The independent., 1907-04-11

ship can exist between man and
woman unless there has been or will
be warmer sentiment at the bottom
Of 1t. The sexes are kept SO widely
apart In childhood and in youth that
they always remain somewhat of
mystery one TO the other, and that
feeling Of absolute comfort which ex-
lists between an American man and
woman is something that is unknown
In this country.
The American woman is just the op-
posite to her English sister. From
earliest infancy she has an opportunity
to know boys and men as they really
are-just plain human beings. some of
them good, some of them bad; some of
them noble, some Of them ignoble;
some of them fine, some of them rough.
And surely the women themselves, on
the whole. must be good and pure and
noble. or else the American man, with
his quick intelligence, his fine brain,
and his subtle mind, would never have
held so persistently to his ideal The
Americal likes not only the one woman.
but women. lie takes the trouble TO
understand their point OF view, their
lives. and their occupations He is in
terested in them, he finds them COM
panionable and makes friends of them,
and he has studied them appreciatively
and helped them In their development.
You will hear at lunch party one
American woman say to another isn't
Elizabeth radiant today; doesn't she
look love in that mauve hat and that
bunch of violets in her silver belt?
Isn't she just too cunning for any,
thing?' And Elizabeth will toss her
head and flush up with pleasure, and
a sort of cordial, comfortable atmos-
phere goes round the table Any
demonstration of this kind in England
or illusions to hats or flowers would
be considered personal and ill-bred. The
ideal conversation is about inanimate
objects, antiques for preference. Thus:
Are there any Runic crosses in this
neighborhood?"
Eyes; there is one very fine specimen
about nine miles from here. Are you
good walker2"
"Oh, yes, with stout boots, begin
ming rather early in the morning and
taking a sandwich. ] can manage it,
Il believe the hieroglyphics on this
particular Runic cross are marvellous
There is only one man who has ever
been able to get their meaning at all
He left pamphlet on the subject, but
for the moment the name of it es-
capes me-" and so on. Now, this sort
of nversation-Runic crosses, what
sort of starch Queen Elizabeth used
In her ruff, and whether Bacon wrote
Shakespeare, and If clay soil induces
rheumatism (although this is verging
on the personaD D-commits you. to
nothing; it is better never to talk
about anything human unless in a
tete-a- tate or with a most intimate
friend.
The American woman, with her quick
perception, her lively intelligence, her
opportunities of knowing and under
standing something of human nature,
and the protection and the care that
she receives from her men, is the most
fortunate woman in existence Some
times perhaps she asks too much of
life but she also gives a great deal.
She is capable well read, witty; she
is gowned beautifully, ane wears her
clothes with distinction, and her taste
is an instinct The taste of a lady in
England is a question of three genera
tions at least. It is thing of culti-
~ation With an American it is simply
an instinct. Indeed, the taste of the
American woman is one Of the most
remarkable things about her
take for example woman in Lou
isville. who has absolutely perfect
taste. She always rejects the false and
selects the true in everything She is
a beautiful Judge Of stuffs and of old
china, of old silver, of pottery; she
understands pictures, tapestries and
fine embroideries, and in her own dress
and her own habits, she is as dainty as
a flower Her discrimination of the
good is in no way superior to that of
very many American women. and, what
Is almost as valuable as taste, they
have certain chic, which is not at all
like French chic. little daring and