The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-08-30
WIVES OF ARMY MEN.
WHY THEIR LOT is SO HARD TO
BEAR.

Edith Sessions Upper Hears Some Meian-
choiy stories-A Mining Camp In Mex
ico--The Attractions of Polonaise-Es-
sentiais to the Happiness of Women.
Not long ago there rustled into the
dining room of hotel in Washington
smartly gowned and well groomed young
woman, the bride of young army Off
Ger. Every detail of her costume was so
absolutely smart and irreproachable that
she attracted universal admiration.
"Ah, my dear'' murmured woman
ut my table as she marked the trium-
plant entry of the stunning young bride,
wait till your husband is sent to some
wretched little post out in Arizona, and
Of what avail will be those beautiful
frocks them"
The warning sounded bit ill natured
until the woman went on to explain her
jeremiad: 81 have known so many love.
ly girls, born and reared in the greatest
luxury, clothed in soft raiment all their
lives, never even dreaming that any dis
agreeable conditions could ever surround
them, to fall desperately in love with
army officers and marry. The fascina-
ton of gold lace and buttons is well
nigh irresistible, you know. Well, there
is big wedding, great splurge, pres
ents and gowns - gowns dainty and
sweet enough to attract attention at
Trouville or Monaco. There are few
weeks fitting and futtering about east
1 ala Do,
Washington perhaps, and then comes an
order for the husband to take this petted,
brilliantly tinted butterfly out to the
Black Hills possibly, or among the desc
late sand dunes of Nevada. How about
| the laces, frills and chiffons then? The
poor little bride finds she has very little
use for all those dainty and exquisite
creations. They are packed away in
! boxes, and often with them go many,
many of a girls pretty little illusions.
tell you, there is something sad about it.
LET me tell you my experience. To
be sure, l did not marry an army man,
but, in the scale of roughing it, perhaps
the next worst type. | married mining
engineer. My husband, as you know,
was graduated from the Columbia School
of Mines, was very brilliant young
fellow and was almost Immediately
sought to take charge of a group Of
mines in southwestern Mexico. Oh, I
thought that prospect was SO alluring
Mexico-a land of enchantment, of ro-
mancel What more fitting place for
honeymoon? / had a most elaborate
trousseau, was married in white satin,
with all the customary accessories, spent
a hilarious fortnight in New York,
perfect whirl of dinners, receptions,
theaters and that sort of thing, and then
we set out for the land Of enchantment
my husband kept telling me he was
| afraid we would find pretty rough
country, and naturally did not expect
to discover Fifth avenue in wilderness;
but, oh, never did l dream of what lay
before me. We left the railroad at mid
night, as we We're obliged to go by stage
into the mountains, where the mines
were. We had to wait in a tumble down
abode until the stage was ready, sur
rounded by savage looking Mexicans,
who Chartered like monkeys and glow
cred like hyenas was nearly dead
with fright when we took the stage
one of those rough mountain convey
ances--and l was not much treasured
when i found our sole fellow traveller
was a greasy, swarthy Mexican, armed
like brigand and of most ferocious ap-
pearance / do not know how l ever
lived through that 30 mile ride. 1 only
kept up by thinking it must come to an
end and that we would, if we were not
murdered before we arrived at our des-
tination, find comfortable quarters.
Alas, what disappointment was mine
when l saw the dirty 'dobe' in which I
was to live, the wretched placita around
which sQuatted the lazy, filthy, vicious
Mexicans with whom was to live for
five long dreary months.
'There were no Americans in this
camp save the miners and young Tex
an, who was my only friend when my
husband was at the mines This boy
for he was scarcely 19--had shot his
man in Texas and fed over the border
l knew this, and yet he seemed human,
and he was from my country. And SO
he would come and play cards with me
and swear at the Mexicans and spit on
the floor, but he was my friend and Of
ten stood between me and Mexican in
suits
what you have related reminds me
of my experience. said another WON.
an, who had been listening eagerly to
the recital, land goes to prove that no
matter how far a woman may be sepa-
rated from the refining influences Of
dress she yet takes an interest in the
subject. / married an army man and
can subscribe heartily to all this lady
has said. But that's not what wanted
to say. was out in Arizona with nv
husband, and as we were journeying to
our post we stopped for the night at a
lonely ranch. After supper the ranch.
man told me that quarter of a mile
away there lived settler and his wife.
She has not seen white woman for
four years, said he, and it would be |
real charity if you We're to walk over
and see her. This was yery willing |
and glad to do, so we set out She met
me at the door, her honest face lighted
up with smiles, and hard, toiIinQ hands
held out in welcome. She gave me a |
chair and looked me over from head to
foot with lightning rapidity. is that a
polonaise you've got on?' she asked, her
voice trembling with eager interest,
and have you got the pattern with your |
Poor soul, before left her next day |
l had cut out polonaise for her, and |
she had given me the same look of graft
tude hungry dog filings you when you
hand him bone"
EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER-
III women do mems work, they
should have mems wages. Work is work
and pay is pay. Sex has nothing what
ever to do with IL - CAV, L. uos....a 4.