The Jersey City news., 1899-12-14

6mE III
Here is what one Englshwoman writes
to another, says Dorothy Maddox IN the
Philadelphia .InquirerH:-
',As to the husband Well, Daphne,
YOU viii very soon find out that dowdy
wife has to have rare fascination, beyond
mere charm of appearance, to keep any
hold upon her husbands affections. And
more especially when he is a man with a
poetic side to his nature, like sgd. Fas-
tidiousness is always involved in this.
Fastidiousness.is half virtue, half vice.
according to the other qualities that go
with it, It is like those poisons which are
used as medicines in combination with
drugs that are harmless sgd is fastidious
I found that out the very first time 1 ever
saw him.
I'm quite sure that more men are at
tracted by neatness than by beauty; a
neat foot in a dainty shoe; snowy
handkerchief with soft lace round 1t;
delicate glove showing a spotless lining.
/ believe in my own mind, that that is
the reason why men admire good COM
plexion beyond even regularity of feature
or charm of expression; simply because
it looks so exquisitely neat and clear and
pure
I really think woman is never so bliss
fully content as when she is giving ad-
vice. We are born coddlers. If we cam
not coddle anything else we take up ideals
and try what can be done with them.
Speaking of Ideals reminds me of the
great shattering game that is going on.
Men do most Of the mischief. This is why
feel inclined to grow indignant over the
letter.
1t is the same old pitting of beauty
against circumst tances There are some of
US who come into the world dowds and go
out OF it dowds. Money has nothing to
do with our lamentable case, These are
exceptions.
Women, as women go, are inclined to fa-
vor the things in life which furnish them
with lovely personality. / shall speak
for the dear souls every time.
They are hedged by fate's contrarities.
They are crushed by millstone facts. This
is why there is q constant warfare be-
tween inclination and opportunity.
We with an eye for the beautiful resent
the constance presence of ugliness as
much as any man who ever trod in shoe
lyeather. Escape is only found along that
road Travelled by women of wealth. Cen
teel poverty such as two-thtrds of US suf-
fer makes merry over dainty aspirations.
sgd Is fastidious'
I have known in my day so many fas-
tidious Syds. They are all right up to a
certain point. Bless me, what a change
comes over the spirit of their dreams
when they assume husbands duties.
AS lovers, they admired cobweb ker-
chiefs, the latest cut in shoes, the best of
Paris millinery. In truth. nothing was
too good for their eyes.
When they find that we'll groomed heads,
hands and skins mean one continuous out
lay. then they; are prepared to speak their
mind. There is no uncertain sound about
their protests, as all know who have ever
listened to them
We are amusingiy anxious to handle
with care that piece of bric-a-brac s'man"
He likes this. he doesn't like that When
he has sweetheart he keeps her trem-
bling on the verge of uncertainty as to her
ability to meet. his fastidious demands
She marries, and ever after is haunted
by a greater fear that she will develop
into dowd. notice her feet are cover
ed with cotton hose in place of silk. She
bargains. She palpitates at the very
lIUu6Hl Ol SllliilS before Il manicure tdDie
or in masseuse's chair.
She grooms her own locks, makes her
own hats and gowns and envy eats like a
canker into her soul because she cannot
make beauty and environment agree.
What time she has to run to a complex
ion artist, to replenish lingerie and gowns? j?
She can be neat, painfully neat, up to a
certain point. This is one form of dowdi- !
ness, according to mans idea
He hates locks drawn from the forehead
until they look as if they might at any
moment leave the roots. He hates nose,
cheeks and forehead that shrine from the
application of soap and water. He has no
use for stiff and starched print gown nor
for the linen collar that marks yellow
line between throat and neck.
BY the by, I find this very particular
animal going about with spots on his vest,
with a tobacco breath that is a staggerer
and facing the full glare of daylight in
chin whiskers a day old
He is the man who keeps up an eternal
talk of lovely woman. He stalks into the
garden of girls and plucks the fairest of
flowers, and when he has transplanted the
blossom allows it to fade for want of
proper care.
1t is all right to preach our little ser
monette to each other. but we know all
the time that the creature whose approval
we wish to win Is only half way worthy
so much consideration. I only hope the
fastidious sgd will be able to pay in cold
cash for the preservation of his ideal
If he cannot, pity his wife, as he will
never dream that it is his fault. Men who
demand so much should be willing and
able to settle in good round figures for it.
II they cannot they should keep as still as
scared mice.
In spite Of all the talk Of the necessity
Of teaching by example, and not by pre-
cept, there is one important exception
a mother must cultivate selfishness to
certain extent if she would train her chill
dreu to e-theughtfui and unselfish. THE
luxury of urgelhshness" may sound
strange, but there is just as much truth
In it as there IS in that other paradox
aenjoying poor health" Mothers are the
class which Is most addicted to the habit
of reveling in the luxury Of unselfshness, /
which no doubt accounts for the host of
boys and girls In this world who cannot
and VIII not do anything for themselves,
if they can possibly beg or compel some !
one else to do 1t for them.