The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-14
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this end and are the direct road to success.
Beauty again, secures for its possessors
distinct popularity in society, and when
these three gifts are united the position is
exceptionally strong and commands sue
cess, says the Queen.
AS regards the individuality of society
women apart from surroundings what
qualities are best suited for winning the
race and reaching the goal? Does the
vlyaclous and merry, animated and dem
onstrative woman or the reserved, self
contained and composed one come most to
the front, and gain the greatest number of
social laurels? Placing them side by side,
and judging from results, the permanent
gains are to the latter. Women of this
order are pre-eminently successful on
various counts; whatever is lacking in
them of brilliancy and animation, and even
OF brain power, is counterbalanced by an
amount of persistent perseverance that
produces slow but sure effect An anus
ing woman is led away from her point by
the talent she possesses. she is delightful
company, but she does not inspire the reli-
ance upon her or the belief in her that the
less clever woman does, while from
manageable point of view woman who
sees the humorous side of every situation
in daily life is not the one a man desires to
make his wife, and q woman without
sclntlllation of humor in her composition
IS chosen before one who is dangerously
bright and clever. For why? Most men
look for haven of rest when entering into
matrimony and prefer a placid and re-
served woman, even to insipidity to one
whose conversational powers are undeni-
able.
Again, strong-minded women, with an
assertiye manner of their own, are not
popular with young men as possible wives
the fear of being kept in order outweighs
the advantage OF personaLcharms later on
in life. One of these same young men
regrets, after all, perhaps, he did not marry
woman of this type when he had the
chance, as she would have prevented his
committing many deplorable mistakes.
''Then, alas | did not wish to be kept in
order, he plaintively remarks, and most
young men are Of the same way of think
ing. The exceptions, however, are when a
shy and silent man is captivated by
rather boisterous and high-spirited good
looking girl, or an extremely weak and
vacillating man is charmed by the wonder
full decision of character displayed by
woman with strong will of her own; but
these instances are beside the actual ques-
ton and almost outside of the
rule. These suitable partners in life
are very rarely to be met with. 1t
is the placid woman who scores the great
est success in society. Her husband is
under the spell of her influence and never
attempts to evade or contest it, her will is
law, and all that she projects and desires
is carried out within the region OF posi-
bility. Perhaps the secret of her suprem
acy is that she is an unknown quantity;
she suggests the proba bllity of there being
depth to her character not easily
fathomed, of there being SO much in her
if the right note were only struck TO sound
it. As girl this plscldly and unruff1ed
composure attracted many suitors; as a
woman, it secured her a firm footing in
society, and the circle to which she be-
longed believed in her to any extent, and
was not surprised at the strides she made
in popularity and to see how easily she
grew toward the light.
OF mediocre women there are many, and
it is to them the greatest share of social
disappointments fall. Their mediocrity
consists partly in being neither one thing
nor the other-not amusing nor brilliant, |
but merely laxative; chatty, if not gos- |
sipy; not attractiyely placid, but only dull |
and commonplace; and, given surround
ings equally moderate, what wonder is 1t |
that they find their level in society, and, as |
a natural result, do not 'get on" Origin
atty is a gift that wins for Its possessor |
quick and almost instant recognition; but |
so few women can actually lay claim to it;
counterfeit originality generally amounts /
TO nothing more than eccentrlclty and I'M
conventionality, and, unless supported by /
great wealth or acknowledged beauty, So
ciety soon puts the right name to it, and it /
is not too tolerant of it in any case where /
or when it comes to the front.
Literary women are now becoming a /
large battalion in themselves, and society
could hardly be considered complete with
out their presence. Then, also, the wives
of distinguished men take quite front rank
in society, and enjoy a prestige by reason
of the names they have rendered con-
spicuous by the talents of their husbands.
As regards getting on in society," the
race is not always to the swift; some have
good start, and yet remain far behind
others, not well placed at the beginning,
get a front place in an incredibly short
time, or they work out the proyerb that
everything comes to him who waits"
npATMo 0p n0Tn