davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Conservative, 1901-03-21
POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE.
PART III.

IL Is necessary TO make tne people
understand that, as Aristotle expressed
it, "Political society exists for the sake
of noble actions;" that political parties
are mere tools to serve this end; and
that these tools are to be changed as the
necessity of the hour may demand. At
present as that sterling independent,
George William Curtis, once said: ''The
superstition of Divine right has passed
from the king to the party, and the be-
lief that it can do no wrong has become
the practical faith of the great multi
tudes." No influence will tone up the
higher political faith Of the community
like the spectacle of the man whom
neither the fear of the multitude nor
the temptation of Office can swerve from
the path Of truthful, courageous utter
ance on public issues. Example is ever
contagious.
''Be noble! and the nobleness that lies
In other men, sleeping, but never dead,
Will rise in majesty to meet thine own"
Unfortunately, our schools and our
colleges instill in the American youth
the passion for success. The end of life
should not be success, but service, and
he renders the highest service to society
who conscientiously endeavors to pursue
and to consistently speak the truth. The
man who founds his life on such an
ethical basis will not, can not, cripple his
liberty of action by permanently bind
ing himself to any political party.
Nevertheless, this habit of political
independence need in no wise destroy
that sense of practical action which will
most conduce to the triumph of
desired principles. To me, under the
present condition of the national parties,
it seems most unwise and impractical to
attempt to organize third party, ex-
cept with the underlying intention of
contributing to the victory of that party,
republican or democratic, whose success
appears at the time desirable. During
the late electoral campaign some
eminent citizens, disliking Mr.. McKin-
ley because Of his imperialistic policy,
and Mr.. Bryan because of his "free
silver" views, advocated the organiza-
ton of third party, with the argument:
Between two evils choose neither" l
admit the validity of the argument, if
the two evils are of exactly the same
gravity and viciousness; and also, if the
third party can, by any possibility
founded on practical Judgment, prevent
the adoption of one or the other evil. If
this is not so, then it would appear SEN
sible and imperative to assist in the vic
tory of the lesser evil. l cite case in
illustration. In 1914 Polk represented
the interests of slavery. Henry Clay, of
whom Lincoln, in his debate with Doug
las, said: ''He was my beau ideal Of a
The Conservative, 1901-03-21
Che Conservative.


the Wings, and was opposed to the ex-
tension of slavery An effort was made
by the moderate anti-slavery men to pre-
vent the extreme abolitionists from
nominating third candidate. The fol-
lowing extracts from letters of the time
which discovered in an old pamphlet
are interesting. On April 10, 1874,
William H. Seward, then governor of
New York, wrote as follows to the
"Whig young men of Rochester," IA
citizen who wishes to assert principle,
may do so by casting an isolated vote, or
by giving his suffrage with that of a
limited and inefficient party, and SO far
he may do well and deserve well. But
one who means to prevent evil, or to &C
complish good, must combine with one
or the other of the great parties into
which the people divide themselves, and
which always divide between themselves
the powers of government. Of those
parties there are never more than two at
one period. Thus believing, we attach
ourselves to the Whig party" To this,
Gerrit Smith, the ardent abolitionist,
replied in part: "You state that the
mass of the people being divided between
the Whig and Democratic parties, and
the powers of government being, there
fore, in their hands, he who would ac-
complish good must combine with one or
the other of these parties? Now, it
strikes me, that a reason, which involves
so gross violation of sound ethics,
should be promptly abandoned by you,
even though you should see no other
support for your position. What! Would
you have a man connect himself with
the Whig or Democratic party, who be-
lieves both of them to be wicked in their
aims and measures ?-To seek to improve
the character of a corrupt party by
joining it, and by thus lending ones
self to the furtherance of it's wicked
schemes, is most emphatically ito cast
out devils by the prince of devils. E" Inn
PEELED by such views, the so-called
Liberty party nominated Mr. Blrney
for the presidency This party polled in
all 62 300 votes, Of which 1872 were
cast in the state of New York. Those
few New York votes defeated Henry
Clay. Horace Greeley wrote: "To
Birney & Co., therefore, is the country
indebted for the election of Polk" That
unfortunate election led to the annexa-
tion of Texas, to the Mexican war,
and straight to the great rebellion. l
have never found mention of this action
of 1874 in the memoirs of single
abolitionist, which was not coupled
with the admission that it was serious,
if not criminal blunder
To reform either Of the political
parties, the pressure must come from
without. The man who protests, but
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30

that peasant workers have been taken to
London and Paris and New York on the
pay roll of firms who supply the trade with
novelties.
Many of these men have never worn
other than a sheepskin coat all their lives,
and like the rug weavers of Persia and
Turkey invent their designs as they go
along, without following any fixed pattern.
Only the Circassian who has learned the
art of driving in the tiny silver wires from
his father before him knows how this feat
can be accomplished with perfect precision
and finish, and though the cedar stats
when complete are light Of weight and del
icately fanciful of pattern they are SO adj
nlirably treated that the decoration will
outlast half dozen generations.
When the CircaSSian has done his work
the staff is then mounted in taffeta that is
treated with an oil preparation to render
it more completely waterproof, and the
owners initials, cut in Roman letters of
silver, are fastened on at the base of the
handle.
Besides the Circassian umbrella handles
we are being sent the most charming little
fans from Afghanistan. These are small,
with sticks of shell, of bone stained brown
or green, or of the very thinnest strips of
pierced silver The mounting is done with
b1 east feathers of eastern birds, arranged
in ornate and oriental designs, and there is
every likelihood that Cupids painted on
gauze, spangles and even point lace fans,
will temporarily at least disappear before
the importations from Afghanistan.
credit of bringing out a perfume that is
rev In the west, though long known in the
east. The perfume was given the vicerene
of India by wealthy rajah who wanted
to send the vicerene a souvenir. 1t proved
to be a distillation from roses that is Who'll
ly different from the oppressive altar of
rose. When the Iajah heard how pleased
Lady CurZon was with his gift he prompt
ly offered to christen the delicious COM
pound the vicerene and to send her a vial
of the precious liquid every season. More
than that even the imperious rajah could
not send because an appalling number of
roses and an amazing amount of time is
required in order to prepare gill of the
stuff. Everybody who has been treated
to a feeting sniff at Lady CurZon's bottle
of rose oil declares it worth all the per-
fumes of Araby put together and, as the
perfume is not on SALE the most ridiculous
prices have been offered for a few drops
of it. Parsion perfumers have brought out
limitations of the ''vicerene' that are of
course, not to compare with the true liquid,
a small quantity of which Lady CurZon has
sent to Queen Alexandra
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30
THE BEAUTY QUEST
How to Cultivate Grace and Shape
illness.
FIRST ACQUIRE PHYSICAL BUOYANCY
Walk and Sit Without Being Stlft-
Wasted.
pos Sc A n D r Z p 0 S h
FIRST ACQUIRE PHYSICAL BUOYANCY
POS e A n D r Z 2 . Il
lConzrIcht. 1901. by F. Smith.l

Copyright, 1901, by F. Smith,
Written for The Evening Star by Katherine Norton
The erect, svelte form with its exquisite
curves of 1.-THE and shapely limbs, has
charm to which a beautiful complexion
limpid eyes and tresses of molten gold
cannot lay claim.
1t is the sweet, attractive kind of grace,
of which the poets sang, and she who pos
sesses it. wherever she stands or moves
or leaves a shadow on the wall, confers
favor on the world" Many women, al
though beautiful of feature, are not crea-
lures of curve and grace, and they fail to
charm, while a comparatively plain Wo-
man, with an erect, supple figure, has a
great power of attractiyeness. The first
move in the direction of acquiring 1.-the
form, melodious movements and poetry OF
gesture, is to gain physical buoyancy. 10
do this one must learn how to poise the
body which can only be done correctly
when one has given up the notion that the
center of gravity of the human body is
over the heels; it is over the balls of the
feet. When the experiment of balancing in
the correct way is first tried the sensation
is very much that of tumbling over. But
after a few days one exclaims, "Oh, 1 feel
so much lighter and younger than when my
weight rested on my heels 1t is, indeed,
the easiest position possible. and worth
lminary step in learning the art of true
balancing is to raise the heels quickly from
the ground and stand as high on tip-toe as
possible, then lower the heels with mod
crate speed, without tipping the weight of
the body backward. Again, keep the heels
on the ground, and lift alternately the balls
of the feet, and put them down with a
slight pressure.
The Second Hint.
Having learned how to balance the body,
to stand correctly is an easy matter. Have
the weight evenly balanced upon the feet,
though it Is not necessary to stand with
the heels together Draw the knees in firm
ly, but do not hold them tensely, draw the
hips well back and contract the abdominal
muscles The chest must be thrown out,
and then the shoulders will drop down and
back they should.
when told to throw your chest out"
says one who speaks with authority, i'm
agine a handle is there and that you are
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30

Nearly all the acids remove spots of ink
from paper, but 1t is important to use such
as least attack its tissue. Spirits Of salts,
diluted into five times or six times the guam
tity of water may be applied with success
upon the spot and after minute or two
washing it off with clear water. A solution
of oXalic acid, citric acid or tartaric acid is
attended with the least risk and may be APP
piled upon the paper or plates without fear
of damage. These acids, taking out writing
ink and not touching the printing, can be
used for restoring books where the margins
have been written upon without attacking
the text
When the paper is dsigured with stains
of iron it may be perfectly restored by APP
plying solution of sulphuret of potash and
afterward one of oXale acid. The sulphuret
extracts from the iron part of its oxygen
and renders it soluble in diluted acids.
The most simple and at the same time
very effectual method of erasing spots of
grease, wax, oil or any other fat substance
is by washing the part with ether and plac-
ing it between white blottng paper. Then,
with a hot iron press above the part stained,
and the defect will be speedily removed. In
many cases where the stains are not bad
rectiied spirits of wine will be found to
answer the purpose. X
Another method of removing grease from
paper Is to strew over the spot or spots
little finely powdered French chalk. Cover
this with piece of clean plotting paper,
then hold hot iron cl6se to the paper.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30

the waist. This is a problem over which
many woman, with an otherwise shapely
figure, has worried herself. InordinatelV
large hips will spoil the effect of an other
wise good figure, to say nothing of disas-
trous effects to smart gowns, for no per-
lection of cut will hide the presence Of
over-much flesh. To reduce the girth of the
hips one exercise is suggested, which can
be taken without any appliances. IL is TO
stand erect on a slight elevation from the
ground, with the weight on one leg. Relax
the other leg, and with the power from the
thigh first swing the relaxed leg forward
around the strong leg. During these swing
ing leg movements keep a steady poise;
the body from the hips upward must be
quite motionleSs. The quite Interesting
statement is made that a woman has re-
reduced the size of her hips no less than
four inches by this and similar exercises.
Another one may be mentioned. Bend the
knees, and rise on the balls of the feet rap
idly half dozen times or more. DO not
strain or push with the body: II must be
easily maintained erect and free from ten
sion. Do not work the arms These exer-
cises cannot be practiced too often II reduc-
large a waist is also another lion in the
path, but rather too large a waist than ono
too small; rather the generous inches or
Venus than a wasplike vision. If il is de-
sirable to reduce the size of the waist or
improve its shape, try swaying back ana
forth as far as possible without losing the
balance; the body must be erect with the
arms extended vertically above the head,
the hands touching For a variation raise
alternately the right and the left foot, hold
ing the knee bent at a small angle.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30

and point in guipure lace marked the
termination of each set of plaits A novel
boero accompanied the skirt. 1t covered
the upper part of the bodice and was laid
in plaits similar to those upon the skirt.
A lace scarf, draped from the back of the
waist, was knotted on the bust, the loose
ends of the drapery falling below the waist
line in front. The upper part of the sleeves
followed the pattern of the bolero, a
fiounced effect being achieved at the elbow
by the mare OF the velvet at the termina-
ton or the piaits. The forearm was COW
cred with tight-fltting lace applied over
silk
One cannot look about without being i'm
pressed by the good sense shown by women
OF the period in the selection of their cloth
ing. They no longer take up a fashion be-
, cause it is novel. but insist upon buying
what suits their particular style. Since so
many and such widely differing designs are
exploited. 1t would seem that any woman
who cares to take the trouble to study
herself and her gowns might be becomingly
robed.
The combination of lace, velvet, tulle and
fur on millinery at first seems little outre
but the Partisan designer manages her ma
terials so well that one Is led first to ad-
mire and then to wonder that the artistic
possibilities of such an arrangement were
not discovered before. Soft, harmonious
tmts are always found in juxtaposition.
Picture Hats I'm Favor.
A picture hat for theater wear built of
guipure. sable and tulle now exhibited in
fashionable shop is an excellent exam
pie of the extreme in millinery. The guipure
is applied over wire foundation, the
crown of the hat, being shaped of fur,
edged with sable. dips very low at the left
side but on the right flares up in a striking
way. Robes fashioned of tulle with knotted
gold thread for centers cluster over the
open space on the side tilted brim, and
line of lace placed about the furry crown is
caught through buckle OF cut steel
Chinchilla is worn much this year that
those who have odds and ends of the gray
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30
A Pretty Morning Gown.

wraps expensive. A long coat for carriage
wear short jacket for promenades and
cloak for the theater-each may be embel-
lished by the same collar if it is skllfully
cut and lined with silk. The sailor outline,
the high ruff effect with wide revers and
the deep-turned overcollar and stole, all
lend themselves satisfactorily to the trans
formation of plain wraps into luxurious
and costly garments:
Mittens are worn this season. With GER
tain styles of gowns they are indispensable
to give the touch which should character
ize pretentions to revive the mode of
given historical period. The mittens are
usually of lace, and therefore are only
aprOpOS with an evening costume On
recent Louis XIII toilet Eyes the dress
makers now go well back for their fashion
hints) a lace collar and long mittens lent
charming quaintneSs to a rich frocl of yell
low brocade.
Mittens and Rings.
Mittens admit of great latitude in the
wearing of rings. One may, according to
the best social usage, display from six to
a dozen rings. OF course, this revelation of
bare hands with evening costume requires
the use of many cosmetics and the assid-
nous attention of the manicure. White
skin, plumpness of outline and tinted nails
are absolutely necessary to the successful
exploitation of the mitten fad, and women
to whom nature has not been kind in the
matter of hands are experimenting with
an me Olu-ldSIilOIleu recipes DIT lnclf COM
mand.
The two pretty neces of the King of
England-Princess Patricia and Princess
Margaret of Connaught-one of whom may
some day be a German empress have lust
had completed couple of handsome vel
vet blouses. These are fashioned with three
stitched box paits down backs and fronts
and with yokes crossed by scalloped bands
Ornamental buttons and stitching are the
only decorations used upon the blouses,
which present therefore, a truly girlish
and unpretentious appearance.
Stamped Velvet.
Velvet gowns and velvet blouses are to
be seen upon every hand. Stamped velvet,
something comparatively new, is much used
for evening cloaks, as it combines well with
the fur trimmings of the winter. So soft
and pliable are the velvets that they may
be shaped with little trouble as the modiste
desires. a handsome costume of brown
Velours at Doucet's showed how success
fully the fabric may be adapted to very
ornate uses, The veours skirt was laid in
rows of narrow plaits, leaving an equal
space of plain cloth between each series,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30
THE LATEST NOVELTIES
CIRCASsIAN UMBRELLAS AND FANS
FROM AFGHANIsTAN.
A Rose Perfume Presented to Lady
Curzon by an Indian
Rajah.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The effete east and notably Circassia
has contributed a number of delightful
novelties to the list of luxurious ap-
pointments in the well-dressed Woman's
toilet. Not the richest carved ivory
or jeweled studded art nouveau umbrella
handles from Paris command as much
admirng attention this winter as those
that are imported from the land hitherto
chiefly famous for the good looks of
it's women. These handles are of highly
finished, palm polished, dry cedar wood,
into which, with consummate art and pa
tience tiny silver wire nails are driven
so that their small, f1attened heads de-
scribe an intricate and graceful design
Since time immemorial the peasants of
Clrcassia have been decorating the ham
dies of their walking slaves, household
implements and even their field and car
penterng tools in this charming manner
Only recently an eastern traveller discover
ed the beauty and utility of this delicate
and artistic work. and so keen has become
the demand for Circassian nail decoration
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30

and expert may person become that
she can keep three balloons in motion at
once. Every muscle Of head, neck, Shout
der, arm and waist is brought into play.
Throwing the balloon aside, the next move
ment is to stoop suddenly and sweep the
floor with one hand while the other is
waved triumphantly aloft. The woman
who can do this need have no fears of be-
ing stif-waisted or wooden-shouldered.
Told of Rachel.
Having learned how to balance the body
to stand properly, and to acquire poise of
head and shoulders, the next effort is pose
and repose, that marks the daughter of
hundred earls. 81 visit museums and art
galleries. says one devotee, land study
effects. I practice them, too" This is fol-
lowing the example of the great Rachel,
who believed that by studying beings that
were beautiful 1t was possible in time to
semble them. AS a child she was not
blessed with any great personal charms,
but, becoming enamored or some or the
classic statues, she tells in her memoirs
how any beauty she possessed she owed en-
tirely to her own efforts and determination.
To work and strive faithfully for perfection
In a living human body is nObler purpose,
it has been said, than to carve perfect
sta tue out of cold lifeless marble-yes, the
ambition is as much nobler as the living,
breathing, warm body Is more beautiful
than the cold, dead statue.
To learn to sit gracefully is an art and
not instinct. The woman who under
stands the art-for art it is gives evil
dence of q dominance of one part of her
physique over another. Nor does she
lounge; she sits erect. because when in
perfectly upright position one may ac-
tually gain an inch or two in height, and it
is a principle of physical culturists that
the higher organism is held the better
it will fulfill its functions. Erectness OF
the trunk, good pose of the head, and
graceful disposition of the lower limbs are
necessary If one would sit well. 1t is good
practice to hold the body perfectly erect for
a few moments daily. without touching the
chair back: sit well toward the edge of the
seat with the right foot slightly In advance
of the left ready to rise quickly without
help from the hands at any emergency. At
ter time, prolong the few moments TO
half hour and finally, elastic, sinewy, and
independent will those lazy muscles become.
1t is Incidence indeed that makes a wo-
man awkward. She rises from a sitting
posture by placing her hands upon the arms
of her chair, upon table; she stands
with the weight of her body thrown on one
foot; she stumbles over rugs, because she
will not lift her feet, and she does the half
q hundred other stupid things that cause
her to suffer so by comparison with the
alert, erect, well-poised woman. who never
loosens her hold on the reins of her muscu-
lar personality. This she learns to do with
out any mental effort after time. though
it requires constant thought and eternal
vigilance at first. The first and greatest
impeachment to grace is Incidence.
To Reduce the Hips
No figure can be 1.-THE and graceful IL
there is an excess of circumference below
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30

being pulled forward by it," The next step
is to raise the head slightly, and after that
draw the chin in If the body can now
sway easily back and FORTH from the feet
up, the posture is correct. Swaying back
and forth does not mean bending at the
waist, but to maintain the standing position
and imagine that one is a lilly swayed back
and forth by the wind. The weight of the
body is we'll off the heels. and one is really
standing on the balls of the feet.
Tipping the shoulders from side to side
when walking is very ungracefui; to cor
rect this habit walk about on tip-toe occa-
sionally, keeping the shoulders level. In
this way poise OF head well as shoulders
is gained. To toss a toy balloon about with
the tips of the fingers will also aid in bring
ing about this result. and is not altogether
such childish sport as might be imagined;
indeed. there is method in this mode of de-
veloping exquisite curves. The balloon Is
tossed about in a score of different poses,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-30

over SILK with shield-shaped cuff. ruch-
ing-trimmed. This made the heading
for series of diaphanous frilIs. each Of
which was crossed by chiffon ruching. A
fetchlns picture hat shaded Madam's
ta"ny tresses. and when she rose to leave
the theatcr a trifle before the NAV was
over she took care that the glories of her
costume should not be quite eclipsed bv the
Iolds OF her long velvet coat, trimmed a
sable.
Enormous Fur Collars
The popularity of these enormous f,r
collars as accessories of winter cIoal,s