The Opelousas courier., 1902-02-01
A MODERN UNA,
TO" a Young Woman Can Get a DAYS
Entertainment For Ton Genie.

Elliott Gregory, writing in the Cen.
'"ry, tells how young n of a GER
tam type can find entertainment for a
"hole day, in New York, without spend
ing more than a dime.
Our land is like Ireland of old, when
the virgin Una, clothed in white and
carrying a golden wand in her hand
walked unframed through the island.
cHothing, 1t must be confessed, can be
rner. Unfortunately, like many good
things, this state of affairs has its draw
backs, the hitch in this case being that
many pretty wenches take their role OF
Una seriously, and imagine that wan
derlng about the country in immaculate
raiment is the principal object of exis-
tence. It's ticklish work criticisirs
SAINTS, yet n can't help thinking the
Irish samsel in question would have
been quite as well employed if she had
stayed at home and helped her mother
with the family dinner, or taught her
little brothers their lessons.
My bachelor quarters are occasionally
visited by a modern Una who is such a
distinctly American product that | can
not refrain from describing, for the ben
eft of my readers, the existence she
has arranged for herself and the i1geni-
Gus methods by which she enjoys free
dom from all cares, and gets a taste OF
lite, without exceeding her meagre al.
lowance.
The girl, who is of spotless respecta-
bllity, lives with a widowed aunt in y
tiny apartment somewhere in the upper
part of the town, from which altitude
she descends, arrayed in dazzling garb,
on most fair mornings, in pursuit Of her
days sport. After a little shopping, or
an hours inspection of Twenty-third
street windows, she arrives toward one
o'clock at the Waldorf, or a kindred
hosiery, where she trips about as
though looking for some one. As soon
as she spots a group of her acquain-
tances preparing to order luncheon, she
floats up to them and asks if they "have
seen Aunt Maria which lady, strangely
enough, does not materialize. AS the
girl fingers about their table, or asks
with one of her winning smiles-per-
mission to sit by them until her relative
appears, it is an even chance that she
achieves her object and is invited to
lunch. The little comedy of confusion
and annoyance at Aunt Maria's defec-
ton is duly played, but the invitation is
accepted. AS she has always forgotten
her purse" a candid offer to share ex-
pens@ does not count for much. The
girl is, however, so gay and entertaining
that this little trick, played with varia-
tons, provides her with most of her
seasons 1uncheons. On leaving her
hosts, Una does a picture-gallery or
two, or, if she meets a friend of her
own ilk, they visit some bachelor painteS
in his studio. She never does this alone,
being careful that no bad marks shall
sully the white pages of her class-book.
Another favorite amusement is being
photographed-when it does not cost
anything. In consequence, the walls OF
half the amateur studios in town are
graced with presentments of her dainty
figure. This and kindred pastimes fill
the hours till FIVE o'clock, when she
teas" with a woman friend or drops in
at a reception. Thus a day has been
cheerfully and economically passed. By
seven, when it is quite dark, and there
is no further excuse for remaining out,
the fair tramp reluctantly mounts an
elevated train Cher first e~xtravagance),
and returns to the society of the uncom-
planning relative, who has passed her
day in cutting, turning, and rearranging
the girls fine clothes, or d~arning the
meagre household linen.