The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-04-27
The MODEL conF,DAnrE.

| sssme sf tho characteristics Which, She
Ought Without Fail to 1'"ssess.
The conddante'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
sooh learns her mistake. When people
ask her Questions, when she burns
with philanthropfc desire to pass on
then she feels the misery of her posi-
ton. She also finds it embarrassing
when site 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-
Eether 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-
fdante. and that is the person who
confides. She goes about the world
forever aftervard convinced that her
secrets are in the possession of one who
will not guard them properly.
Nevertheless the custom Of con fding
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 tho one
hand and makes the outpourins of
ones soul necessity on the other.
AS soon as two women take off their
street bodiccS 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
YThefher
merely overcast, and whether their
arc trimmed with lace or
Hamburg 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 dislil<ed 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 counscls till her dying day.
She must also resolutcly decide to keep
silent about what was told her in con-
6dencc until such time as she learns
that the confidential woman has spread
her secrets broadcast. It is always
likely that the confiding persons will !
do this, and that some other conf |
dante will talk. Then every one who |
knows the stories is released from the |
seal of secrecy and can talk to her |
hearts content.
The confdant 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 things |
in such a manner that it satisfies her |
friend will have her reward. She viii |
gain a reputation as an adm ira BILE con-
6dant, and will then have an opportun-
ty to enlarge her knowledge of other
peoples private affairs, which is a re-
ward no woman will scorn.-N. Y.
Herald |