The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-05

know to safety. who puts down her pa
rents her elders. her superiors-indeed
she admits no superiors, though this
scion OF equality does admit interiors,
and snubs them without mercy: pro-
nounces a Anal opinion on subjects Of
which she does not know even the alpha
bet. shows neither respect for white hairs
nor consideration for favors which she
claims ss hight, and calls all this
sven or smart and a proper express
sion OF her fashionable, or objectionable.
independence" Over against the vulgar
modern girl who models herself serenely
upon the ioudest and most Impossible OF
the older women whom she knows Mrs.
Mason sets this sketch--happiiy It n not
wholly q fancy picture Of the truly gra-
cious Eentlewoman and dame OF society:
by society woman I do not mean the
type that FIRST presents itself, the brilliant
compound OF style. daring. and Paris
gowns. whose life begins and ends with
entertaining and being entertained. who
puts the fashion Of a hand-shah.-, the
porcelain and cut-glass of the dinner
table. and the cost OF an equipage above
the simple graces and fine breeding which
betray the ch3ice life Of generationy, or
the Unborn tate and nobility TIM. ask
rtthing from Inheritance l meal some-
thing that compares with Il as the rare
old lace compares with the machine-nss,e
Imitation. rs the rich and mellow tones CT
the cathedral window, which the likht OF
centuries has tempered ana sofveued,
compare with the crude and garish color
ins Of its modern copy. There are soctety
women upon whom the mantle Of the
old-time lady has fallen, through nature
OF heritage, whose social gifts a,e the
sum OF many gifts, the crown OF many
womanly virtues. One finds them every
where, women who cherish the fne nrnen-
tiles. who are gracious, Intelligent, tact
ful. kind, and active In all good works.
who understand tho art OF elegant liyipr.
as well as the intrinsic value OF th,axx.
and like to open their hospitabae homes
for the pleasure OF their friends. it is
such as these who represent the finest
ncwer Of our vomanhood and help 10 Pre-
serve the traditions Of gentle manners
which are In the way OF being trampl.d
out In the mad march of something we
call progress. 1t Is for these to ostfacizc
vu'garity. to nut up the delicate barriers
which have been permitted to be let doGn
between the pleasant comradeship OF men
ana women and the loud note OF familiar.
lily, to temper the serdid spirit Of com
nserciaiism with the rcfnements Of that
higher class OF intellect which sees things
not only as they are. but A. they ought -
be-"
II IL charming portrait. 1t occurred to
me TO ask a widely Travelled woman who
knows American sociai life In all its nm
ifest ana most interesting phase. how
many Of these women she had isnewn.
She reflected little before she answered,
-Four perfect specimens only; twelve
women modelled upon the Same general
lines. hut with tcmperamental yar.ations
OF the type which made the whole picture
OF grace and graciousness less complete
than one would have It,"
! gave a slight gasp. surely. surely.
you have seen more than that"
She shook her head. But then, you
know. | have not seen everybody" she
suggested hopefully, and with this / was
forced to be content