davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

priest 10 answer. because. you know,
we are commonly supposed to know
nothing about ladies. And so, with
priestly conservatism. / must content
myself with saying that ] believe wo-
man is the surest means OF bringing
souls to heaven. And is not that
enough What m)re could one say?
What Constitutes Gentleman.
By the majority OF people the term
gentleman Is used 10 describe any man
who is wei dressed. fairly well educated
and who always has money I'm his pocket
IL Is not so easy, however, TO define
what the word does mean in it's highest
sense.
questioned a number Of bright mud
well known women whose opinions on the
subject l submit:
Marie Tempest says: A mind as white
and pure as the driven snow. A man
out whose mouth you never hear an nm
kind word about a woman, and n man
who respects his mother ana family
detest a goody-goody man. think
as a usual thing. we find them insincere
but man whom you can make a friend
OF. ana one whom you never hear utter
an obscene word. is what / should con.
slider an ideal gentleman.
Aunt Louisa Eldr.dge says: A man who
II kind and eonsiderate TO others. whsth-
or they are his interiors or equals. a
man who II as polite TO old women as
% - - . young and handsome one. I
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

apart, with a strong fence between the
graves. the idea being that Zen in their
ashes dwell their wonted fires" The
prudent husband remedies this by sep
arate establishment.
A few ladies in Chinatown have &C
quired an American education, have been
through the public school, and are i'm
bued with American ideas. Some were
born in this land and are proud Of their
birthplace. TEnse who have grown up
have married rich Chinese merchants.
American furniture. carpets, comforta-
BILE beds and plano or organ are found
In their homes. They can cook and bake
bread and play the piano like American
women and their husbands idolize them.
They live a dual kind Of life. One even
ing they are seen at the Chinese theatre
in gorgeous Chinese dress OF silks and
satins another night they may be seen
at the Baldwin dressed in the latest
style a Ia Parsienne. / met two Of our
swclcst and handsomest Chinese ladies'
driving In the park the other day. They
were taken for japanese. Several OF
these Amcricanized ladies lave adopted
American ways entirely and live away
from their own people. Mrs. Aw Yeong
the wife OF the Chinese consul, Is
graduate OF the High school and a tho
roughly accomplished lady. She dresses
In perfect taste and many who see her
1.-THE figure fine dark eyes and striking
features take her for a Spanish lady.
She has just returned from the Worlds
Fair and the east, travelling about with
all thehappy freedom Of an American.
Her husband Is graduate Of Yale and
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

OF human weakness. ! might supplement
a list of manly and noble qualities which
appear obligatory, but when / say the
gentleman must be well born and well
bred / fancy that covers everything.
Mrs Alice Fischer Harcourt President
OF the Twelfth Night Club says: | like
a modest man. and a gentleman to me
means one who has seen just enough OF
the world to appreciate a good woman.
Mrs. A. w. Palmer says A truly gentle
and generous heart constitutes gentle
man in my eyes IT makes no difference
how badly he is dressed: whether his
clothes are il-ftting or his linen frayed.
Ii a mans heart is in the right place he
Is sure 10 do the right thing. 1t viii
prompt him to be kind TO others. courte-
Gus to women, and honest and upright In
al his dealings, He may not always be
up In the latest fashion Of shaking hands
or In the hundred and one little niceties
that n fashionable man prides himself up
on. but he will be thoughtful. considerate,
and man you can rely On under all cir
cumstances.
Loie Fuller, or Ia Loie says: / suppose
every one else would consider that man
who was Invariably polite TO women under
ell circumstances was gentleman, Ell?
Well. l don't think so at all. You will
usually find out that the very pleasing
courtesy you are enjoying at his hands is
costing someone else considerable worry
or considerable business. / have Just
seen a case Of this kind eXemplified. SO ]
speak knowingly. This man in question
was supposed TO look after the affairs Of
a professional woman and be on hand to
receive salaries paid her but his extreme
politCness in taking friend Of hers home
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15
THE LADIES OF SOCIETY.
TEE WIVES AND DlU0AT1AS W
WEALTHY OHINIMEE.
How These "0oldeu Lilies Spend Their
Time-whst They Do snd How They
Drsss-Chiness Belle In Chinstown.
fcoprrish. for The Times. 1891


A Chinese home amongst the upper
classes contains one sacred secluded
spot. curtained of from profane gaze.
1t IL the shum kwei. or inner apartments.
No Turkish harem or Indian zenama is
guarded more jealousy than the gynecee
OF wealthy Chinese establishment.
There are gilded reception rooms where
the master of the house receives and
feasts his male guests, but the ladies'
are never present and no male friend.
however intimate, would have the au-
dacity 10 ask to see Madam. The gold
en- lilies" as the bound-footed ladies' are
called, are in the rear OF the curtains,
and can only be visited by persons OF their
own sex and rank.
seclusion of the Higher Glasses.
The extreme difficulty of gaining access
to these homes accounts for the many
silly things said and written about Chin
csc ladies. The world has been MADE 10
believe that Chinese women are down.
trodden class. They are pictured as new
ers OF wood and drawers OF water, drudg-
es OF all work; sad-looking care worn,
scraggy and ugly, so different from the
gay, vivacious Japanese maidens OF the
tea houses. over whom Sir Edwin Ar
mold went into such ecstacies year or
two ago. The fact Is Chinese beauties
keep indoors. Only the old nags ana
seen on the streets and these are taken
by ignorant globe trotters TO be specimens
Of the Chinese ladies who are out Of sight
Hence japanese women who have never
been accused Of shyness, are immoderate-
ly praised to the Displacement OF their
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

about on feet not three inches long II
is gratifying to find that while foot
binding Is fashionable In China the
practice is not popular IN California.
Some pictures are given OF two pretty
young Chinese ladies with feet their
natural size. Another picture shows Miss
Kwei Fa, a small footed native daughter
OF the golden West. She belongs to one OF
our best Chinese families and Is very
sweet young lady.
Wardrobe of n Merchants Wife
The other day 1 saw Mrs. Leong Tong.
wife OF the senior partner Of the firm or
Heng Chong & Co. She was accompanied
by her daughter and both were elegantly
attired. The mother wore a satin kilt
skirt with large box pleats OF blue and
black, embroidered before and behind, and
Killed on each side. The shams or over
wife Of a Chinese merchant)
dresses were of rich purple brocaded SILK
with the now fashionable broad sleeves
OF immense width, the inside being lined
with blue silk. The glitter from three
diamond rings drew our attention 10
hands OF lily wilderness and a wrist that
bore bangles Of chased gold and the pal
est Of Jade. Her earnings were studded
with pearls, from each Of which hung the
usual ring of Jade. Her head was with
out bonnet, the hair was done up In the
style called sho kai-being tie mark that
distinguishes matron and maid--and was
set with artificial flowers, bars and pins
of gold and drops Of pearls. She said II
took her maid two hours to dress her
hair and I don't doubt 1t.
One could not fail to notice the refine
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15
Ivory as a citing for Jewels.

The study Of precious stones has sug-
6ested to the wife of an expert and some
time collector an idea for reformation in
the settings Of diamonds. Whether IL is
practicable Is question for jewelers.
The proposal is that ivory should take the
place OF gold or silver All wearers OF
diamonds are aware how troublesome is
the process OF washing and drying silver
SET diamonds so as 10 avoid the slightest
tarnish' and gold setting has the disad
vantage OF causing so much reflection of
It's own color as 10 render the Wilderness
OF hne diamond difficult to gauge.
But even more important would be the
gain OF beauty. The brilliance of gold and
silver would mar their charm as a setting
Tor transparent and sparkling stones.
though 1t makes them good setting for
Opaque stones and for pearls. Ivory would
give the. gentle effect that is now sought
for by setting diamonds together with
merely semi-precious stones-a combina-
ton deplorable 10 the expert. Ivory would
have even more than the quieting effect of
cats eye or chrysoprase and its thick
warm Wilderness by tina lucid and carsing
diamond would make an effect Of great
reinsmsnt-Pali Mall Budgst.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

am sure the sight I saw the other day
was the act OF true gentleman A
Young ector I know held the big bundle
OF an old washerwoman on one arm while
with the other he helped her carefully on
the horse-car Now there Is a lad who
WAS brought up IN the right way, who
was taught TO be courteous 10 all women.
and that 10 be gentlemanly 20 the old
and poor, never lowered his dignity one
whit
| think you can also tell a gentleman
by the manner in which he COMFORTS
himself at the table. No matter how
poor he IS he will know how TO handle
his knife, fork ard napkin II Ell is well
brought up. Another excellent place to
find out gentleman is In travelling.
Some men are such hogs on trains and
In hotels. ] have had plenty OF chance
10 observe them, j assure you, travelling
around so long and such instances or
seifishness az ! have seen In men VINO
called themselves gentlemen, you could
hardly believe.
No man who is selfish can possibly be
a gentleman because he lie always think
Ing OF himself, and when called upon TO
put himself out In any way to oblige
others, he will end by being discourteous.
/ am not one Of those women who
expect a man to jump up and give me
seat whenever i enter car. women
who get into a crowded car ought to
expect TO take their chances and often
times the hard working man Is much
more tired than the girl he vacates his
seat for, but do like 10 see man Will
ing to do 1t, and not sit still with an
exasperatingly contented look on his face
as II glad he was cheating some woman
out of seat l don't think a man Is
always ungentlemanly because he does
not get up for lady, but | certainly con-
slider il the act of a gentleman when he
gives his seat to the old or to a woman
with a child I'm herarms.
Mrs. Jennie June Croly says: A gentle
man is one who possesses the best quail
ties of a man united to the best qualities
of n woman.
Helen Dauvray says: A gentleman? A
man hwo can be brilliant and intellectual
without egotism; courageous without
effrontery. Honest 10 the extent Of
always declaring his unbiased opinions
regardless of results. Loving without
selfishness. passionate without lust.
Just but humane, and never forgetting,
especially in the presence Of women. that
his mother was a woman.
Having seen very few gentlemen In the
course Of my career my remarks must be
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

considered proper for . lady. marfico OF
unmarried, to attend . show OF any
theatrical exhibition. In San Francisco
ne nave n Chinese theatre with ooAss
and galleries especially provided TOT .he
ladies. from which they can see the play
without being the objects OF mems ruoe
gaze. Here may often De seen ov"o
rood specimens Of Chinatown beauty:
At one time Chinese actresses were no.
permitted on the stage, the femaie parte
being taken by men. The latest innova~
,,on 4. genuine Chinese actress. Miss
Kum Kah is only IS years OF age ana
has shown great histrionic skill as the
heroine in several Chinese dramas. Here
she is I'm martial robes, in the character
of the Chinese Joan of Arc, Muk Ian.
Who Joined the imperial cavalry and
through the twelve years war fought as
a man and never once betrayed her sex
The Amusement OF slipping Vinegar.
There are no old maids In China. Every
healthy Chinese maiden before she Is
twenty will become either wife or con-
cubine, and TO be the latter IS no dis
grace In China where her status and that
of her children are recognized by law. II
is the sad blot on Chinese family life
that when the first wife is childless a
"a merchants daughter with bound feeD
the line Of descent must have no break
In many cases the first wife consents,
and shows nothing but satisfaction at
the presence OF one who has come to re-
lieve her of much care AMI perhaps to
place child In her arms. She appoints
Mrs. Number Two her duties and claims
The children OF this second wife as her
own. 1t sometimes happens that the mall
nai, or madam, is a Jealous termagant,
In which case the coming IL Number
Two is a proceeding that promotes wha:
the Chinese facetiously call slipping vine
gar" A soured Chinawoman is n sight
to behold. Vesuvlus In eruption is not
more unmanageable than Jealous wife
In her parozysms Of rage after slipping
vinegar" The head man OF the clan or
company Is often called in TO settle these
squabbles and exhort the iadies TO ,uit
slipping vinegar. / once heard Of a wife
and coDcubine who had quarreled terribly
during life. In death they were divided,
being buried at q respectable dis ance
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

man would be "a man who would 90 yus'
as I wanted him to at all times pno''"
ing he did not neglect his business.
Mr. Frank Leslie says; ChiVairy
wards women constitutes true eenoo
man and no man Is a gentleman WITHOUT
II.
Our American men are the most tnor-
ough gentlemen In the worio. fofe's
have more leisure TO devote to the STUDY
of etiquette and therefore have more mar,
ners. but In true politenes OF heart anu
unselfishness toward women, they oo ho'
compare with Americans
7 have won several wagers with Irienos
that 7 could ride on the extreme Eas. or
West side cars OF New York city ana no
matter how roughly dressed the men
might be. II there was an American In
the car should have seat pronered 10
me.
Education and culture contribute large
lv 10 the refinement and polish OF man,
but there is something more than that
necessary TO constitute the noble man we
admire.
IL las been said, you know. that II takes
five generations to make gentleman,
and !, with many others, place good birth
as a very essential quality. But you must
add &c this genuine poltsiess OF the
heart. The rest Will follow naturally
whether the man be dressed In homespun
or broadcloth.
Just word regarding his dress. A man
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

sisters across the Yellow Sea OF whom
the world knows little. Some day the
golden lilies" of China will break away
from their seclusion and will be found
to average as high as Miss Chrysanthe-
mum in grace and loveliness, and
little in advance Of the virtue and in
teliigence seen in the tea houses OF japan.
Highbred Chinese ladies are few and far
between in San Francisco. The majority
OF Chinatown ladies are concublnes. The
first wife is often left In China and the
concubine ranks as first wife when the
latter Is absent.
San Francisco is wild just now over
the elegant Lady Yang Yu, the wife of
the new Chinese minister. who, with
numerous suite, is staying at the
Palace Hotel. Lady Yang Yu is OF high
manchu rank and average beauty. Her
beautiful dresses and refined manners
give the newspapers much to talk of,
and she is sure to be lionized by WASH
ington society during the coming winter.
Hundreds OF dollars have been offered
to any bold artist who Will secure her
photograph, but with no success.
The Golden Lilies
Amongst the upper fifty Of China
town society may be found some Chi
nese ladies who have relaxed their social
trammels so far as to give the outside
world a glimpse Of their charms. There
are women amongst them who would
pass as beautiful In any land. A well
bred Chinese lady brought up in the Sc
clusion of the shum kwei has a fairer
complexion than the women one sees
about !he streets. This with a we'll
poised head a pretty mouth. dlmpled
cheek and perfect ann and hand are
clements OF beauty not 10 be des2ised.
The face is too often inclined to be
chubby II not pudgy. but a charming
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

abe Il rich she visits the poor, IL poor
abe Is Industrious and hopeful. In her
heart there is none OF the spirit OF caste
Without envying the higher she pities
the lower AS daughter she is affection
ate, as wife faithful. as mother loving
and self-denying. Whether handsome
or homeiy. In robes or rags. the perfect
lady is the crown OF the world.
Mayor Gilroy says: n lady is a natur-
al production, do not care whether she
is rich or poor. lady rs woman who
discharges faithfully and tenderly ell
of the duties imposed upon her by the
station in life in which she finos her
self.
oliver Sumner Teale says: What is
a iadyf One who sells things, all others
are women.
A. NJ. Palmer says: A lady Is one
who not only looks after home and
family IA each and every particular,
but who endeavors at all times to bring
happiness into the lives Of others.
A woman who is civil to her equals
and gentle with those who are not 10
fortunately placed as she may be.
Supt. Byrnes says: The misarplication
OF the term lady has nothing to do with
the name in itself You can attach
Il 20 whatever you like. or use II I'm
any sense you choose. but the word
with It's strong significance remains the
same.
IL means n woman who by nature
or requirement preserves a refinement
and elegance OF manner which makes
itself felt wherever she goes. She COM
mands respect and gets II. Whether in
a handsome drawing room or the crow
ded streets OF some rough district, her
isdylike cemeanor is bound to have its
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15
The 90 Americas = Gun.

The story OF the Americas Cup. how IT
was won in 1851 and since defended. Is
an oft-told tale,a no attempt will be
made here TO go into details that are
familiar to every America yachtsman.
Come what may this cup must always
remain our most treasured trophy. for
all our magnificent development in yacht
designing is directly traceable TO the con-
tests to keep 1t on this side OF the At
lantic. Eight times have we accepted
challenges for this blue ribbon of the
ocean-six from England and two from
Canada, and seven times have we sue
cessfully defended 1.-THE eight remains
TO be decided next week.
The history OF these races is the his
tory Of marine architecture, and the char
acteristic progress of the Yankee and
the perseverance and craftsmanship OF
our British cousins are evidenced In every
one of the struggles. With each challenge
the interest has spread wider and wider,
until to-day, 1t may be said. the eyes Of
the yachting world will follow the grand
struggle between Valkyrie and Vigilant,
which begins on the 9Th.
1t was vastly different In 1850 when
Commodore Stevens. OF the New York
Yacht Club. then in it's infancy order
ed the American from George Steers,
the first and one of the most
famous of American designers.
The building Of pleasure yachts at that
time was a struggling industry, while
racing was confined chiefly to the pilot
boats, which were justly renowned. There
was. indeed. some desultory yacht-raclng,
and there had been even ten years earlier
but 1t was only beginning to be rec
ognized as a sport when the America was
put overheard.
George Steers deserves more than
passing notice; he was OF a family Of
builders, and designer as Independent
and original as Edwin Burgess and the
Herreshoffs who came after him. He rev.
outionized yachtdesigning in his day,
and built many boats that became noted.
Besides the America, he designed the
sloop Julia, which in her day was as
much Of a marvel and as unbeatable
as was Gloriana in her first season.
Each Of these two famous boats
has an interesting history America was
sold 10 an Englishman after her con-
quest in 81 and for time did service as
a yacht. She was turned into a blockade
runner when the Civil war broke out.
but in this role she was not a success
and to escape capture was sunk in The
ct. Johns River. Florida. After the war
she was raised by the government
and put into commission rs a training
school for naval cadets. When the Cam
bria came over to race for the cup, I'm
70 she was refitted as Yacht and com
peted. winning fourth place, while the
English yacht got no better than tenth:
thus did the old boat, handicapped as she
was, show that after twenty years she
was still faster than the latest and fast
est British creation. Later she became
the property of General Benjamin Il.
Butler and Is still In possession OF his
son, Paul.-Harpers Weekly.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-15

ment and good breeding Of these ladies.
Not a single vulgarism Of speech or man
ner and not a movement but what was
graceful until they began to walk on
their poor crippled feet.
How They spend Their Time.
A Chinese lady knows nothing OF the
joys OF shopping, of promenades, serena
des and tete-a-tetes with the opposite sex
She goes out In a closed carriage, accom-
panied by her lady friends or an old fe-
male servant. She covers her face with
her open fan when she allShts, and the
few steps from the carriage to her door Is
all she knows of outdoor exercise.
Amidst the round Of domestic duties the
ladies Of a Chinese household find time
for amusement as we'll as work. on the
whole they live a merry life. In the morn
ing the lamps Of the household shrines
have to be trimmed and incense burned
to what the Romans called the lares ana
penates. The morning meal comes at ten
o'clock, after which the day Is spent IN
domestic affairs, and fancy needle work.
Many OF our Chinatown ladies do eXqui-
site work In silk embroidery. working on
their own dainty little shoes, making
sachet bags, childrers' caps, knick knacks
and charms. Others occupy themselves
with painting porcelain, or other artistic
work. Chinese ladies are sometimes well
educated, are able to quote Confucius and
even write compositions In poetry and
prose. Recreation is found in visit to a
neighbors house where merry party
gathers from gossip and amusement. One
sings an ancient ballad; another tells
historical love story; another plays on the
pey-pah, Lutte, or the Yeung Kun Then
come checkers, dominoes. or cards, In
which there is always more or less OF
gambling. Smoking is not conSidered In
delicate and It is no unusual thing TO see
half a 1dozen Chinese beauties smoking
brass hubble-bubble pipes and enjoying
the mildest of tobacco. But the fappiest
part OF the day is when the family circle
gathers together In tho evening and lis
tens while husband or son reads a chap
ter from some book OF fairy tales, such as
the Dream OF the Red Chamber" II is