The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-22
CULPABLE VANITY.

The Genfier sex may b no more vain
than man but the consequences Of vanity
are 70 woman more hasardous than 70 him.
Perhaps n would - . better definition Of
shs trait TO describe Il ~ love Of admtra-
ton. In its normal stage Il - . virtue.
II incites to neafness. development Of taste
In dress, and the cultivation Of charm Of
manner. But its exasger~tion leads To
bolcsess Of challenge. eccentr3city In At
tire and peri,ous adventure.
Chastity h An attribute Of tho American
woman. wAntonness - the cause Of little
domestic trouble. compared TO fhe craving
for admiration from men- This may be In
accent enough In itself. but II - the occasion
for HIppant comment. and many virtuous
woman 10 the unconscious object Of unfa-
vorable gossip who y entirely undeserv-
ing OF harsh criticism o. insinuating Jest.
Manly men can have only contempt for
those Of their kind who magnify the weak.
ness Of vain women and Affect to be the
partakers Of privileges when . too easy
acceptance OF attention b the only fault
But such men DO exist. and they are unfor-
,unatsly not confined to the less cultured
classes. II women who permit themselves to
receive pointed and ostentatious attentions
from male friends could but know Of the
whispered suggestions unscrupulously made
they would be covered with shame. A
single woman is entitled to and may re-
ceiye courtss.ss which are entirely unbs-
coming In . married woman.
Seattle ID probably no worse than other
places, but the freedom OF Western life
offsrs opportunities and overlooks iaxiiies
which would create scandal in ouieter and
more settled communities. We are hardly
conscious OF this. until some painful Incl
dent occurs 10 awaken both wives and hus-
bands to the growing evil and the attend
ant danger. Domestic troubles seldom ind
their way into the newspapers until they
have become so Irritating as to seek relief
In the courts. but our social life has been
marred by . sufficient number Of those
which could not BE- altogether concealed
10 justify q word Of earnest warning and
Of friendly remembrance.
W
and scandal has begun to wag Its restless
and venomous tongue, the worst is always
concluded: and although injustice may be
done in magnifying the offense. the wrong
can seldom be riGhted and homes arc
wrecked on the rock OF vanity. There are
men In every community with whom no
sensitive woman can afford TO trifie even
for the Eratincation OF a passing filtration.
What Is fun to him Is discredit for her.
Friends are silent. and the woman may go
on her way oblivious OF the comments and
deductions, but Rumor is busy with her
name. and II the submission TO such Atten-
tons becomes at all prom.scuous. It Is
only matter Of time when she will occupy
an unenyiable position IN society. even II
her husbands anger is not aroused. Hus-
bands may be to blame: sometimes they
undoubtedly are. but the citadel Of honor
Is one which IL best guarded by the woman
herself
Lovely and charming women often md
themselves surrounded by gallant and SIN
cere admirers. whose homage 10 q compu-
ment. and few women are SO unatfracuve
a. TO fail to be the objects OF esteem and
regard by male friends. but this can be ac-
ccnted with tact and kept within bounds
by self-respectins department.. The ;ruest
friends a woman can have are always held
by virtue and grace; those men who min
lister 10 mere vanity have never anything
but a selfish and usually an unworthy pur-
pose. which carries with IL neither friend
ship nor credit.
There Will always be weak women. A.
there viii be designing men; 1, IL probably
IDLE 20 appeal 20 them; but upon the very
large number who. without intent OF evfl.
subject themselves TO public comment by
thoughtiess disregard for the propries,es. a
gentle ana respectful hint may 70, be al
together thrown away