New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-21

THE ACTIVE AND THE PASSIVE WOMAN.
The various events Of the year which cause the
men and women OF society TO congregate In large
numbers bring forclbly the mind Of the OBJ
serving individual the fact that the women are OK
two distinct kinds the active and the passive
When the active woman is seen at a race meeting
s sa fe 10 conclude that is there because she
is genuinely Interested in horses. II IS the
amusement OF the moment the same woman Is u''-
happy unless she is playing and when she Is ttheh
out IN a boat she insists upon learning 10 row
While the active woman may dress Wen she Cos
allow her personal appearance 10 become OF
paramount Importance in her scheme OF eNlse',c
perhaps because fril!s and chluons uai''H'e' !I7I
supcrabundant energies. on the contrary inc
passive woman contents herself and her neighooEs
bv looking pretty and her interest in anything
outside her chosen role Is never more than Is be
coming Although she is not fond OF eXertion she
is ready applaud IL in others; she knows Just
enough about motoring, golf and all such ABSORB
ing topics be able 10 talk about them: and she
cxceS as listener because her own convictions
not strong enough TO incline her 10 controversy
Which OF these feminine types Is the more popular
II would be impossible 10 say. for both nave laT &c
circles OF admirers
LIVING IN THE PAST
Mrs X was opening her mail morning
recently. when she was moved by a certain COM
muucntion 10 make OF an unusual exclamation
o, dismay Uncle John hereby informs his az
fectionate niece she explained IN reply 10 an
interrogative look from her husband. that he Is
about to give himself the pleasure OF spending
week at her house. Is that calamity, You
wouldn't AJAX that II you knew him. He's really
the most dreadful old man ever knew. He mas a
mania for keeping the past much alive posi-
BILE and to think IT hts mission IN life 10 SEQ
that not OF It's smallest most disagreeable
details is allowed 10 slip into oblivion Harry c
says he keeps all his old love letters tied up with
red tape and piEeon-holed under the initials Of
the various adored who composed them.
However that NAV be do know. and others know
their that he has certain brown leather
notebook IN which from the days OF his youth
ha has rdcd he o.
and the dates OF various events. important and
otherwise that have occurred IN their lives
The last time Uncle John visited at home
Mrs. NJ there. or course. every one knows
she Is much older than she looks. but It's
not generally considered necessary TO remind her
OF the circumstance. But when Uncle John ap-
peared the scene his greeting 10 her was. "Ah.
my deaT E-s'Her' Hou''ltUI as ever Lei me Sc
Il was in ~, wasn't II. that we kept your twentieth
birthday up al Y? Poor Mrs. NJ. assumed
uncomprehending expression. and in a norCent
he produced the dreadful notebook IN order that
he might refresh her memory so there wasn't the
least OF her trying TO convince him that no
was wrong And she's not the ONLY one who has
bitter reCollections OF Uncle Johns notebook. II
he is looking for peace and Quietness he should
be satisfied with his visit here. for I'm sure ho'lI
be left much 3 possible enjoy IN private his
reflections on the past
HoYDRNs OF THE PAST
Not long ago a few OF the very young women
among the guests at a country house finished
busy day by confidential chat in the room OF their
guiding spirit. and that person relieved her mind
on the occasion OF some matters with which II
had been much occupied during the day Mrs.
A." she said. was mOralizing 10 Mrs. J. for
hour this morning about the outrageous
tomboy behavior OF the young women Of the dav.
and ! suppose by that she meant our outrageous
tombov behavior She declared that tho women OF
past generations would have been Mortified at our
conduct and that II is because Of our want Of
decorum that men now show SO little respect %
women. She is greatly concerned TO what the
quality of the wives and mothers Of the future will
he when they must be chosen from young women
who throw all dignity to The winds and behave like
factory girls out for holiday. But although Mrs.
4. could doubt find thousands support her
in her opinion. l don't believe we're bad. after
all, or that We are one whit worse than the young
women OF the past.
You know my great grandmother was a great
belle I'm her day and according to her account she
and the companions of her youth-possibIy some OF
Mrs. As respected ancestresses were among
them-conducted themselves in n way that would
make feel AS II literally nowhere They
were not Ill educated, and they were beautiful 10
look at but they romped and played practical Jokes
and apparently indulged their boisterous spirits
without let or hindrance. Yet my great grand
mother and many OF the friends who Joined In her
romps became wives and mothers who above
repronch. 1t seems that the nOisiest, maddest
mischievous maids of sixty years ago were often
the most sincere and affectonate OF their and
became the best helpmates and housewives. The
hoyden of the past has turned very we'll and is
example to her descendants, let bear
up bravely under the reproaches of Mrs. A and
her kind. Some day we may be models. too"
MATCHMAKING.
Percy and Gertrude engaged at last. II will
be announced next week, and hatter myself that
1 had small share in bringing about the happy
event" THIS spoke a matron who takes a genan,
and kindly interest In the welfare of the young
men and matdens of her acquaintance. Il confess
that to me there is more absorbing occupation
than matchmaking, she went on. and ] believe
most women share my taste. although they don't
all admit II.
II know it's usual to say that the matchmaker
is no longer needed, because the young woman of
the period does for herself. but even this enter
prsing individual is all the better for little help
from an older and wiser head. She very likely
doesn't know she Is being lifted the hard
places for her self-appointed assistant works moro
artistcally than she did formerly. The match
maker of old was terror 10 the opposite SEX but
in spite OF her drawbacks she generally brought
her ships more successfully into port than those
who are supposed to do the steering now, when
they are really left 10 themselves.
'Matchma king is by means so simple as IL
once was. for those who engage in IL must
manage two sexes. instead OF But few diff
hculties will not keep women from playing their