The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-12

There are few small matters that
influence character and make for good
like the simple thing of keeping ones
engagements. One might say that
keeping ones word in general covers
this also, but in the one matter of try
ing to be on the spot where one en-
gagged to be there is great virtue. 1t
would be we'll for women especially
to ponder upon this, as they are some
times given to saying lightly that they
will be one place or another at given
time and then fail to be there. It is
the part of wisdom to think before
making an engagement, but once made
to live up to it. 1t adds strength to
the character to keep engagements
even if one regrets having made them.
There is class OF persons, both
men and women, who are never on
time. They are the muddIers of the
world and are responsible for much
trouble. But after all, they seem
scarcely responsible, as they were evil
IDENTIFY born with a tendency to late
ness. Therefore they are the occasion
of much virtue to prompt people who
have to exercise the virtue of patience
in dealing with them. Indeed, as a
GuHCIudllLY
the thief of time" as the prompt ones
waste so much time waiting for their
late friends. There are one or two ST.
Paul women who are famous for be-
ing late. They reach the station just
five minutes after the train has de-
parted, and come to concerts in the
middle of the first part and disturb all
the audience who were there on time.
Anyway you look at it, the late
For II one is on time, the first act of
almost every play given in this city is
spoiled by the noise of the late ones.
At the Schumann-H eink concert the
other night fully a quarter of the au-
dience stood during the first group of
songs. Now why in the world st. Paul
people cannot get to the theater or a
concert by S:15 surpasses all under
standing. st. Paul is not a late city;
most people dine at or $50, and a
large proportion of theatergoerS have
their own carriages. In New York it
is said that many men and women
have never seen the first act of play.
Instead of. being something to boast
Of, this is matter for regret one would
imagine.
In the matter Of keeping engage
ments, while the girls of today are bad
enough sinners in this direction, the
young men are worse. When a young
man makes an engagement with a
young woman and then fails to appear
and cannot give a better excuse than
forgetting or being, too late, it is an
objectionable offense and the girl is
very undignified if she makes a second
engagement with him. But the girls
of today do compromise their dignity
too often in this matter until the men
are completely spoiled. The young
men of the East even more so than
those of the West. In New York and
other places where eligible men are
scarce they are accustomed to carry
ing things with a high hand.
If women among themselves would
cultivate the keeping of their word
even in trivial matters, they would
find that it adds greatly to their charm.
There are few qualities better than
reliability in man or woman. How
much respect do we feel for the man
or woman, who, we are perfectly sure,
will not be where they said they would
be, or If they come at all, appear an
hour late? But we feel that the woman
who always keeps her word and her
engagements is a dependable sort of
person whose friendship is an honor.
If all the hours that we spend waiting
for late friends could be put together
we would be able to accomplish much
more than at present. Girls should be
brought up to be on time for meals,
and to live in a regular manner. The
. influence of such a life at home will
last throughout their lives and be of
untold comfort to their friends and ac-
quaintances. So girls, for many rea-
sons, try to cultivate always being on