Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-01-06
GOSSIP AND ISLANDER.
DOES THE RESPONSIBILITY LIE WITH
MEN OR WOMEN?

Who is responsible for the scandal, this
Wander that is abroad in the world. Man
says it is woman, and woman stands with
accusing finger pointed at man. A young
girl came to me the other day and said,
"I've made fool of myselfr' / politely
tried to look surprised, though 1 wasn't.
Eyes" she continued, II have; and I'm 50
mad with myself that 1 could bite my
tongue out and use my head for football.
Why? This is why. The other evening
two gentlemen called to see me. One was
friend had known from childhood,
great, sple ndid, whole hearted fellow that
brings an atmosphere of cheeriness and
perpetual good nature with him. He is
always so courteous, so considerable, so ap-
preciative and so complimentary that it is
n pleasure to be in his company.
"The other gentleman was a man of
great intellect, whose desire to meet me
had filled me with sense of citation.
was walking on air. We talked of all sorts
of subjects, and l felt that I never had
spent more delightful evening of its kind
in my life. But dear me-just before its
close something happened" and the
young girl looked SO lugubrious that moth
ing would have surprised me. you see,'
continued she, ''we had talked about peo-
pie and things. AT last"the name of GER
tain woman was mentioned. The person
enjoys considerable prominence. One OF
the gentlemen said, Doyou know her?' 4
know who she is Did you never meet
her-sheis so charming a conversationalist
i am sure you would like her. Yes l re-
piled, and there must have been something
in my manner which challenged a ques-
lion, for Immediately it came. What do
you know about her? You evidently do
not approve of hc2.'r
Now the Young girl has more wit than
discretion and she replied, ''Well, if you
must know, I've heard she was shady
Ind some one once took the trouble to
warn US girls not to be seen talking in
the streets to her, or to have anything to
10 with her." Both the gentlemen looked
shocked, why" said the man of intel
lect, Il have visited her many time, and
I have never seen anything in her behavior
that could be considered the least out of
.he way"
Then the young girl forgot she was talk
ing to men, not that she wished to discuss
nndebatable subjects, but she forgot 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
gument she exclaimed: well, all know
IS that some of her associates have been
dropped by society, and it won't do for
young ladies to attempt to go counter to
:he dictum of society leaders. 1t may be
very sweet and lovely and all that, but If
girl does attempt to do so she herself sui
ters without being able to do one thing to-
ward rehabilitating the shady person in
The garment of responsibility" Then both
the gentlemen looked pGiI,si - we'll as
shocked.
II know they Went away thinking that
would lend myself to the enviois detrac-
zion Of another woman. and wouldn't.
In the first place both oi those gentlemen
3veTestimate the Importance of that per
sons position. They do not know IS 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 attainment that can
arouse envy"
My friends experience led me To make
inquiries. "Whcre do you think scandal
originates?" l asked bright society WON
an, young in years. but cid il worldly wis
dom. Where? With women" she re
piled unhesitatingly, and then added, But
let me modify that. Wish the memory Of
all l have heard in my life, and the knowl-
edge that it generally could be traced tc
the afternoon gossip of mems club, !
must take that back. A mems club is the
very hotbed of scandal. Those fellows, old
and young, want to he thought irresistible
or omniscient; they can't deny themselves
the pleasure of being thought successful
where others have failed. BY smirk
when woman's name is mentioned; by n
significant look, shrug of the shoulders,
even twirl of one side of mustacbe, the
insinuation is made-to say nothing of the
open discussion of woman's charms, and
the speculations as to her being able to
meet the requirements of Caesars wife.
81 don't mean to say that "A 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 tt 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 thoroughbreds, you see. They
foolishly 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
club-some father, brother or husband
and warns the women of his family not to
be seen with 'So-and-so' any more; that
her name has been mentioned in the club.
Oh, my dear" continued the society
woman, ''the shores of clubdom are strewn
with wrecks of reputationsl
"On the other hand, the worst detractors
Of women are married women every time
You take woman whose own career has
been failure. She is always on the look
out for improper behavior among younger
and more attractive women. She cannot
forgive them for receiving what she no
longer can hold-the admiration of men,
When you find such women in hotels and
boarding houses, they are to be dreaded
They make wild endeavors to hold their
own with the younger women; they fail;
they are bitter; they devote themselves to
lying in wait for fresh game all the time;
their grip in veakening, but they clutch all
the same. Oh, my dear, il you ask me