The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-20

Some women have the idea that the
summer season is peculiarly adapted
to the practice of economy. 1 have
observed that those VINO nave com
mitted themselves to this theory are
usually the very ones who do not
practice 1t.
There are a good many forms Of
feminine extrayagance but whenever
| II Is mentioned one phase only seems
to be uppermost In the mind--the
extravaganza is often productive OF
great evil, no doubt, but believe that
IL Is less pernicious In its effect on the
sex and on the community in general
than certain other forms concerning
which much less il said and writ
ten,
1t is not difficult TO understand why
the summer season brings about an
Increase of what Is popularity known
as extravagance--in dress, In extra
provision for comfort and in. extra
provision against discomfort. 1t Is
not so easy to find the actual reason
why other kinds OF extravaganza
in manner In speech. In personal con-
duct, perhaps -seem to expand at
the approach of warm Weather One
cause. / suppose, may be found In
the increased opportunity Afforded by
the summer outing.
Women leading the ordinary, all
the-year-round home life have suffl-
cient to occupy their minds without
resortfng to these extraVaganees. 1t
is only when they are on the summer
outing that they develop All increased
capacity for such things Nine times
out of ten ii is the direct result OF
the idleness which they vainiy mis-
take for rest.
The temptation to make use of ex-
trayagant speech is peculiarly strong
at the summer resorts. Life at these
places is so essentially artificial that
even the speech becomes infected
after certain period of exposure. 1t
is said that IL is practically impos-
sihle for an American to live year
in London without adopting certain
insular expressions and vocal infiec-
tons peculiar to that metropolis. II
is equally true that few women, after
spending a summer at seaside or
mountain resort. fail to show II IN
their speech
Now this may be due to the fact
that the initiative faculty is SO well
developed IN women, If everything
spoken In these places we're worthy
of imitation there would be no oc-
caslon for remark. Unfortunately,
however. the conversation heard on
the veranda or in the ball room of
summer hotel ia but a pitiful reflex
a rule those who have the gift Of
profitable speech summer elsewhere.
and the standard of conversation at
such places halts midway between
banality and suggestion.
II there is any less desirable sum
mer school for q young woman of cor
rect tendencies than one OF these sem
inaries of extravaganza speech do not
know where to find it. ! care not how
we'll grounded in womaniy integrity
she may be. there always remains the
danger OF contact with something that
cannot fail to contaminate IL IL be
permitted to touch
Extravaganza In thought IS another
tempts ton of the summer season. 1t
may be regarded as the natural Sc
quence of extravaganza OF speech,
and is likely to arise from the same
cause--~mental idleness that has
usurped the place OF legitimate and
wholesome rest. II Is one of the most
dangerous extravagances In which a
woman can indulge. and II should be
combated vigorously, Given rein, IL
uproots the firm principles that have
| been cultivated with such care for So
/ many years, and transforms once
vigorous growth into a sickly unfruit-
| full plant. A mind lured by the spe-
|