The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-16
SOCIETY EDICTs.
The Little Changes Which Show to the
Initiated Whether One Has Good
or Bad Breeding,

Auc Aittlc OuduScS WHICH SHOW u tnc
Initiated Whether One Has Good
or Bad Breeding.
1t was Rousseau who said, Society
is the book of woman" and there is
nobody to contradict that flat state
ment of the philosophical Frenchman
for it is proudly true. But Rousseau
might have modified his epigram by
saying that Society is the book OF
certain women" and instantly achiev-
ed the bulls-eye. In all ages and at
all times there have been few wO-
men who have set the pace, compre-
hended the best standards and have
been highly enough differentiated to
make their ideas felt at home and
abroad. 1t is to such women, who
have dominated various important cir
cles Of the worlds society during the
years, that we owe certain conven-
tions, correct fornlalities, little nice
ties, little politenesses, which show
to the initiated at once whether we
are gently born and bred, these things
having been absorbed with our nour-
ishment and become a part of the
flesh and nerves, or whether by here
and there lapse or an absolute short
coming in fine breeding we have
achieved brave outward show after
years of hard labor.
Unwritten Law.
There is the written law OF society
and there is the unwritten law OF
society, and more Importance is at
tached to the observance of the latter
than to the former. We may not re-
turn first visits within ten days, as
we should; we may not have the last
agonizing cry of the style in dinner
service; we may be terribly remiss
in acknowledging the social obliga-
lions we have taken on ourselves;
we may be a half hour late at a lunch
con and break all of the other Mosaic
laws of the up-to-time diagrams on
etiquette, but the clever woman never
misjudges her people on any such
grounds as these. One may be ill,
careless, lazy, independent, but still
be woman of the world who never
falters when the unwritten law is
concerned. No book on etiquette that
was ever compiled can make woman
brilliant and correct in social matters,
but let her have an instinct for the
unwritten law and the world can be
her oyster. Women pass judgment on
each others social equipment and
weigh qualities in balances that are
finer and more delicate than any scales
ever created by the hand of man. Let
a new woman come to a community
and aspire for recognition from the
established society and a little affair
like too much ermine in the after
noon or too blatant visiting costume
or too many colors on the street or
ring on her middle finger or too harsh
an "r" in her English will impede her
social progress in the most decided
manner.
Selection in dress has long been an
important factor in the social values,
ostentation and vulgarity of one form
and another being fatal where dowli-
ness or mere simplicity would pass
by unobserved. Choice of topics of
conversation is another pitfall for the
not-yet-arrived, and many a woman
has been passed by because she could
net keep off the personal side in cir
cles where rank personalities are al
ways avoided. Some otherwise agree
able woman will make wrong start
by too much converse of themselves,
their latest possessions, their newest
malady.
woman Is as vain of her small
feet as man is of his large head.
AS a green persimmon Fuckers the
mouth so does pessimism pucker the
heart
A man may be content with his lot
and still be dissatisfied with the house
thereon.
Occasionally woman will confess