macaulay: or II n poem. u al any
rate partakes OF the nature Of those ancient and nm
wiedy verses which known By tie name OF lam
bics. A Parsicnne and n New-Yorkcr are nj their
best on foot whereas the Englshwoman Is never seen
to such advantage when in the saddle. Perhaps
IL IS owing TO this that so few Engiishwomen know
how 10 wink we'll that Is TO say. with that grace ana
elegance which Is peculiarly charactrrisuc of the
women here and In Paris. In these two places me
women Trip like Gazcles. stamping occasionally hko
the latter with their dainty heels and dising' like
those highly Nnetted and prancng little Ku.si'h
hor ses known ~ Ofloffs. the Engllshwoman ON the
contrary, resembles far more in her walk the stately
dignGcd and slightly pondcrous carriage horse. Her
walk instead OF being and airy trip, Is stride
almost masculine In It's proportions.
Her conversation l. IN keeping with her tread. that
il TO say somewhat heavy less superficial perhaps,
than that OF the Parisiennc or 81 the New-f"rk'r,
but devoid too Of the ghincss. the sparkle and the
brlancy which so Distinguish women nero an" on
tho banks Of the Seine.
The at OF rcrartce-some would call II n gifts
closed book 10 her. II Is too delicate weapon fr
her TO handle, and when she does venture 10 max"
use thereof she Is apt TO remind enc OF person ac
customcd 10 broadsword and slnglcs'lck exercise cn-
deayoring to thrust ard parry with delicate steel
foil The result IS that she Is apt 10 instinctivey
dislike brilliant people particularly II they belong
70 her own sex She prefers the commonplace. and
regards those who above that level rs "obtri'
,,ver md bad FORM These epithcts. ! am sorry
to say she applies especially 10 American wonien-but
under tho oircums ,snces that may be regarded as
compliment.
Extremely insular far more even than the
Enrlishman she is imbued with contempt Tor every
thing foreign and possesses In less degree tban any
other women that cnn think OF the power Of assimi
htion and Of adapting herself 10 circumstances she
not only remains a thorough Eneishwoman WIN all
her many qualities and shortcomings wherever sne
goes even II called upon TO reside ABROAD out seems
to resent that those around her who are Of dherent
nationality do MT conform themselves strictly 10 hcr
,deos OF c,nyentjonnlity and hight. Perhaps IT Is
owing 10 this that 50 many British diplomats have
married American rather than English WIVES Tue
American being so far more ready 10 adapt herself
TO her surroundings.
Another defect Of the Engshwoman. and especially
Of the fair dcnizen ri Irlgsyn and MaSfar + Ss
much to softc, the aspeI1'ies o. our Prc'Ac nn
and to sooe onr manifold MAJ trouble % yoc. ms .Hsee ID
ngly harmonious and de!icatey modulatea TN,
Fortunately there t %x s Gs p not pSssess
talents. and there Is scarcely any country IN tne
world where h the Of Queen ao Nor
there anything amusing than 70 wntcn the ines
Of newly ayd ~, diplomat nsns IN w6r So often takes
place In the drawing after dinner Ills features
bcy nt Of al espsC,n;Sm then ,s srprs 'n pnn
Although endowed with such sound common sense
and calm N %S' snHsnsy s 70
not SO much in conversation as IN her ideas concerning
fashion and IN her enthusasms: Nowhere IN inc
Of the French fashions as in London. and this ten.
dency coupled with the lack OF artistic taste and ab
sence Of harmony IN cOlors combines 10 produce
those eccsnircities OF toilet which Englishwomen
have rendered themselves famous throughon, the
world She has no sense Of the "apropOs or Illness
Of things as regards dress and nothing IS more amusing
than 10 watch the face and listen 10 the remarks OF
Parslenne who during the season Is chilled upon 10
witness the er-church parade IN the Row
With all this there Is no woman IN the world VINO
hinhor
Sterling sense of duty han the Engshwoman. She
Is lust the kind OF girl. In fact that any man would
like 10 have for sister daughter. though II IL
not astonishing that he sh ,uld prefer as wife the
Parisicnne or the New-Yorker.