The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-30

and drank tea silently for a few mo-
ments
How did you happen to take up the
Work?" some one asked.
well, you know we had lived in Wash
ington since the deluge and had known all
the diplomatic circle and the people worth
knowing who had drifted through there.
When our money went 1 tried to think Of
something l could do that wouldn't make
my relatives hair sit up. Teaching and
art needlework seemed to be the only
things for decayed gentlewomen' who had
no great TALENT but my soul loathed both
OF them, and l was in despair until Kate
Field suggested this scheme 1t wasn't
the slightest trouble for me to find girls
Tor my first party. 1 had been abroad
so often, and 1 could make myself mis-
understood in five or six languages. and
1 knew any number of desirable people in
all parts of Europe, as l could guarantee
an entree into the best circles every
where. That social card is a winning one
with both girls and mothers. The faith
ers don't care so much about it, The
fathers are the ones who approve of chan
erones' though. There are so many men
VINO nave money and want their daugh-
tiers to travel, but who can't take a long
monday themselves. They don't want
thelr wives to go with the girls because
that breaks up the house; so a reliable
chaperon is hailed as the best solution of
the problem.
IF any one thinks the work is a sine
cure, wish she would just try it, Of
course, one does get it simplified in the
course OF years but at first it is awful
The mere business details are bad enough
the looking ahead far enough to have
desirable rooms engaged, COMMITMENTS
reserved, carriages ready, and everything
planned so that it will run smoothly. Then
one must have ineXhaustible tact and
sympathy. If chaperon can't make her
girls adore her, she would better give IN
at once. She must know how to amuse
them and give them a gay time without
allowing them to get bored or tired. She
must know the prejudces and customs OF
society IN every country, and not allow
her girls to sin against the proprieties
Undesirable acquaintance must be froz-
en-. Hotel keepers must be propitiated
but awed. She must have an infallible
remedy for inconsistencies and fatigue and
bad temper and hives of feas No omer-
gency must find her unprepared oh If
is awful" There was tragedy in the wav
in which she put her teacup on the table.
"Of course, as L said before, it all de-
ponds upon the girls. There are girls
who make the thing joy They are hun
cry for sightseeing and eager to learn. and
enthusiastic for every thing They actin
ally cry for more art galleries and
churches and tombs. 1t is heavenly to
chaperon girls like that. One can make
Baedeker do all the work. The trouble Is
that girl of that sort isn't often handed
over to chaperon. Usually she belongs
to family of moderate means and trav-
els, ineXpensively. with friends. When ore
is in business for money one can't allow
ones self the luxury of chaperoning girls
who haven't plenty of that commodity to
spend; and the wealthy ones are likely to
be frivolous and troublesome
once l went abroad for a year wit h
o. rl "a Nrrn. H. .f.I-s
well, I'll not tell you what state, hut
she was from the West Her father of
fered me 5000 and my expenses if [ would
take charge of her for a year AS to orr
expenses, he didn't put any limit upon
them, so / thought the thing was too good
to be refused. When the daughter came 10
Washington l decided l would have no
trouble. She was remarkably pretty. Her
manners were almost as impossible as her
clothes, but 1 could replace the clothes
and reform the manners. She seemed good
natured, and rather shy We sailed for
Europe. and on the steamer | had fore
taste of the wrath to come. That girl
hirted with every one, from a Hndoo
Prince to the cabin boys l couldn't take
my eyes off her for a moment but she
would do something to cause gossip: and
yet when l wrestled with her she cried and
seemed so grieved and contrite that
thought that the child really didn't know
better.
I'VE got through England pretty wen
except one night at Cambridge when 7
was i'll. and she slipped out and went row
ing on the Cam with a young collepjan
who had dined at the table with us. When
we reached the continent my grief began.
Some way or other, wherever we went,