The Irish standard., 1898-03-19
curriculum is a great deal more impos-
ing on paper than in reality


Woman receives general education
along with the man in the interior
schools. She does not, as rule, go any
further, and forgets what she has learn
ed at school. There is no lack of blue
stockings here, but, as rule, the stories
circulated in Europe about the advanced
education OF American women are ex-
aggerated. In fact, according to my
in Europe is superior. Every woman
here reads and writes-reads the news
papers. They all dress according to the
same fashion and intellectually as we'll
as ethicaIIy they are inferior to Sc
lect small class of our women but SUI
peror to the masses of European wo-
men.
American newspapers print every day
thousands and thousands of copics-I
cannot tell how many. There is nothing
like them in Europe. The owners of
some of them have enormous incomes,
and they give employment to thousands
OF great Importance. with whom the
government and the president himself
are Obliged to keep in touch
American women are the most over
dressed in the world. While standing
for half an hour on Broadway have
seen more variety in dress than could
see on the houlevards in Paris. They
were CT every possible shade of color
ana CT very imaginable material. In all
that display there was very little taste.
But great deal of luxury. In the hotel
the women came to dinner decked out
as for ball. They wore golden brace
lets, diamond earrings and strings of
pearls. In manner they were bold and
coquettish to such &; degree that one
would almost think that the roles of the
man and the woman had been changed
in this country.
American girls lead a very free life,
and they practice extensively the art of
Irritation, which, however, is not very
dangerous for them, because of their
strong character and the preponderance
OF the mind over sentiment. A knowl
edge of the French language is consider
ed among American women. as among
ours. a special mark of elegance and
Don ton: but it is not very general.
Every woman. when the French lam
suage is mentioned, makes the common
place remark: 1T is very sweet lam
guage Every woman, moreover, be-
gins the study Of the language. but.
having met the first difficulties, she
loses courage and gives it up. Her
friends, however, who know still less
consider her very clever, until some for
clsner comes and then it appears in
conversation with him. that the lady
knows very little Of the French Ian
gllage. Her friends are very pleased to
find her out.
ABOUT literature. poetry and art tho
American woman knows very little, Mi,
sic is more general accomplishment
but the acquaintance with it is super
ficlal to the last degree In conversa-
ton the women exhibit an extraordinary
of freedom and Puritanism.
made the acquaintance of two ladies
one or them an authoress of some
reputation and her niece a beautiful
girl. with milk white complexion, blue
eyes and red hair. | spoke to them
through an Interpreter, as did not vet
know English. | said, after being in
troduc"A: II am very sorry that can
not speak with you directly"
oh said the girl, II will be your
teacher if you wish"
Madam, my gratitude has no bounds"
! said.
but will teach you under one con-
dition," she said.
II accept it in advance" | replied,
What is t?"
That you permit me to press your
hand from time to time during the les
son" she answered
! was astoundcd. If it had been said
to me directly it would have heen very
l!attering to my natural vanity, but it
was said through a third person and in
the presence of the whole company. II
is the custom of the country to say such
things.
American cooking is the worst in the
world. There is no desire to eat well.
but only as quickly as possible and then
10 get back to business American no.
tells are luxurious. A quantity of wo-
mon come to the hotel dinner table with.
out men, They dress more cxtravagant-
ly than any women in Europe. They
wear no hats and consequently the table
looks like a great private dinner PARTY.
Tho service in many of the hotels is
done by negroes. At every table there
are two Or three OF them. with heads like
those of black sheep They are very
polite, serve swiftly and dcXterouslv.
and. in evening dress and with white
cravats, look, if not pretty. at least very
original.
According to American custom they
put before every guest u quantity of
small dishes with all sorts of food in
them. At the same time you have be-
fore you fish. meat. eggs. potatoes, to-
matocs, ice cream, Strawberries, oranges.