Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-08-16
ORDERLY AND NEAT.
WHICH SEX IS BEST ENTITLED TO
BE so cHARAcTERlzE0l


or habit so clean or orderly as men or
so delicate in their ideas Of small mat
] ters "
I combated the assertion, with indig-
nant protests, and assured the speaker
that only a disappointed bachelor, whom
some womans perfdy had soured, could
make such a statement.
Nevertheless I set about studying the
habits of the sexes in these respects, and
I began to question people who had wide
opportunities of Judging such matters,
and the result has not been wholly COM
plimentary to my sisters.
First, 1 noticed the dress Of men and
women in public conveyances It is
rarely indeed ono sees a man, with any
claims to respectable attire, who dis
plays soiled collar, cuffs or shirt front.
But I have observed soiled laces about
tho neck Of many an otherwise richly
and fashionably attired woman, and
soiled white gloves are woefully in evil
dence and ruin scores of handsome tot
let's
do not think I have ever seen fringes
or tatters about the ankles of man.
1t seems to be an understood law
among the most ordinary types Of re-
spectacle men that the first raveled seam
or ripped lining shall be attended to by
the tailor before the garment is worn
again. But women who carry fortunes
upon their backs display torn hounces
and ragged laces frequently ON the street
crossings or in alighting from vehicles.
Only a few weeks ago l walked be-
hind young lady in a prominent New
York avenue and admired the perfect
fit of her brand new promenade costume
and the exquisite details, which exhib
tied excellent taste and Judgment Of the
wearer or her modiste. Hat, gloves
gown and wrap and veil We're in har-
mony. But suddenly there came mud
dy crossing The lady lifted her dress
and showed a charming foot elegantly
booted; but, alas, above it silk petit
coat, with three rags hanging from it.
The harmony was ruined by a discord
just as I was about to emerge from a
Turkish bath establishment enc day a
young woman who speaks three Ian
guages fuently and who belongs to a
rich and influential family entered and
tossed off an expensive cloak, display
ing a faded silk waist which was out at
the elbows and badly soiled about the
neck Her skirt was trim and modish,
her cloak and bonnet irreproachable,
but the waist she wore was inexcusably |
shabby. I could not help but wonder if
she had appeared in this garment at the |
breakfast table.
Perhaps III similar intimacy men may |
see similar untidiness among members |
of their own sex, but doubt it.
On the other hand, where is the wo-
man who could endure for ten minutes !
the filth of smoking car" in which
refined men pass hours? The recollection /
of passing through one by accident to |
reach parlor car is sufficient to I'M
nerve the average woman.
Talking with lady who has large |
country home, where she entertains ex- |
tensivelys asked her opinion on this
subject. She gave it as follws:
81 will tell you our experience, she |
said, (Which, fear, is not a solitary |
one. It so happened that two young la
dies and two young gentlemen had been
passing week under my roof, and the
morning of their departure my house
keeper was i'll, and I went in person to |
superintend the cleaning of the rooms
which they had occupied.
1.-The young ladies, mind you, had
been reared in homes of culture and
learning and were to all appearance
dainty and refined specimens of their
sex. Yet this was the condition of the
rooms which they had occupied for a
week:
1.-THE handsome dresser cloth was
stained and spattered by toilet creams
and washes A box Of face powder had
been overturned ON the velvet carpet,
and the print Of small slipper toe had
tracked it about the room. A large, I'M
slightly roll of mixed blond and brunette
'combings protruded from pasteboard
receptacle like a last years bird nest.
Three toilet bottles were minus their
shoppers. Four cambria handkerchiefs
and one glove were found under the
bed, and in the sweepings Of the room
were discovered 81 dresspins, four hat
pins and two lacepins containing jew
els.
"When the room just vacated by the
men was investigated, the only souve-
Mrs remaining were two half burned
cigars, a small heap of cigar ashes on
the mantelpiece and one quill toothpick
ON the floor.
g Sure, and I'd rather clean up after
tin gintlemen than one lady any day,
my servant, and in view of
the contrast between the two rooms
could not rebuke her.
Another hostess whom l consulted on
this subject said: II do not know that
have found men guests neater than
women, but l have found them more
delicate minded in regard to many mat
ters For instance, the seemingly best
bred girls and the richest are often ex-
careless in small matters
They will borrow a wrap from hostess
when they have mislaid their own or it
is inaccessible, and they viii leave this
garment on a veranda chair or in boat
with a reckless disregard Of conse-
quences.
Another lady said; 81 think men battle
much mora than women do and are
more particular about the details Of
their clothing and dress. I think it is
more than balanced by many Of their
unclean habits - smoking, chewing,
and the like. In fact, think
men are internally less clean and ex-
olnapar than woman 'i-Ella