The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-23

lCopyf1Bnt, loSo
Bless us and save US. how the dear
girls are learning to sewl True? OF
course it's true. They sewed hard all
during Lent. and now when you make
call the tiny little workbasket, with
its expensive fxings-and they cost
pot OF money, do gold handled scissors
and do thimbles set with turquoise-but
having. achieved this very feminine ac-
complishment every girl Is going to
utilize it. She looko 30 sweet as she sits
with flying fingers working over bit
of linen that you find yourself watching
those white hands as they control that
sharp little bit OF steel, when suddenly
the work stops for a minute and the
head is lifted TO allow the eyes to look
at you and ask a question. Then you
wonder IL a woman were ever so pretty
before. Then you know 1t means
great deal when somebody masculine
says TO somebody feminine. "Oh, Miss
Montmorenci. what a lovely sash you
have on" sash at present being
something that is much trimmed and
frlled and fiuted and scalloped and
made fancy In every way. Miss Mont
morencl looks at you with a conde-
vcending air and answers. II made ev-
cry bit OF IL myself"
You no longer doubt as to whether
Miss Montmorenci can marry poor
man or not for a girl who can make
sashes--well what can't she do?
Then there is that other girl whose
hat is very Joy. 1t Is burdened with
flowers. II Is gay with ribbons. and IL
is cooked on one side In a knowing way
that is very fashionable and very be-
coming. You look at IL and think what
a wonder II is and how much IL must
have cost. and when you venture TO ex-
press your admiration to the wearer
she says, with a gay toss OF that won
derfully crowned head: "Oh, it's mere
nothing! bought the hat and had
the ribbon, so ] Strengthened out some
flowers and got q few new leaves. and
trimmed it myself 1t saves an awful
lot of money~to know how TO trim your
own hats" You thought her lovely be-
Tore but you are sure she is divine now
1t is curious how women congregate
when they sew. A woman never likes
10 sew alone. She wants somebody else :
either to criticise her work or to talk.
The other morning three women were
hemming ruilles and, with divine mus
lin frocks in view, were also talking
and having for topic that never end
ing one-womnn. The first one, who
happened TO be a blond. inquired, I'm
your experience have dark or light wo-
men been the most faithful?" Then she
kept on: Personally I never knew but
three women who were absolutely true
TO me, and they were rather normal in
color. One had brown hair that wasn't
quite dark. another had light hair that
wasn't quite blond, and the third had
gray hair. The first one had been my
friend from the time we were children,
and the friendship lasted absolutely ua-
til. death did US part. The second one
wes a woman much older than myself,
in whose society I found constant en-
joyment, and the third was my mother.
There are hundreds OF names on my
visiting list. names of women who IL
any one of them were asked sc she were
my friend would say. Yes" and yet
tomorrow, II needed friend should
go to the one who likes me because
am pleasant companion or to my
mother But would much prefer to go
to man."
The girl who had listened attentively
and sewed steadily at the same time
had brown eyes and brown hair; but,
dropping her needle, she gave her ex-
perience: 81 had a curious education
about women. Girls were scarce in our
family: consequently we were taught
to think them OF great value. II you
could do anything to give pleasure to
a woman; " by words, deeds or IN any
way watever you could help one, II was
n courtesy to yourself. That was the
theory with which I started out into
life. and. while physically I am not black
and blue, spiritually am. The woman
TO whom gave the helping hand usu-
ally finished the performance by biting
Il. The woman to whom gave n GER
tain amount OF affection. consideration
and kindness was invariably the one
TO say the most horrible things about
me- who insisted I had a motive In ev-
erything did and who was finally con-
vinced that I was entirely selfish In my
desire TO assist her. My women friends,
While very few. they are women for
whom I have done nothing and with
whom IL is merely question OF general
liking. The woman for whom you do
a good deed Immediately concludes that
she wants to cut your acquaintance
Why do not know, except that she is
like a certain kind OF mongrel dog the
females OF which can never meet with
out having n row. Faithfulness with
me has not been a matter Of complex
ion. Faithlessness has been q general
condition."
The other woman who had sewed and
kept quiet was neither dark nor light.
but belonged TO the type so common In
this country. that OF light brown hair
and dark eyes. She spoke very slowly
and az II she had thought II all outys
She said: We'll. have been curious
enough 10 watch. and with me IL has
been an absolute matter of complexion.
Women who are unwomaniy. absolutely
deceitful, lacking In truth. with no