The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-05-18
THE MODEL c%oNFlpANIE.

Some OF the characteristics Which She
Ought Without Fail to Possess.
The confidante's lot is not n 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 philanthropic desire to pass on
her good news or to share her secret,
then she feels the misery of her posi-
ton. She also finds II embarrassing
when she is unable to remember in
December what was confided to her in
June, and her friend assumes that she
recalls it perfectly. She has to give
just the advice which is desired,
but if following that advice leads
to unfortunate complications, she must
assume the blame. She must be inter
ested and sympathetic, and never Curl
GUS. She needs the wisdom of the
sages and the tact of the diplomats, to-
gether with the secretive disposition OF
the Sphinx. Even then she will prob
ably make a mistake. Only one per
fidante, and that is the person who
confides. She goes about he world
forever afterward convinced that her
secrets are in the possession of one who
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 ome take off their
street bodices and assume dressing
jacques they are bound to be contiden'
tial: They feel that there is nothing
which should be concealed from the
person who has an opportunity to tell
whether their seams are bound OF
merely overcast, and whether their
underwaists are trimmed with lace OF
Hamburg edging.
There are many things for the WON
an who holds confidential relations
with many people to remember. The
first one is that il Is seldom worth
while ia make oneself disliked by Civ
ing advice or opinions which are con
tTdTy ~ tiioSt utSiTtts Ab INC Shhhe
time she should bear in mind that she
will be held responsible for these opin'
ions and counsels till her dying day.
She must also resolutely decide to keel
silent about what was told her in con
idence until such time as she learns
that the confidential woman has spread
her secrets broadcast. 1t is always
likely that the confiding persons will
do this, and that some other conn
dante will talk. Then every n who
knows the stories is released from the
seal 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 hat her friend Is
in the mood for talking. On the other
hand, she must remember V small
| details most accurately if the confiding
one seems to expect that.
The woman who does all these things
in such a manner that il satisfies hei
friend will have her reward. She will
gain n reputation as an admirable con
fdant, and will then have an opportun.
ity to enlarge her knowledge of other
peoples private affairs, which is n re
ward no woman will scorn.-N. Y,
Herald.