The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-29
RESTLESS.
American Temperament
Makes Bad Manners.

Restlessness is a concomitant of the
American temperament. Probably our
climate has much to do with this, par
ticularly the winter climate of the nor
thern seaboard, which is filed with
abrupt changes and transitions from
warm, mild airs or moist, damp atmos-
phere, to almost zero cold. However
this may be, the restlessness of New
Workers, and particularly of New York
society women, which has always been
noticeable, has increased during the
past few winters, and particularly in
gay seasons, to such an extent as to at
tract the attention even of themselves.
This restlessness of mind and purpose.
as well as of body. is something that
has to be taken into account very seri-
ously by hosts and hostesses, for it mil
itates seriously against the success of
any entertainment and seems impos-
sible to overcome. On a winter day in
the season my lady rises late, wearied
from the dance, dinner, or supper, or
even the opera of the previous night,
and. having completed her toilet. and
perhaps looked after some household
affairs, starts out on a round of plea
sures or social duties. She has, per-
chance, a morning musicale or enter
tainment of some kind to attend. at
which she is apt to arrive late, and duv-
ing which she is in a fever of Impotence
for it to close.
Then she rushes to lunch at a restau-
rant, friends house, or perhaps home.
and, this meal completed, with another
change of costume, she begins again a
round of receptions or drops in at a
matinee or a musicale. Again she rush
es home to dress for dinner there or
out, and then the opera, or a dance or
BAH, with late supper to close the day.
small wonder is it that after this
round has been followed daily for two
or three weeks, even before the
height of the season the strongest
woman becomes noticeably nervous in
her speech and movement, and often
acquires an indefinable hunted express
ion of countenance
The effect of this restlessness upon
entertainments, and particularly those
OF the late morning or afternoon. is as
follows: A host or hostess issues cards
say, for morning literary talk or an
hours music and plans so that his or
her guests may have time to fulfill their
morning duties and get away in time
Tor luncheon. Over one-half the guests.
especially if they be women, instead of
arriving promptly. struggle in for half
an hour, by Which tome others who have
arrived somewhat on time begin TO
leave, many of them from sheer rest
iessness, an inability. to sit still for any
length of time. The host or hostess is
consequently obliged to spend the hour
or hours of the entertainment in greet
ing late-pOmpFS and hid1irer 20
early goers, all of whom, of course.
nave some pretext or excuse for the de-
parture, and all of which the host or
hostess smilingly accepts.
AT an afternoon "at home" or recep-
ton, particularly if there are many on
the same afternoon, the majority of
women, as has been wittily said, ZEN
Ter the door, sail through the parlor.
duck their heads to the hostess. sniff
the air, duck again, and depart" to
repeat the performance at other
houses At an afternoon musicale they
straggle in, sit down for a few mo-
ments. and, no matter how good the
music or how noted the artists, scarce
~ conceal their impotence at being
obhged to keep still, and begin to leave
when the program is only half com
pleted. There is consequent continual
movement and rustic, annoying to the
performers and disturbing to the hos
tess.
Now most of these women were of
gentle birth and breeding. They would
pc mortified if told that this sort of
thing is not courteous, and is not
tolerated abroad in the polite society
OF London and Paris, which they I'M
CONSCIOUSLY adopt as their model.
Many from experience, know that it is
not so tolerated there but they yield
10 the influences around them here. It
is this restlessness and this rushing
which destroys for many people much
OF the pleasure of the seasons gave
ties. We crowd too much into too short
space of time, and we are selfish. SUI
premely selfish, in entertaining and in
being OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES no heed to
the convenience or comfort of our fell
loW-hosts, or, when we are the enter
tanned, of our hosts and hostesses.
II almost seems at times as if people
selected dates for entertainments to
pufposely conflict with those chosen
by others, and there have been sew
eral instances during the past few
weeks of prominent women who did not
like each other. deliberately arranging
receptions and dances for the same
date with the evident desire OF testing
the respective loyalty of their friends
The restlessness Of New York society
and the evils which it brings in it's
train would be good text for a Lent
en- sermon.