The Van Buren press., 1895-04-06
THE MODEL coNFIDArrE.
Home of the characteristics which So
Ought without Fail to Possess.

roms of the characteristics which So
Ought without Fail to Possess.
The confidante's lot is not a happy
one. She may think that 1t 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 burma
with philanthropic desire to pass ON
her good news or to share her secret,
then she feels the misery Of her posi-
tion. She also finds it embarrassing
when she is unable to remember in
December what was conflded 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-
son is more to be pitied than the con-
Hdante, and that is the person who
confides. She goes about the 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 togsther. There is something
about the act of brushing the hair
which invites confidence on the ono
hand and makes the outpouring Of
ones soul q necessity on the other.
street bodices and assume dressing
sacques they are bound to be confiden-
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 or
merely overcast, and whether their
underwaists are trimmed with lace or
Hamburg edging.
There are many things for the wom-
with many people to remember. The
first one is that it is seldom worth
while to make oneself disliked by Civ.
ing advice or opinions which are con.
trary to those desired. At the same
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 keep
silent about what was told her in con.
fdence until such time a. she lesrns
that the confidential woman has spread
her secrets broadcast. 1t Is always
likely that the confiding persons will
do this, and that some other conf
dante will talk. Then every ono who
knows the stories is released from tho
seal OF secrecy and can talk to- her
hearts content. ~ lflszaz
The confidant must be prepared 10
hear the same story frequently, and
must display convenient forgetful-
ness il she observes that her friend il
in the mood for talking. On the other
hand, she must remember even small
details most accurately II the coniding
one seems to expect that
The woman who does all these things
in such manner that it satisfies her
friend will have her reward. She will
gain q reputation as an admirable con-
fidant, and will then have an opportun-
ity to enlarge her knowledge Of other
people's.priyste affairs. which Is . re-
ward no woman will scorn.--N. y.
Herald. = laFe .itiYa4 l .faTt