The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-08
IDEAS for aMonnen

woman s cnleI Charm Is leISSlis "iieSS
Edward L. Pell in the September
sswoman's Home Companion" Just Why
we say it l am sure l do not know, ex-
cept that, speaking fer the masculine slae,
there is pleasure in saying gallant things;
and speaking for both Sides there IS a re-
lief akin to pleasure in slyly putting ASIDE
q nut that is hard to crack. Perhaps,
however, it is about as near the truth as
one can come in a general statement, for
1t seems to be about settled that WI must
look for the secret of a woman's charms,
not in any of those graees which shine
out conspicuously like the diamonds upon
her bosom, but in the blending OF certain
quiet qualities which have their home IN
the depths of her soul, and which unite
their rays before. they reach the surface
Just as one must look for the charms OF
a woman's dress, not in any pretentlous
ornaments, but in the harmonious blend
ing of quiet colors and easy lines.
Among those quiet graces which unite
their rays to make the charm which, II II
eludes our grasp, does not fail TO make
itself felt is the grace of thankfuiness- I
do not mean conventional thanksgiving
or post-mortem appreciation. l mean that
something within US which perceives,
appreciates and adequately responds to a
favor. This grace belongs to mankind in
general, but it reaches its highest develop
ment in woman. A man may feel thank
full, but he lacks that sensitiyeness which
makes one conscious of the smallest
favor. and most of all the proper media
for conveying ones thanks for a favor
rendered. only woman is fully equipped
to express the thanks she feels; and the
-o-,o, rUbn 0ra0afn1Iv diSpharyeS her
debts of gratitude is called charming,
though we may not think of her talent
for thanksgiving as having anything to
do with her charm.
.sThere are some graces which We never
think of except when they are out of
sight. Thankfulness is one of them. We
turn with disgust from a man in the
street who has words in abundance to ask
a favor and not e word to acknowledge it.
Just then we think what a repulsive thing
an migrate is, and how beautiful is graf
itude. But we seldom get an idea OF
thankfulness except when it is conspicu-
Gus for its absence. How often We look
upon ingratifudes and spit our contempt
upon it, How rarely do we pause to take
in the charm ola grace-hlled womans
thanksgiving.
I'VE are accustomed to go back to the
past for perfect specimens of almost
everything. The more one studies
the American girl of a generation ago,
the more one is impressed with this Won
derful, quiet talent which she so highly
priced and so constantly used. l think that
to us men it seemed the Chief secret of
her charm"
That new invention, the hat trunk, has
solve the problem of carrying the in
Vulnerable flower and feather trimmed
hats without injury to them. 1t is an
easy task to make one. A common pack
ing trunk without a tray may be brought
into service by providing it with cush-
ions, thus making a very desirable re-
ceptacle for holding and Transporting
trimmed hats and bonnets. The cushions
are supplied by making a required num-
her of bags or pockets of drilling, ere
tonne or some thick material and stuffing
them very full of curled hair. Tack these
filled pockets to the inside of the trunk,
finishing the edge and covering the nails
by lacking on cotton gimp around each
cushion. using upholsterers' tacks, thus
giving the interior a neater and more
finished appearance.
A small trunk may be made to accom-
modate at least eight hats by putting a
cushion at each end of the trunk, two
upon the bottom. two on the cover and
one upon each side. Supply each cush-
ion with two long hatpins for fastening
the hats securely in place. Such a trunk
may be made not only useful when one
is travelling, but also while. one is at
home, particularly where closet room is
much needed. by fitting a thick pad over
the top of the trunk. Cover this with
pretty cretonne and have a plated val
ance that reaches to the floor. Supplied
with a couple of sofa pillows, this piece
of furniture will prove desirable and con-
venient- |
Sometimes the characteristic type of
the American heroine of fiction is vulgar,
sometimes eold-hearted. or unkind, or
willful, or indiscreet, but she is never
stupid" writes "Droch' in the September
Ladies' Home Journal" That is the
verdict of contemporary observers on the
American girl. Whatever she may be or
do she always has her wits about her;
she is smart While her father delights
In managing factories. stock operations,
or railroads, she delights in managing
men. And in every kind of fiction which !
she dominates the men seem to be uni
formly glad to be managed by her. Often
in fiction she has been hacking in certain
gTaces-chiefy the supreme grace of tact.
But there are signs mat our noyelists
have discovered hat the American girl
possesses this grace also. and so it hap
pens that today she trails through fic-
ticn not only with fine clothes, and a
beautiful face, and generous deeds, and
witty, if i~mpertinent, remarks-but there
Is developing around her a gracious man
ner. an unconscious simplicity thatsshows
itself in consideration for the weaknesses
Of others-ln addition to that keen knowl-
edge of their foibles which was always
hers. What we have vet to hope for is
that her wealth or her poverty may be
made less obtrusive and less a signid-
cant part of her always attractive per-
sonality."
On of the lessons which should be
early taught to every boy and girl is to
draw back the bed covering upon arising
and place the pillows in a current of air
II this were the habit of every person,
h-ousekeepers would be spared consider
able worry and modification. If it has
been dome by the occupant upon arising,
the room May be put in order for the day
W. OF three hours. but the ar