The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-16
+ FANCY LEE
~ ON CATS
AND
CALLlIl7VZES

ssssssssssssesssssssssssss
AN NEVER listen TO calum-
nies." aid Montesquieu.
because IL they are untrue
run the risk CT being de-
IA cxsyed. ard IL they are true.
of hating people not worth
thinking about"
II IL well known fact that in all new
places there are women who have earned
tire reputation OF bask-capping one an
other
Now. why do they do It?
In any rational reasonable woman stu
bid enough 10 think that by pulling some
other woman down she can elevate her.
self II she thinks this she makes tre-
mendous mistake. People who listen are
as low. II not lower. than the absent one
whom she II scandalixing.
II takes such very little thing 10 start
an evil report II takes years 10 over
come scandal, however false in origin.
Some women gossip because, never
reading or knowing anything outside OF
their own narrow circle. they must talk
about something. and being limited a. to
subject. they originate some little thing
which. like the scEoolboy's snow ball. In
grasses by travelling.
Some women are innocent Of intention
Of evil. They are Hike Mr.. Howelis' de-
scriptlon OF some ladies In one of his
books. OF whom he said. These Boston
fans never gosslpcd. ah. no. They sat and
analysed each others characteristic they
got there just the same"
Then there are some malicious women
who really can't sleep at night unless they
have given their best friends dig IN the
ribs before retiring. A lady was telling
me the other day this anecdote of the
way soma women do things: You See"
she said. Mrs. Jones doomed and boosted
Mrs- Smith with great violence when MIS-
Smith first came to town. She talked her
up wherever she went. and Mrs. smith
was soon extremely popular, because she
really was exceptionally bright. amiaoie
and tactful One morning Mrs. Jones
awoke 70 the fact of Mrs Smiths i'm
mense popularity. She got the Ladies'
Home Journal and found out what was
the sweetest thing In luncheone. She IN
vfted about twenty Of the most prominent
women 20 this luncheon. After imploring
them never to divulge her news. she treat
ed them to some fairy tales about her ex-
proteae, Mrs. Smith. The assembled TWEEN
ty entered into an alliance to sit on Mrs
Smith Soon Mrs. Smith found eyes
averted and backs. where once she found
smiles and embraces. Fortunately about
this time Mr.. Smith found II to his adj
vantage TO return East. Mrs. Jones -
now regrettIng the money wasted on her
fine luncheon and wishing she had used
the lucre to pay servants hire and gro
GERS bills OF long standing. There -
nothing so aggravatlng as misappiied De-
nevoience-"
n any woman thinks that by back-cap.
ninr another woman she can undermine
her with a man. she also lives in error.
man may keeY, his mouth shut, when In
his presence q woman slurs another hut
he keeps up a devil OF = thinking. He 10
more apt than not, after the conversation.
to send the absent and mal.gned one
basket OF flowers, to relieve his feelings
and prove to himself that IL prudence kept
him silent, honor made him generous.
The other day heard two women talk
ing abou, a very bright but talkative
woman Of their acquaintance. Il would
like to do something to that woman" sput-
tered the thin lady. II would dearly love
to hypnotize her and sew up those lips
that have whispered so many eva stories
and caused so many heart aches. ! would
Ike to silence her tongue, wouldn't your
No" said the fat lady: I'VE won't sew up
her lips. Wen boom her for the head OF
every public organization In town Well
keep her talking about her work. and then
the rest Of the earth can take breath.
Wen make her lady manager Of every
club or directress OF every corporation"
Now this seemed very neat way OF kill
ing two birds with one stone. Don't you
think so1
If women only knew how tactless 1t IS
10 haok-eap each other. they would stop It.
Tact In a woman Ii greater than beauty.
because II cu;iives 1t. X is greater than
learning, because IL antedates It. II is
greater than wisdom, because II is wis.,
dom condensed. IL is greater than love,
because IL Is the very essence Of the feel
nag which says. Put yourself In his place"
Tact cuts the knot 1t cannot untie.' but
oh, how hard Is the knot which can resist
tact. Tact has gotten more people out OF
trouble than have been slain In the COM
bfned wars Of q hundred years.
II Is the charm which aegean not wither
nor custom stale.
How perfectly millennium like 1t would be.
instead of back-capping enc another, did
women only have the tact TO say some
thing good about the absent.
/ once knew a woman (heaven rest her
soulo who always had a good word TO say
for the maliEned One day, at a church
sociahie, tho little ooterie with which she
was sewing fell tooth and nail on a woman
who had given them all plenty OF oppor-
,unity TO be spitefui Finally the gossips
paused 10 gasp for breath. and Miss Blank
said, tiudly: Il never could resist her
pesticoats. They always hung so grace
fully"
< x X
II am called away by particular bust
ness" said Mr.. Sheridan. 'sbut leave my
character behind me-" would require .
Capt. Courageous 20 make this announce
merit In some companies. for he might not
recognize tire article left after the hand
hng. | know lady who is always the
last TO leave a tca-fisht for. as she once
Observed 10 nae. III - much safer to stay
behind and let ths others So"