Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-19

turn. If she seeks the advice OF other
women. It is said that she IS quite as
likely TO get bad as good.
A brothers advice is usually of value,
but It Is apt to be dogmatic. Girls do
not like dogma when delivered by
brothers, and so often reject really good
counsel
The advice Of any experienced man Is
good II it is honest, but honest advice Is
hard to get from n man. Few care to
act the part of mentor TO a pretty girl.
They prefer to stand I'm a lighter and
more gallant relation. and most society
girls prefer to have them so. Serious ad-
vice, seriously proffered and accepted as
such, is fatal to that relation. The twain
may be thereafter brother and sister"
but they soon become mutually bored
and drop out OF each others lives.
| knew a man once who was on par
| ticularly jolly and agreeable terms with
a most agreeable girl. who, however, has
! a tendency to "get herself talked about y
| on one occasion. when she had been
guilty OF some trivial indiscretlon. this
man took her gently to task. and warned
her against such behavior
The girl thanked him with tears in her
! eyes. and wished that "other men had
sometimes been as kind.
But when next they met her manner
had not altered, but towards him she
evnced a coldness. which was never
afterwards changed.
Thus Il Is that mans advice IL usurlly
either non-cOmmittal, or jocular, or down.
rightly dishonest, and for this same rea-
son It is seldom seriously asked. / am
speaking Of the rule not the exception,
and l repeat that a girl should never. at
any time, rely upon the advice OF a man.
unless il comedies at every point with
the stern dictates Of prudence and the
canons OF propriety and good taste.
DEBUTANTS WHO NEED COUNSEL.
Now why should not the debutants OF
the season receive some sound sensible
counsel through the press; In fact, the
honest advice OF q man, who. not being
beside them. has no fear Of giving offence.
and no desire TO encourage them I'm those
little indlscretions which. while Jolly
and not actually harmful, are likely TO
weaken girls standing i'm society.
Now by society" / do not mean merely
Mr.. McAllster's coterie OF millionaires,
or the less exclusive set OF Mr. Hobart
Chatfeld Chatfleld-TaylOr in Chicago.
| refer. instead, TO any OF the many
circles. composed Of educated and intel
llgent people. which exist in the cities OF
the Union. In each OF these are numbers
OF Young girls, who are soon to enter the
lists for social popularity, and whose
success will depend I'm n great measure
upon the manner in which they conduct
themselves towards the other sex.
Many OF these young girls. no doubt by
force OF great personal charms may sue
coed. az IL were i'm spite Of themselves,
while others through innate tact anu
good sense, are not greatly in need or
counsel: but the less fortunate ones are
I'm a majority. and IL Is to these that /
mean TO speak OF some Of the things
which assure a girls success or inJure
her prospects.
| viii assume that Miss Clara New has
not had the advantage or n grand com
ing-out" party under her mothers roof.
She is IS, about TO begin her society lie
at the first subscription ball OF the sea-
son. Perhaps she has just returned from
boardng-school perhaps her mother has
not gone out" for some years. AT any
rate her acquaintance among the younS
men OF society is of a very slight nature,
and she has no special advantage, more
than a pretty frock, a pretty face, an
average fund of small-talk, and fair
knowledge OF dancing.
That girls fate hangs in the balance:
one false move may retard her social
progress to a very dangerous extent
COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE OF a
CHAPERON.
assume. as n matter OF course. that
she Will not make her appearance With
out a chaperon.
Chaperons are called for in these days.
and no girl should be without one. IL
isn't so much the propriety OF the thing
as its absolute comfort and convenience.
Miss Clara stands beside her chaperon
like a little sloop under the guns OF ilne
frfgate. The chaperon knows. or should
know. all or nearly all the men in the
room. and Miss Clara Is kept constantly
informed as 10 their standing. She Is
thus able to receive and appreciate the
admiration OF the best men. ana 10 as
courage or keep in allegiance the atten-
tlon OF parties less desirable as friends and
acquaintances.
Furthermore, the social standing of the
chaperon is, OF course, above suspicion
and serves TO frighten away score OF
doubtful persons who are always nahg
ing upon the outskirts OF society, ana
whose attention does girl no credit.
After the dancing begins Miss Clara
OF course. IL thrown upon her own re-
sources, but in the pauses IL, possibly
partner displeases her, how sweetly ana
confidently she can say, Please, MI oe
Smith, take me 10 my chaperon' UT .
some dispute arises about dance ana
Van Crude becomes disagreeable and In
sIstent. how coldly she may say, MT.
Van Crude. I must refer you TO my
chaperon.. Mrs. Ponsonly." and how Van
Crude will wither up at the very name!
or course. such a necessity may never
arise, and such a mode Cf defence should
not be resorted TO. except In extremes,
hut IL is comforting for a shy, young thing
10 remember that she has for her protec-
ton the most serviceable weapon OF Of
fence and defence known In modern So
ciety-"a good chaperon."
Possibly, also. her programme Is not fun
and at the NTH or sixth dance a vacancy
occurs. -
ponsouIv 40 her own partner. won't you
get a partner for my protege, Miss
New?
| on goes GoodIy. and presently brings
,,,,,x, hscI With him. MAY ! Introduce