The record-union., 1898-04-26
BESELENA'S PRkTTLE.

! Especial Correspondence Record-Union) }
PORTLAND (Or), April y. a
bright woman 1 know once said to me:
Have you ever noticed how popular
red is when nations are at variance
with each other?" And / had to con-
fess that the thought had never before
entered my mind Since then have
been giving the matter some attention,
and I find that during the French rev.
olution red liberty caps were worn by
the patriotic women, and some one
told me that red was the prevailing
color during our late civil war So it
seems that after all wars do influence
the fashions. Now that war with Spain
seems almost a certainty, l have no
I doubt but that the brilliant color which
is becoming to almost every one will be
more popular than ever before
Talking of war reminds me of what
a brilliant opportunity will be offered
some inspired poet-poets all declare
that they are inspired-to turn soldier,
as did Byron, and if he isn't killed off,
he can come home and write epics and
lyrics of his experiences to his heart s
content While heretofore cold blooded
editors and stony-hearted publishers,
who had scornfully rejected his effuS-
sions, will simply be falling over each
other in their frantic efforts to be the
first to gain possession of his wares.
1t is funny and at the same time pa
thetic to see what a roseate glamor
the average boy throws around the
prospect of war. It's the boys of rif-
teen and sixteen who are mostly i'm
bued with this patriotic fever. One
boy / know of that age is nearly break
ing his heart because his mother won't
let him enlist He is consumed with
a desire to become a drummer boy, and
haven't the least doubt in the world
but what in fancy he doesn't see him
self a full f1edged general when the
conflict is over. | have an idea but
be it whispered low, else 1 will never
be forgiven, that the average boys
idea of war is that it will be one con-
tinual Fourth of July celebration. He
has an idea that the moment the Span
iards clap their eyes on the Stars and
Stripes they will surrender on the spot
He doesn't think of all the actual hor-
rOrs of war, nor of the heartaches of
the women who love him, whom he
leaves behind. 1t stirs the blood ana
quickens the hearts beating when a
young man in fancy sees himself ar
rayed in all the glory of gold braid
and brass buttons marching off to war
to the sound of inspiring music amid
the plaudits of those who are left be-
hind, but it's another thing when the
once gay uniform is soiled and blood
bespattered, and he himself, perhaps,
desperately wounded: then / think he
will wish he had stayed at home.
1 don't want you to think, my friends,
that l am lacking in patriotism, either,
because l fatter myself that | am
equally as patriotic as my neighbor,
but l don't like to hear babies prating
of war and bloodshed.
Il don't know what in the world will
become of US if we have WARP" walled
a plump matron who does a great deal
of entertaining. IF all the eligible
men are taken away we won't have
any one left to dance with except old
men and boys. I'm so glad L taught
Harry the polka and the two-step, he
really does them both very we'll and if
the worst should come we can at least
muster him into dancing service" And
then We all laughed, for Harry is still in
the curls and kilt period of his exist
ence.
In certain sense 1 don't think the
average girl viii miss these much be-
walled youths so much; they have not
been particularly gallant to the fair sex
the past few years, and girls have be-
come accustomed to going about alone,
and on the whole | think they rather
enjoy it, too; it gives them a certain
sense of freedom and independence
never felt before, a sense of new wo-
manliness. and as a man said to me
the other night. Men like the new wo-
man-with notifications They like
her with just touch Of the old woman