The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-10
BAB'S VIEW OF LIFE.
Here's New and Odd Occupation for Women.
The Cheering-Up misunderstanding Mrs.
Crank, Madame Millionaire, the Snob
and Little Mrs Good PORN


NEW YORK, N. Y, Nov. 6, 1856 is
just the time of the year when people
yawn politely-that is, if there is such
thing as yawning politely-and wonder
what they will do next. The season hasn't
quite started; there is no certainty about
what is and what is not to be the special
vogue, and SO the fashionable matron, for
the maid counts for very little socially in
New York, stares at the tip of her satin
slipper, yawns again and again, and wishes
that something would happen. I hap
pened to drop into the Woman S Exchange
the other day and 1 saw little sign which
struck me as unique, and the woman who
wrote 1t ought, if there is any justice in
the world, to do fourishing business. 1t
read this way: lin the Cheering-up Bust
ness. will read play on the piano. sing or
entertain invalids, or those people who feel
little blue and would like to be cheered
up at reasonable price per hour" Now,
that is what call clever. And the woman
who can deliberately make a business OF
cheering up people, and especially when
she has to earn her living by this light
heartedness, must be mighty brave-quite
as brave as a soldier facing the enemy.
Suppose she happens to be wondering
where she will get the money to pay her
rent, when she is called on to cheer up
Mrs. Crank, who wants to be sung to and
read to and amused with stories that are
not Just straight and not just crooked but
little amusing. And the cheerer-up has
to look pleasant and be pleasant and make
Mrs. Crank feel pleasant, or the conviction
will be forced upon her that she hasn't
earned her money properly. 1t takes all
sorts OF people to make up a world, and
Mrs. Crank is one of the extremely often
slve ones; but there are others who are
equally distinct.
Among the snobs there is, first of ALL
Nine. Millionaire, who is rich but not
rare. In fact, to be little slangy. she is
| rather overdone. She gauges everything
from the standpoint of her handbook, and
the only reason she respects the kingdom
of heaven is because it is to be paved with
| gold. a beautiful woman is as nothing to
her until she hears how much she is worth,
and man may be as brave as Bayard,
| Gordon and Robert Z. Lee put together,
but she sees nothing good in him unless
each act of bravery is recognized by a
million of shekels. When she comes to
| subject that doesn't trouble her now, be-
cause she feels that money will get her a
| special train OF carriages to follow her, a
marvellous casket to hold her, and yards of
| silk to enshroud her. She forgets that
those dreadful worms have no respect for
| persons nor for fine woods nor rich gowns.
And she forgets, too, that she won't be
asked, How much are you worth? Pr but
| instead, What good have you done with
| the millions intrusted to your" [ make
bow to Nine. Millionaire as she goes by
she gives me that tip of her head which
she reserves for nobodies. and / realize
| that [ wouldn't change places with her,
nor II her millions were tripled and her
diamonds were of such great worth that
they startled the whole world,
One of the little sisters of the rich for
whom Mime. Millionaire has sort of lik-
ing is little Mrs Good Form.
She never makes a mistake socially.
She knows the latest handshake, she
wears the newest frock and she wouldn't
be seen with an angel from heaven unless
its robe had a distinct cut. Nothing is
amusing that hasn't been approved Of by
the Grundys elected by her and her like
and she thinks it good form never to per-
nit herself to get very much excited. She
wouldn't shed tear because-oh, we'll
tears are common. Common people cry.
and then, too, one might get ones nose
red. She wouldn't laugh because ordi-
nary people like funny things. and then,
too, laughing is apt to make wrinkles
famous artist once because she couldn't
decide just what gown was suited to
the hour OF the day-a ridiculously
early hour-when he was to appear. But
then she didn't care about the artist She
heard afterward that his dress clothes
were abominable, and that he didn' seem
to know the difference between the people
one ought to know and the people it is
wiser not to know. It is quite true that
she will be forgotten when she makes her
exit from this world, and that the great
artist will live for centuries, but still she
f1atters herself that she is always thor
oughly good form, and what more can
little bit OF heart or brain might be de-
sirable has never dawned on her When
she gets older and people neglect her, and
she receives no invitations, she will set it
down to malice and entirely forget that, as
she was In her young days mass of self
anybody will be kind-hearted enough to
remember her.
Another snob is Mile. Blue-Blood.
Personally have the greatest admiration
for people who try to conceal their finan-
cial worries, who don't bore the world at
large with their troubles and who reslly
and truly keep up a brave appearance
Some people have an idea that it is a sin
to be poor-it is something of blunder,
but still some poor people are happy. and
L would like to mention one poor woman
who wouldn't change places with Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt, simply because he does
not get one-half the pleasure out of life
that she does. What fun is there when
you can get everything without trouble?
When you see u book that You long for
You look at it and price it and begin to
save on carfares and soda-waters and yari-
Gus small feminine luxuries to get it.
Then the day comes when you have
enough money, and taking somebody with
you, for you wouldn't be mean enough to
go alone, you enter the shop, buy the book,
and your heart is humping with pleasure
and your lips quivering with delight, and
your eyes are absolutely laughing And the
man says, shall I send it homer" You al
most answer mot much" but catch your
self in time, and say, mo, thank you"
And then, when you get home. somebody
rolls up the bit of string because it is a
nice pink string, which is handy to have.
and somebody else keeps the paper because
a booksellers paper is always reputable
looking, and then everybody discusses the
cover of the book and the pictures in the
book, and what the man wrote before and
how this will compare with it, and the
best reader. is going to read it aloud,
although, of course, you are going through
1t with great rapidity, first of all, by your
self. That is real pleasure. Do YOU sup
pose such intense delight ever comes to
Mr.. Vanderbilt? Books are nothing to
him, that is in the Way of saving nm IN huv