The record-union., 1893-12-28
WOMEN Who BORROW.
BeseIena in Something of ScoIding
Mood.
But She Points Out Some Good Reso-
lutions for Men and Women
to Take.

Especial Correspondence RECoRD-UNIoN.l
The other day, in answer to some
what pathetic appeal of a certain lady
friend of mine, who is just recovering
from a long illness, took the car and
started for her house. / carried in a little
basket a few things with which she could
refresh the inner woman, because 10 a
nervous, fussy invalid home cooking, no
matter how fine the culinary artist might
be, is apt to pail after awhile, and some-
thing brought from some other person. S
house is duly appreciated and tastes bet
ter. l found my friend just able 10 be
out of bed, reclining on a couch, arrayed
in fitting gown and with just enough
pallor to be interesting and call out ones
sympathy. AS l had thought, my little
offering was accepted gratefully by the
invalid, who told me confidentially that
she had been half-starved during her ILL
ness, which statement / took with a large
grain of allowance, and with all due def
erence to interesting invalids-be it Whis-
pered low-they are, with but few eXcep-
tIOns IN this respect, prone to eXaggera-
ton. l know this tor fact, having been
there myself.
Presently there came a knock at the
door, which was Immediately followed
! by the fiery head of Bridget the Hiber-
nian maid OF all work, with the an
| nouncement that Mrs. Neighborly next
door wanted to know if she could borrow
the rolling-pin. The invalid gave little
gasp and half-smothered groan of veXa-
ton and annoyance, but told Bridget to
accommodate the lady by all means.
My dear" she said to me, the moment
Bridgets back was turned, tits Won
der that woman Il mean Mrs. Neighbor-
ly) doesn't throw me into a relapse ?"
throwing herself back on the soft pill
lows. 81 haven't been in this house ten
days, and yet that woman has borrowed
everything l possess, from my curling
irons to the rolling pin. | wouldn't care
so much if she would only return the
| things, but she won't. l suppose" with
little vindictive shake OF the pillows.
shell be wanting the loan Of this house
next with all its contents, my husband
included. We are not millionaires, and
Dick has to work hard for every
thing we get. Mrs. Neighborly knows
this, but it doesn't put a stop to her bor-
rowing, and that's not the worst of IL,
continues the invalid, sitting bolt upright
as her Indignation bubbled over. ''She
ferrets out everything about you, and
can trace your family pedigree further
than you can yourself. She'd make a
splendid private detective. Pm only
sorry the Chief of Police doesn't know
about her accomplishments in that par
ticular direction, she'd be a bright and
shining light on the force"
''Yes, know L am cross" she con-
tinued, after little pause; "but that
woman would try the patience Of even
the immortal Job himself. And the
worst of it is, l am utterly powerless to
put a stop to the evil. Her brother is one
OF the leading men here, and has
helped Dick on more than one OCCASION
so you see how completely | am at her
mercy. We're it not for that I'd drop her
so quickly she'd forget she ever knew me-
But there" continued my invalid, Il
think I've regaled you long enough
over my tale Of woe. Let's talk of some
thing else."
didn't blame my poor friend for her
TRADE against her borrowing neighbor. |
think Pd have been even more severe
had [ been in her place. Fortunately for
people who live in hotels, as l do, we are
free from those too friendly neighbors,
even if we do have to occasionally submit
to other. though lesser evils.
Borrowing with some women becomes
perfect mania. They do it simply for
the pleasure they derive from the act, and
True, it is an economical way of keeping
house, but it is at the cost of their VIC
TINS friendship and purse. Again it is
not honorable, and | think if these bor-
rowing women could only hear them
selves criticised by their victims they
would not feel flattered. 1t is only
shiftless, untldy woman who will house
keep at her neighbor's expense. Some
women, when they find their stock ofpro-
lou TOO
that's the word, and l won't soften it a
Bit to 90 down town and replenish it, or
if they nave q servant are too Indifferent
to tell the girl what to do, consequently
when the time comes to use these house
hold necessities they find them always
short. and at the eleventh hour must
needs run around to the back door Of
their nearest neighbor and borrow the
needful articles.
The New Year is close at hand, and if
were one of those women who are prone
to this habit, Pd make resolve on that
day never to borrow again.
And now just one word for the benefit
of certain young men | know, who have
habit that is Just as bad if not worse
than that of borrowing, that is in speak
ing in. a disparaging manner of woman.
A true gentleman will never be guilty
of such an action, no matter who the
]
habit was prevalent among young men
until the other night, when the oldest
member and l were invited to a dinner
party. The guests of the evening were
! supposed to be ladies and gentlemen
! from the four hundred of thiss city.
Everything went swimmingly until to-
ward the close of the dinner, when a cer-
tain dandified young officer, who had ev-
identity drank more wine than was good
for him, started in to make some remarks
about certain lady. Instantly dread
silence fell and the unlucky officer found
himself the cynosure of all eyes. He
stammered. grew red and confused, aud
finally stopped altogether. Then the
interrupted conversation was resumed
among the guests. This was one way,
and very effective one, too, of stopping
a slanderous tongue. No one at the ta-
BILE, found out afterwards, knew the
lady in question, but she was woman;
that fact alone was sufficient to insure her
protection from the men and women who
were present. 1t is safe to say that that
particular young officer will be very care
full in the future about whom he talks,
and [ do not think he will ever again
breathe even hint against woman. He
has learned satisfactory and lasting
lesson.
No man should speak disparagingly
of a woman, no matter what she may 10.
When he does he loses his manhood an<l
self-respect the instant the words are out
of his mouth. He loses his friends, too,