The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-25

If1dTp6TS DdZdT.
Mary r. Baldwin relates this suggestive
little incident in the February "Woman's
Home Companion oh. my dear,
where did you get that monstrosity?'
whispered a man to the little woman by
his side as he chung to a strap, and she to
him, as they rode home together on a
street car.
1.-THE effect certainly was ridiculous
the wee face with its timid expression
under one of the largest of the new styles
of hats with its fiaunty feathers and OBJ
trusive trimmings. The tears started to
the eyes of the overtopped little crature;
then she recovered herself, and insisted
that it was just the thing-the very latest
of the fashions. 1t is not beneath the
the thought of the most intellectual wo-
man, nor does it compromise personal in
dependence and taste to consult the pref
ferences of a husband in the choice of
modes and articles of dress.
ssThere are husbands so constituted, TO
doubt, that it is; gratifying to their pride
and sense of authority to receive perfect
dependence from the wife,; but the reliance
of an efficient woman who is able to think
and act for herself is thoroughly appre-
! eiated by a tbroad-minded, generous
ouled husband. If his wife has a refined
true taste he feels honored when she lays
before him her plans for the house-furn-
ishing, or the gowning of herself, and
after the purchase, as he regards effects,
he takes pride in the thought of having
had a voice in the choosing.
Style is not even dependent on beauty.
-la;,g i oo1~;,- 1or,a =, n he. a Sfy1iSh
woman, and a beautiful one may be de-
void of that distinction. Only she who
recognizes that she is an individual can
ever possess it.
But, starting with that conviction, and
keeping it well in mind. it needs only
good taste and a perception of the fitness
of things to attain the desired result. If
this conviction and these qualities were
universal among the fair sex-which,
alas! they are not-there would be moth
ing to say on the subject of style. Every
woman would possess that style of
her own" which would make her a pct
ure instead of a fashion plata person
atty instead of one of a crowd. AS no
two women are made alike SO no two
women would dress alike. Dress would be
a means and not an end even in the mind
of it's most ardent deVotee.
Good taste is the Indispensable quality
which will forbid eccentricity while 1t IN
sists on individuality. Fashions. like the
brook, seem likely to Ego on for ever
They cannot the ignored, but they can De
modified and adapted to any extent by
the woman who puts style first. Such Wo-
men refuse to be ruled by fashions. They
lead-they co not follow; and the dignity
they gain from so doing is no small part
of their charm.
Besides being the only true setting to
any natural beauty, the cultivation OF
style would save us all money, time and
worry. 1t would not be necessary to re-
jeet clothes which were not of the latest
..cut,' if the wearer persisted in keeping
: 70 that particular shape which suited best
the lines of her figure.
The reckless waste of beauty among
women strikes a critical observer or
every hand. Great is the pity of it wher
such a waste need never be!
Suppose ali the complimentary ane
bitter things ever said of women werF
collected. no library would hold the num-
ber Of volumes. for woman seems always
70 have inspired mans writing as hi
good or evil genius, says Vogue. IL i
natural for man to admire the oppositt
sex. ana it is usually a bitter experience
that turns his admiration into hatred o
woman and her ways.
The few epigrams cited here, collected
at random, may be of interest, First W.
will select the pleasant words, Confuclus
saws, woman is the masterpiece Her
der. "Woman is the crown OF creatlonY
Voltaire, Women teach us repose, clvlltA
and dignity Richter says. NO mar car
live either piously or die righteous wlthou
a woman Beecher, Women are a new
race. created since the world receives
Christianity" N. P. Willis thinks I'M
sweetest thing in life is the unelouasd wei
come of a Wife," Michelet remarks ina
| woman is the Sunday of man-no his re
| pose only, but his joy, the salt OF NJ:
) lifa.,, Malberbe considered there wer'
only W beautiful things in the world
! women and. roses; and only two swee
things-women and melons" Voltalre ass
said. A the reasonings of man were no
5 worth one sentiment of women; Savllle
: swomen have more strength in thei
: looks thar we have in our laws, and NOR
t nower by their tears than we have o.
: our arguments"
Turning to adverse criticism, Lady Mon
! tasue says 'It goes far towards reconcu
! ing me to being a woman When renee
. that 7 I'M thus in no danger OF marrying
onen-as clever and witty and bitter re
mark as ever was made
La Fontaine says, Foxes are all tail
women all ~tongue;'' Boucicault wishe'
: that adam had died with all his ribs Il
: his body.,' Victor Hugo is very bitter, as
4 sorting that "Women detest the serpen
t through professional jealousy;" Southe.
= remarks. ''There are three things a wis
r man will not trust: the wind, the sun
Q shine of an April day, and woman
plighted faith:'' Swift tells US the 'Rea
n son why so few marriages are happy
f because young ladies spend their time i
t making nets, not in making cages"
e I have heard men say they feared an
ran away from sarcastic women, remark
a wide-awake member of the gentle SCI
9 Sometimes such a one is witty and enter
$ tanning, but her intellect is often warpe
v and delights in uttering sharp and har
things; and she will sacrifice a friend
n feelings for d witty fling. Men ar
usually more considerate. They are hel
e in restraint for fear of being called t
y account or held responsible. But wome