The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-04-18
THE MODEL CONFIDANTE.
vutne CT the characteristics Which Sh
Ought Without Fail to Possess.

voene CT the characteristics Which Sos
Ought Without Fail to Possess.
The confiGante's lot is not a happy
one. She may think that it is when
She is listening to her friends thrilling
tale before the midnight fire, but she
soon learns her mistake. When people
ask her questions. when she burns
with phiianthropic desire to pass on
her good news or to snare her secret,
then she feels the misery of her posi-
ton. She also finds II embarrassing
when. she is unable to remem ber II
December what was confided to her IN
June, and her friend assumes that she
recalls it perfectly. She has to give
inst the advice which is desired,
but Il following that advice leacs
to unfortunate complications, she must
assume the blame. She must be inter
ested and sympathetic, and never curi-
Gus. She needs the wisdom of the
sages and the tact of the diplomats, to-
Cether with the secretive disposition of
the Sphinx. Even then she viii prob
ably make a mistake. Only one per-
SON is more to be pitied than the con-
fdante. and that is the person who
confdes. She goes about the world
forever afterward convinced that her
secrets are in the possession of one wEo
will not guard them properly.
Nevertheless the custom OF confiding
will continue as long as women let
down their hair and unbutton their
frocks together There is something
about the act of brushing the hair
which invites confidence on the one
hand and makes the outpouring of
ones soul a necessity on the other.
As soon as two women take off their
street bodices and assume dressing
sacGues they are bound to be confiden-
tai. They feel that there is nothing
which should be concealed from the
Ierson who has an opportunity to tel
whether their seams are bound or
merely overcast, and whether their
underwaists are trimmed with lace or
Tia burg edging.
There are many things for the wom-
an who holds confidential relations
with many people to remember. The
first one is that it is seldom worth
while to make oneself disliixed by Civ
ing advice or opinions which are con-
trarv to those desired. At the same
time she should bear in mind that she
will be held responsible for these opin-
ions and counsels TIL her diving day.
Sne must also resolutely decide to keep
Silent about what was told her in con-
fGence until such time as she learns
that the confidential woman has spread
her secrets broadcast. it is always
likely that the conf0ing persons will
do this. and that some other conf
dante will talk. Then every one who
knows the stories is released from the
zeal of secrecy and can talk to her
hearts content.
The confidant must be prepared TO
hear the same story frequently, and
must display a convenient forgetful-
ness if she observes that her friend is
in the mood for talking. On the other
hand. she must remember even small
Details most accurately if the confiding
one seems to expect that
The woman who does all these thircs
in such a manner that it satisfies her
friend will have her reward. She viii
gain reputation as an admira BILE con-
tidant. and viii then have an opportun-
ity to enlarge her knowledge OF other
peoples private affairs, which is re-
ward no woman will scorn.-N. Y.
Ia,-.,lJ