New-York tribune., 1896-03-29

them feel pleased with themselves and conse-
quently with you. There's Mary Blunt. She is
really kind SOUL and l respec: her immensely
out she acts on my feelings like a nutmeg-grater
one went with me yesterday to the graduating
erclses at Miss HIS school, ! knew that she was
interested In education and children, and wanted
her TO hear Eleanor Mary always thinks that true
friendship calls for absolute plain speaking, and
she began to cr.ticse the child IN her slow. con-
scientious manner. Il think her voice is decidedly
less nasal than 1t used to be-" she said, intending
TO be complimentary; and when / asked II she
thought the child pretty. why. yes" she an
swered. hesitatingy. but, OF course at that age
you cannot really tell. What pity it is she did
not inherit your nose instead OF her father's!
And afterward. when told her intended to take
up bicycling. she exclaimed, Good gracious! What
will happen next""'
but, mamma protested, IL l say nice things
to everybody. you tell me- shall l not be like
Mrs. Sweet"
oh. forgot all about that laughed my in
consistent parent but whatever you do, don't be
like Mary Blunt"
Deliver me from my frends!' Ii a proverb that
will find an echo in many minds Just at this time.
when the instinct Of society people seems to be TO
avoid what they but recently sought and to scat
ter In various directions "for a change" before
taking up their social burdens again for the short
after Easter. Shall you keep up your
odyS at nome OurnS Lent: Querled q 1renO OF d
clever woman OF the world. Heaven forbid.'
claimed the latter energet!cally. II somewhat I'M
piously. II simply longing TO escape from
those dreadful afternoons OF enforced twaddle
which to consist OF nothing but greetings
and simpering and leave-taking. nterspersed with
nane gossip. I deadly tired OF II all. and I
told my husband last night that II he did not
send off 10 Lakewood or Washington for
couple OF weeks rest should have nervous pros
tration,"
Il confess | am weary OF these people" said n
well-known woman author. whose pen-pictures Of
modern society Photographic in their exact
ness. although l find them indispensable for
copy. Perhaps II is because OF my trade. but my
mind has formed the habit of constructing their
sentences for them in advance and OF anticipating
the sequence OF their remarks that can tell almost
exactly beforehand just what nine people out of
will say when they make call. l
follow them to their carriages in my Imagination
and feel quite Of what will be the natural
continuation OF their talk. SO ! long inexpress.by
after conventional winter for fresh fields and
pastures new. Perhaps she continued. what
bores me the most In my Intercourse with my kind
the inevitable compliments that people TO
feel Obliged to pay me about my books. ] invariably
return the same deprecating answers. When this
goes for years IL becomes somewhat tiresome.
as does also the dead level OF commonplace small
talk ! heard a housekeeper say the other day that
she wished the Lord would invent some more
animals for the market. and feel just that way
about people. wish that something distinctly
than the new woman Of whom every one is heartily
tired