Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-14
MusIin-C1ad Divinlties--A Converse
ton Between Two OF Them
and Some Phiiosophic Reflections
ThereOn-Good Advice.

Heine. when he wrote: II desire but a
lovely cottage with matched roof, fresh
milk and butter, flowers by my win
dow, and a few fine trees before the
door?
Pretty picture OF pastoral delight
really Aftonian-is that, but o, what a
torrid wave must have touched the poets
classic brow, when he continued:
"And my cup Of happiness would be
filled had | the pleasure of seeing some
six OF seven OF my enemies hanging on
these trees"
Is It true, after all, that manners and
morals are climatic? Because that
thought, like our red-hot moons, savors
Of hades. l am sowing seed on a stony
ground. Something, L fear, as our mid
summer revivalists have to contend with,
for the idea of an Interior fiery abode is
no longer fashionable. / heard an emil
nent divine one hot, hot day, not long
since, hurl this scorching anathema to
a trembling audience:
Doomed demons damned in hell!'
The ALTERATION is fine; so was the re-
sult-I have been better ever since.
~ENNYSON'S DESIRE
Tennyson's desire for summers day
"Some muslin-clad Mabel or May
To dash one with eau de cologne
is cooler in precept and more in accord
ance with things as they are.
We have the muslin-clad divinities, nu-
merously registered, at either hotel, ana
there is no better bath for a poets brow
than the pellucid waters of Blue Ridge
spring. i have tried it.
The intense heat and intermittent rains
have forbidden outdoor sports as golf,
tennis, tally-ho rides, and picnics to a
great extent, and the cool evening breezes
across the hotel piazzas have proved more
enjoyable than anything save the waltz
music within. For this has been a gay
social week hereabouts, and the dancing
and card parties at 1.-The Alton are al
ways largely attended. OF these the re-
cord-breaker was a progressive euchre
party given by Mrs. McHenry. OF Louis
Vile. The prizes were captured by Mrs.
V. L. Mason and Mr.. Robert Goodloe.
The ballroom, of course, has ever its
fair devotees. Anent of its joys, l over
heard a conversation that set me think
ing. Said one "musln-clad" in Nile
green:
1.-THE longer l live in this world the
more L learn"
"Um," replied another in pale blue;
that's curious! DO people usually -"
80, don't be funny! l mean about men,"
Eyes; that's the very subject to improve
upon. but how?"
"Why, I mean about the men in a BALI
room in these days Of masculine dearth.
Did you ever see such abject reverence
paid to anything in your life? 1 tell you
a society girl or even a summer girl"
in the mountains, has n pretty hard time
OF it If she has not at least one swell
looking man in her train. o. If it were
not for Charlie, I don't know -"
And the conversation drifted into Char
lies virtues pro and con.
ESSENTIALS.
This muslin-clad Mabers idea was
right. Ny own observation Is that a girl
to be well considered in society any
where must, in the first place, be per-
fectly well dressed, and in the second,
have at least one devoted cayaler-two,
of course, do not come amiss. Let them
dangle at her heels everywhere for
awhile, and Mrs. Bon-Ton and Mrs. So
and-So, and everybody else, will ask her
to their teas and dinners, dances, and
musicales-not because they want the
muslin dvinity-oh. no; but because she
knows such nice men. In this i am re-
minded of a pretty girl 1 once saw at a
party in Washington. She was a Georgia
girl, and at home had things pretty much
her own way. She went one night to a
dance at Representative C--'s, and alas,
went without a young man as her own
exclusive property. The recital Of her
woes was humorously pathetic. For the
first thing, when she reached the house
ho In CHI ri Go ha
killed as much time as possible, and
finally mustered courage to descend and
make her bow to the hostess. Here she
was passed down the line of waiting wall
flowers, with the last OF whom she made
q frantic effort to talk" Lots of books
| know, have been written on this SUBJ
ject, but | DEFY the most brilliant con-
versationalist TO talk" alone. NY friends
effort was a perfect failure, because the
other woman was in the same box, and
snappy as a dragon.
Stranded, miserable, abjectly alone. she
spied a girl whom she knew sailing her
way with a beautiful beau at her side
And what do you think that mean crea-
ture did? Gave her snatchy little bow
and passed on.
Awful wasn't It? And a mistake YOU
may be sure no sensible girl makes
y
TO secure at all hazards your very own
young man for an emergency like this.
On the principle that it never rains
but il pours," You will find af erward
that there are. others in plenty.
But Of all things, don't play Darby and
Joan. Once that other is at hand. drop
your own nice young man. Don't mo-
nopolize him. nothing is worse form Pass
him around freely. You will get the credit
OF being very generous. Young man gets
a little piqued at your indifference, ard
is more devoted, and ii is an all-around
benefit. as you will see.
This is a sweet guielessness, charm
ing frankness. which l am unwilling 10
the feminine mind. but If you like it bet
ter. we will call 1t the method OF mod
dern warfare" brought about by the
exigences of the times-and the scarcity
of ballroom attendants.