The Washington times., 1895-01-06

THIS is NOT PLAIN GIRI.
girl with a nice singing voice, or the one who
loves her piano. is going to be inclined to
chum with the other girls who like to go 10
the concerts. and naturally she would rather
accept invitations TO houses where her talents
count for something, and she is likely toIneet
the great musicians as feliow-guests. but she
will make great error if she identifies her
self so exclusive ly with the musicians that
when a party is being made up TO 60 and hear
a popular lecture and come back to
little supper afterwards. where there
is a lot OF cleTer tax and fan. she is left out
because The people with literary tastes think
she cares only for music. And though she
may toe a girl with serious religious views
and anxious to be of use in the Sunday-schooI
or interested in some of the city missions, its
a pity 10 lie so absorbed in being of use to
Others that she loses all sight OF the uses of
her own youth and to get left out of all the
innocent larks and fun Of the other girls be-
cause they think shes SO deadly pious and
grave.
A GREAT TEMPTATION.
To the ordinary looking debutante who is
full OF health and high spirits, and eager for
pleasure as. than& Heaven, the average girl
is-the greatest temptation of all is to join
the fast set; the set whose only pursuit and
interest is pleasure. and therefore seem, TO
1cE l-lDEall lllkAc t.. 10 nave l4l5 Btcl illlO
Of any of them.
She sees mama shake her head when the
names Of some OF the leaders IN that set are
mentioned. but when she meets them for her
sell they seem TO her TO be only more than
usually Jolly and kind and not at all different
in behavior from girls whom mama approves
OF, and the men OF that set are ligelier and
dance well and say such admiring things to
her that she jumps TO the conclusion that the
fast set are quite as nice as anybody and
much more amusing.
After a while she hears them say, and sees
them CO. some little thing that shocks her.
but they are 50 good tempered and cheerful
about il :iat she hesitates to take ofIense at
i, and day by day she sees and hears and
gradually grows accustomed to things that
would have shocked her terribly at first had
she known them all at once. Day by day she
grows TO mot mind coarse jokes and vulgar
deeds, and from thinking they are no harm
she simply passes into imitatir z their beha-
yiour. TIE decline in her delcacy and mols
esty being so gradual that she does not per-
ceiye how far she has gone. She would be
Mortified and disgusted with a girl whose
finger nails were black or her body foul and
dirty. bat she has lost the power to perceive
that a black mind and foul tongue and i'm
aginatiOn are infinitely more loathesome.
THE IDLE SET.
Another set that the wise, sweet-minded
young debutanfe viii keep out Of is the idle
set. who find their only amusements in the
fee3lest of novels and the Saturday matinees.
Who MI their empty hours with furious ad-
miration Of actors and singers. who know
and care nothing for such addle-pated ad-
mirers. This is the set that are always
knocking about the streets, taking hours for
the smallest bit of shopping, dwelling for
ever upon idle gossip, priding themselves
upon their slang. and spelling their diges-
tions with continued diet of sweets.
The girl who lets herself drift into this set
will infallihiy find herself Influenced by ii in
time, and acquiring ali their laDguid habits,
while the clever girls and athletic girls grad
uRlly get in the habit Of leaving her out of
their pleasaatest amusements, because her
bodyi is so feeble and her mind so dull that
that she can contribute nothing to the gen.
eral pleasure.
CoNoUERING CIRCUMSTANCES.
Every girl beginning her first season should
take stock of herself carefully. A pretty girl,
or a rich girl, or witty girl is likely to be
much in demand. but the girl who is not
pretty has a somewhat harder task before her
to make her season pleasant and successful
For one thiGG, she should realize that while
beautiful de5utantes can afford to be a little
careless in dress and still look attractive. il
fection in ali matters of the toilet since there
is certain beauty and charm in absolute
negtness which every one un consciously feels.
Her hair shonid always be beautifully done
her nails perfectly manicured. and every pin.
pleat and ribbon exactly in place. Whatever
gift she may have should be carefully culti-
waited and developed TO its highest degree.
1t is not ALWAYS the beauties who are the best
partners on the ballroom floor, or the best
musicians or hoTse-women, or golf players:
and wherever such accomplishments count
the beauty may have to give place to the girl
who knows how to do something well.
A clever. witty girl finds most things plain
sailing. but a girl without such gifts can
charm almost as much with sweet temper
and careful courtesy. and cheerful willing
ness - G Of use to other people.
The rich girl too. can. without much diff
Guilty, command following but the poor
girl has harier time. Yet the poor girl
who shows no envy. who takes her depriva-
lions cheerfuliy, Is not always standing upon
her dignity. end knows the art OF being a
charming guest and accepting gracefully and
gratefully many favors she cannot return. is
N ialr way TO do away with many of the
disadvantages OF circumstance
This sort Of girl never places herself in
rivalry with those better OF than herself In
matters Of expense. She makes no attempt
TO lInita.e with cotton velvets and cheap furs.
OF imitation jewels, the beauties of the toilets
OF the richer girls. She makes herself con-
tent with the single daintinesses within her
means. and. when she entertRins, makes her
hospliable goodwill and nerriment take the
place ol costly dishes or expensive flowers.
Z. b. W.
lAi, BIATy NIIKArKFF RFFR