The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-08-16
THE wELL-MEANING WOMAN.

means well. 1t would be Joy to us
If she meant worse and did better.
The well-meaning woman always tells
you something is wrong when it is
too late to help it or when circum-
stances forbid that the wrong should
be righted at the time. She finds
her opportunity on the street, when
she comes joyously out of her way to
tell you that there is rip in the back
of your waist or that your coat-sleeve
is pulled out from the shoulder. The
fact that the damage cannot be rene
died then and there cuts no figure
with her. The well-meaning person
never gives herself the pain of reflect
ing that, since the break cannot be
repaired until you can go home and
take off the injured garment, it might
be as we'll to leave you in the ignor-
ance that is bliss.
The well-meaning woman finds a
field of usefulness in church organi-
zation or club. She can always tell
you how much better this or that
could have been done-after the bus
iness has been concluded. In the
domestic circle she is prodigal of ad-
vice and gentle correction. She it is
who tells you how much more wisely
matters are managed in the other
schools than in the one your children
attend. She is the first to bear you
the glad tidings of contagious disease
in the neighborhood when you can
not leave home.
When the well-meaning woman
comes to you for visit she makes
herself popular by instruction as to
how your servants could be better di-
rected. She has a fund of incident
and illustration at her command. The
servants are especially pleased to
have her in the house, even although
she often extends to them her SYM
patheties and points out to them how
much easier life would be for them if
the work or the house were different
ly arranged.
1t is the well-meaning friend who
reports to you this or that naughti-
ness your children were guilty of
when the occurrence is on the way to
ancient history, and who recalls GER
tain youthful peccadilloes Of your
husbands or juvenile indiscretions of
your own. She has no desire to stir
up domestic discords. Nothing is
further from her thought, but she is
not only confident of your interest in
these occurrences but is persuaded
that they are things you really ought
to know. If you let her see that you
are hurt or offended she is deeply
wounded. She tells your friends that
you have an unfortunately sensitive
disposition.
The well-meaning woman is usual
1y strong on reminiscence, and those
who know her break into cold per-
spiration when she falls into mood
of recollection. One of the women
whose memory is curse to any COM
munity was talking to friend the
other day. She went back twenty
five years.
IT remember perfectly the first
time I met you," she said. "You
had on a green and white silk dress. "
"It was a pretty dress" said the
other, pleased at the woman's recol-
lection, although she ought to have
known better.
GA very pretty dress" agreed the
well-meaning friend. "But it was
always too scant in the skirt. no.
ticed that the first moment 1 saw it,
and thought il was such pity"
The victim of plain-speaking winc-
ed little. "What is the use of tell
ing me that now?" she asked rather
tartly.
The well-meaning woman looked
surprised and grieved. why, I
thought you would like to know"
she said.
And then the sufferer prayed that
she might always fall into the hands
of ill-meaning persons so that she
could guess at what was coming and
be prepared. Christine Terhune Her
rick, IN Golfers Weekly.
MRS. CLosEFIsT-"Oh, George /!
The baby has swallowed one of your
collar buttons" Mr.. Closehst =
"Great Scott, Maria wish you
would be more careful with that
child. Don't you know collar but
tons cost money! ~
HoAx-"Why is the merchant
who doesn't advertise like man in
rowboat?" Joax-"Because he goes
backward, I suppose. Hoax
mo; because he has to get along
without sales. +"
"WHAT EVER induced you to learn
to use the typewiting machine?"
"Well, it's the only practical way
I have ever found of avoiding the
bother Of dotting my is and crossing
my is"
Erd