Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-07-27

Mrs. Amelia Gere Mason discourses
in the August Century OF "The Deca-
dence of Manners" Some of her keen
shafts are levelled at the girl OF the
period.
1t seems trifle unjust to the clever
and wel-bred American girl, TO dwell
~ on a familiar ype so much en- evidence
as TO overshado~ all the Others and pass
every " here as representatives, but it is
a question of tendencies. This typical
piri OF the Gay puts on mannlsn airs
with mannsh clothes, spices her talk
with slang, not always OF the choicest,
tosses her pretty head in proud dttiance
as she puts doWG her parents, ber
elders, aud her superiors-indeed, she
admits no superiors, though this scion
of equality does admit interiors and
soubs them without mercy-pronounces
a final opinion on subjects OF which she
does not know even the alphabet,
shows neither respect for white hairs
nor consideration for favOrs which she
claims as as right, and calls all this
"swell." or "smart," and proper ex-
preston OF her fashionable, or un'
fashionable, Independence.
The same spirit ruLs through the en-
tire social gamut. There is nothing
more contagious than bad manners; 1t
s so easy Tor the selfish instincts TO
come uppermost when the pressure OF
a law. written or unwrtteD, is removed.
The lnsolence of servants is sufficiently
emphasized. Even the shop.girl waits
upon you with half-disguised im-
pertinence, often imperIiuence without
any disguise, and replies to your CIVIL
word with lofty stare, as much as to
say, "Since you are polite 10 me you
cannot be of much consequence.
By ''society woman" | do not mean
the type that presents itself, the brilliant
compound of style, dariDg. and Paris
gowns. whose life begins and ends with
entertaining and being entertained,
Fho puts the fashion OF haDd-shake,
the porcelain and cut-glass of the din
Ger. table, and the cost OF an equlpaee
above the simple graces and hne breed
ing which betray the choice lie OF gen.
Grafton or the inborn taste and nobility
ina asks nothing from Inheritance. l
mean something that compares with 1t
,s the rare old lace compares with the
machin made imitation, as the rich and
mellow tones of the cathedral win
dow, which the light of centuries has
tempered and softened, compare With
the crude and garish colOrDg OF Its
nodern copy. There are society wom-
an uDon whom the mantle of the old
lime lady has fallen, through nature OF
heritage, whose social Sits are the sum
+ many gifts, the crown of many wom-
,nly virtues. One finds them every
where, women who cherish the hDe
mepities, who are gracious, intel
ngent, taclful, kind, and active in all
good works, who understand the art OF
Elegant living, as well as the intrinsic
value of things, and like to open their
1ospitable homes for the pleasure OF
their friends. II is such as these who
represent the finest flower of our wom-
anhood and help to preserve the tradl-
ions OF gentle manners, which are IN
me way of being trampled out 10 the
mad march of something we call pro-
sress. 1t is for these to oslracise Vul-
Sarity, to put up the delicate barriers
which have been permitted to be let
iown between the pleasant comrade-
snip of men and women, and the loud
,ots Of familiarity, to temper the sor-
did spirit of cOmmerclallsm with the
refnements of that higher class OF in
tellect which sees things not only as
they are. but as they ought to be.