New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-26
THE SOUTHERN GIRL.


girl woman born in the cloudy atmosphere Of the
late sixties. mperfectly educated. debarred the ad-
vanages which her parents craved for her, VIII YET
rise supreme amid difficulties and give the stranger
an impression Of solid culture which, perhaps.
classical examination would not bear out know
a girl with unfathomable brown eyes and face like
picture who trim hat, make salad, evolve
a charming evening gown out of nondescrpt odos
and ends dash off verses, grave or gay. and sing
a sentimental ballad with equal facility. "hat is
more ballad will go straight TO the heart OF the
listeners salad will be success the verses be
more than mere rhyming and tho bonnet sure 10
be becoming Last. but not least of her unconscious
accomplishments this girl can talk nonsense with
such infectious charm and abandon that she Is the
life OF whatever company she chances to be IN
gift that. to talk nonsense well. Anybody
can talk sense"
| The younger Southern women all seem imoued
with the desire to make something Of themselves.
OF course there many who have not experienced
adverse fortune or whose parents have found since
reconstruction the prosperity denied them previous
ly. But the majority Of well-born Southern women
are dwelling in beautiful old homes with nothing 10
sustain the dignity OF the position. and the1r STU
alton is pathetic. This dignity Of position by them
unforgettable. often gives rise to humorous incl
dents Having occasion to employ dressmaker
once when In Charleston" said the Northern Dame
Il was told that Miss L. on Lynch-5t. did very
good work went TO that neighborhood, ana peihe
| uncertain Of the number asked group OF childreh
on the street If that was the house where Miss L..
the dressmaker. lived. Yes ma am, right in there
they responded and pulled the bell and gained en-
trance
IAN attractlve-looklng girl. with skin like the
| petals OF a camela. and very dark eyes ana mar
came into the paror TO receive me-
Yes I do sewing she said, in soft. drawing
tones 4 happened to be at the window just now
and head you ask II this the house where
| Miss L. the dressmaker lived II you belonged
| here you never would have asked such question
Everybody in Charleston knows the l.. s. ana wouio
know that was ordinary dressmaker' AL this
| before she had even inquired into my errand. Inc
| camellla-lke checks were flushed and tears partly
OF anger. partly OF modification, trembled on her
| long lashes.
II felt embarrassed and with an apology,
| stammering out that there was evidently nisun-
Outstanding. and that regretted having ahhoyea
| her
| There Is no misunderstanding. she said. 1
| shall be glad to do your work and will do it well.
| TOO: but cannot bear 10 be mistaken Tor dress
| maker 20 into the best society there IS IN THIS
| State
| II gave her my order and came away pondering
| on the grotesque situation. She made dresses and
| VET she was not a dressmaker and not to be mis-
| taker FOR one | confess was mystihed.
And did she make your dress wel?
| ..Reautfuly and promptly She chose the trim
mings and appon tments with excellent taste, NO
|
| learned afterward that her father was dssipatea
| and the family bitterly poor she having younger
brothers and sisters IN charge. knowing thal she
| could do dressmaklng better than anything else,
| she chose that employment, and was marVei OF
industry. working night and day. besides employ
ing her supernuous at social entertainments
wnereat her grace and vivacious beauty mAue he'
much sought after
In this Southern city there are but few women
clerks IN any line OF employment. and up to snort
time ago no feminine foot trod certain downtown
streets devoted to the professions and wholesale
| trade.
| what are YOU doing down here? would be the
masculine Charlestonians greeting TO any FEMININE
| friends whom he might chance TO encounter ana
| he would stralghtway escort them out OF the pro-
scrlbed district and they would feel as II caught IN
some fragrant offence unless some good excuse
could bc invented for such daring infringement OF
| the laws OF custom.
80 much for the younger Southern women. How
! about the older ones?" this impartial critic was
: asked. .,
! .Oh, They are delightfully."- distinctive never
! Fir. Of them The most charming and cultivated
sinister | met never failed to turn her back when
the United States flag happened 10 be borne through
the street on the occasion OF parade IL all the
| southern women had been like her the war would
have lasted eight years instead OF four. She never
speaks in bitter vein. and yearly, when the sum-
! mer comes she makes her Northern pilgrimage IN
search Of cooler weather. but the bright spring Gay
! 90, a,art - memorial services for the Confederate
| dead is really her momentous day OF the year she
makes her private engagements suDserVieht 10 H.
| and binds the wreaths and chaplets with her own
| r,tv wbits hands CHANGING 10 be admitted to
| ber innermost apartment one eventful day. saw
that three distinct conceptions or the Lost cause
adorned her walls and her favorite Confederate
heroes were duly installed in state. the pale race
OF Davis looking out from an ebony frame ABOUT
| which was fastened a twist of black crepe.
"It seems 10 be a provldential arrangement that
the younger women's ingenuity ana energy s"ou'u
have been evolved out Of the old prodiSal ease ana
luxury for the mothers are yet impractical. VIII
give YOU an Illustration in woman who can trans
late an abstruce problem and give you the best re-
ccnt for cAlblains or rheumatism in the same
breath The mother Of four grown daughters d de-
Nghtful talker, excellent housekeeper, she Is
verltable mother in Israel inasmuch as she gives
OF her own strength and energy to nurse the SICK
| and help the poor She brought up In luxury
ond married In her own sphere OF life a man Of
fortune AID although for forty years she mas been
learning the lesson of poverty. she mas not yet
acquired mastery OF even the rudments thereof
".Unc:e Nat" eft mamma nice legacy the
oldest girl remarked one day after We nad eS-
tab.ished relations Of intimacy That VIII be suen
help. am very glad responded, because eau one
and most inadequate to the demands Of his family
"A week later the yGrns aay p reT IN she he'd in
her hand Il was small cross OF Sparkling a s sas
''' That is beautiful Harriet ! exclaimed and
looked at the flushed cheeks with interest. prepared
TO hear Of a nance from whom alone ! fanc.ed this
handsome Offering could have come. ~
Mamma bought IT for me-, she added delight,
eddy. looking at the g.ttering gem she tnousnt a
long time Uncle Mats legacy
and she put half In this and half in marble cross
for the church. partly TO commemorate him, though
his name won't be It, g.,
II was astounded. Here were the BIS actuaily
needing the necessaries OF life. although they kep
that fact in the background and .avshng tnis
lucky godsend on what seemed utter foly.
'''You see. there foar OF u.s. went on H 4
connding.y .Eunice is TO have that klng IeoIsc
service that handsome china set, go!d-lined ina,
Won like so much De Isle Is 10 nave Inc so''9
siver salver Sabna mammals sapphires. ano
viii have this cross and the diamond aigrette pc
sides NV erandmothers real lace gown that she was
married in ,. -, 80 =, oo,,,s s,are
Mrs r. for not putting that 81 500 in the bank for