The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-11-15
AQUESTIONINE ETIQUETTE


Rows of MISUNDERSTANDING houses
to the right of me, park to the left
of me; a lunch-party four long blocks
ahead of me, my home, in the far dis
tance, behind ne; a cloudy sky, from
which dcsccnds a fine, but steady
sprinkle, above mel wish | coula
add, and an umbrclla-a damp, and
rapidly growing sloppy pavement be-
meath me; no possible car or omnibus,
no cab-stand. Oh, for a plebcian
street, with its multitude of conven-
iencesl But my mind refuses to grasp
the bliss therein conveyed. 1t flies,
instead, to the feathers on my hat, the
velvet on my gown.
had left my home rather hurricdly,
and, deceived by hypocritical little
ray Of sunshine, had been lured forth
to find myself in this plight. Of course
! could mount the steps OF one Of the
irrcproachable houses that line my
path; but there should be tied, and
the rain would only increase, and |
should late for the luncheon. No, it
is impossible.
quicken my steps l have pro-
ccedcd to the crossing; the dri2zle is
maturing into wcll-lefincd drops that
come faster and faster. Despair has
me in his fell grasp / see my pet cos
tune a bedraggled and ruined wreck
reflect on the state Of my finances,
which prccludcs the possibility of my
rising above cashmere - nay, even
sergc-again this winter give my
skirts a vigorous hitch that would lead
one to forget my ankles and reflect on
my knees, and make forward lunge
more remarkable for its desperate en-
erGy than its grace.
"Er-pardon me-" says manly
voice, tri1le hesitatingly, at my cl-
bow
start violcndy and NY skirts seek
their proper level y large umbrella
l., sheltering me; the rain no longer
pattcrs among the feathers that crown
my head.
ALLOW me to share my umbrella
with you. see that you are without
one" adds the manly voice.
"Oh, thank you," | say, as | recover
somewhat, and gather, from the own
cr's general appearance, that he is a
EHAI'SlH"H '''''' III gu
means ms protection IN Nlh"hcS@ an"
hot as d means 10 s@vUlH5 UP " III "a
ton, Perhaps ought to refuse his
aid, politely and graciously, Of course,
with the simple remark that | have
not far to 90 and so shall not require
his assistance. Maybe | should draw
myself up, in the approved insulted
maideuhood style, and say:
,l l., , ,II ~. ,,,,,a1fS, '
"'e3 ,l,., ,.,.,,,,4r.,l
~, $500. I,,-;,,- : .,,o,tII ,,,
"'lH ,i..,, i,li..,I,,, 5a.a,t a,d ~
'''.>e .l'''I - '. I1L,1f.
I,. go. .,,u ~ 10 - aa+ a,;no - CIV,
a",+,:-'. ,i,l a,,,+ ,,.,,dssI, nonId oh.
'.''''7 ;t,,,t;,l,, 49,,
~ w.. h,s i,aan ,.,,il., ,ot,a+;c. 90 7
.II .,,.,s.;-,,. 49,. L,,, ;,,,ti,,,.4
eHee VIII not hurt me.
We have trayersed block in silence.
lie walks by my side. perfectly grave
and quiet, and only seems t. glance in
my direction to see that | am well
protected. am thankful that took
his offer the way it was meant, and
did not give him reason to regret his
generous impulse. On we pace, and
there enters my mind the quotation:
Thou art so near ana vet SO far"
Hut serionslv hc ca,4.,i,,1,. :. ,,.
nice not to try to get up a conversa-
ton which would only make me thor
oughly stiff and uHconfortabln. can
just hear an ordinary man BEGINNING:
ats Il damn da-..', IN, ..prn+.,, ,,.,t
isn't it?" or "Iiave YOU far to go,
mias?" or addressing some equally
commonplace sentence TO me.
1t seems strange, thoarh, to wall,
along so close to anyone and not utter
word. | wonder if ought to speak;
but no, he appreciates nv position
What could sav or,,,,.,,.5 -..iIi
thank him when we scnarote and
that is all | can do. may not he
gracious enourb. considerin,s bis no
likeness. but how can one be gracious
to stranger? Oh, for surrrntitions
peep at book on etiquette.
Instead, | take a ouiclz loot, o+ him
He is very frank looking, and he has
straightforward. steady brown o,,ns
as | discovered in NV fret e+o,4lI