The Washington times., 1908-08-26

Time was when chaperons existed as
were chaperons. In those days the ma
irons who were appointed to see that
young women behaved decorously were
regular gorgon persons, who observed
the winlIipg of an eyelash and the srnil-
ing OF a smile.
Then the Chaperon was an omnlpres-
ent person who sat in a corner knitting,
knitting ike a veritable fate, with spec
tacles perched high on nose so that she
might the more carefully observe the
signs of the times
Sometimes the chaperOn was mascu-
line Of sex. but none the more lenient
for that. Indeed, one elderly lady tells
how her entire coUrtship was supervised
by her grandfather.
Whenever young William appeared at
the gate grandfather promptly turned
UP in the drawing-room, an interested
party TO the conversation.
Occasionally when the poor little
maiden essayed a remark, which was
naturally constrained because Of the
presence of this third person, grand
father cleared his throat and tapped on
the fioOr with his stan.
"Rebecca, Rebecca, that was a very
foolish remark" he ssaid. which com
laent added greatly to the gayety of the
occasion.
Those Were PaTlOus Times.
William finally managed TO make his
nroposaI OF marriage by writing a bold
"yyW YOU marry me2' on the margin
of the newspaper he held, and Rebeccu,
NOT darine, TO show emotion Of any sort
lest the sharp eyes watching her should
detact something unusual nodded
yes" and then, after the 1asnlon oL
the day. nearly swoOned with delight
THESE were parlous time, take II dIi
I'm an for no unmarried man anu
maiden were ever left alone JoBetneI5
ana when there was no one else 10 loi-
low them up determinedly a yONuset
brother or sister was uelaltSd u 'iIO
.uIeasant task of ''gOOSeDerry-
Tbere Is one fine old LADY who tells
now how She and her sweetheart used
10 IY1re the younger sister VINO uosSSu
her footsteps into the rhanlrnOck il Nlle
erarden and there swing ner sehlly 70
and fro until she dropped to sleep. Inen
tbe lovers would escape to a secluded
seat and bill and coo 20 thelr hestIls ;tIlS.
content until they heard the niue
duenna stirring. when they hastened
back to sit beside her.
Always Strategy in Love.
There has been strategy in love in all
times. and, according TO the best au-
thorfties, the closely chaperoned young
sfe-s of former generations were as
clever at tricks as are some Of their
grandchildren.
Pint these things happened a long,
long time ago, and now, while the Chdp-
eron is not really extinct not ADsOluIely
as ont of date as the maStOdon' her du-
ties are more honorary than active In
deed have never known single chap
erOn who has had either nervous pros
tration or the more modern neurastae-
mia because her duties We're too cnerous.
NTot very long ago I met a gay party
Of young people who were about TO take
e straw ride by moonlight. l was In
vlted to join, and in a moment or men
tai delirium assented-
Anyone who has ever been on one OF
these froIics would have known what
10 expect, but was a tyro and so l
sat end watched the extreme! undig-
nifed eofngs-On with surprise and some
amusement. Finally l turned to the
gloomy-looking young man sitting be
side me and spake; And Where IS the
cnaperon?'
She Was the Chaperon.
do YOU see the gay young person
who is at this moment tickling the
next-door youths cheek with a straw
the one who only a minute ago was
trying 20 step. on the fingers Of the chap
across the way and who made wreath
for the head OF the fellow on the left
well, that's the chaperOn, and / wish
someone would pick her up bodily and
hurI her over the preclpIce we are just
approaching, for she is a troublesome
woman"
He spoke in a vicious way, as II he
had something particular against her.
Widow" I inquirSs.