The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-01
The Typical Amevican
Woman s Character
The American woman is becoming

|
The American woman is becoming
known as type. not only in her OWE
country, but in other lands where her
desire for travel or an international
marriage has introduced her into court
circles and smart society.
In contrast to other types an Amer
ican woman IL noted as being neither
afraid OF herself, of men. nor Of her
conversational subject. She knows that
she Is good to look at. that her clothes
| become her, and that she is an entity
to be reckoned with. Consequently shs
will enter drawing room with tho
air Of a. duchess. and exact as much
tribute from guests OF distinction who
may be in 1t as II she were only
claiming a just and inalienable right
She meets men on equal ground and
addresses herself to them accordingly.
Courageous by nature. she looks out
upon life undismayed. accepting Its
pleasures with joy and making the
best OF its hardships and difficulties.
She Is intelligent and we'll Informed
enough to be a good talker. her ready
wit and quick mental grasp enabling
her to set tho hall OF conversation in
motion and keep it moving at lively
and besutling pace.
Like others OF her sex, the Amer-
lean woman is an idealist. but her
idealism takes practical, not SEN
timontat form. being employed for n
purpose and not for the indulgence
OF an emotion. Not being overmuch
inclined to sentiment. the American
woman cannot be characterized as af-
fectionate. She is too independent, too
we'll balanced. too thoroughly at ease
against her background TO lean over
very far to the affectionate phase OF
life, Notwithstanding this, she IS
Ill. tN Tn
whatever Is best worth admiring. and
appreciating In tho nature, the talent
or the work Of those with whom shs
is brought into association. A natural
generosity in estimating adds force TO
tho expression OF her appreciation
The American woman Is nothing II
no. mistress OF herself. Consequently
she keeps her destiny in her own
hands. small. white and slender though
they may be. Her thus far and no
farther" is one of her laws OF being
that she writes out for all TO read
and to respect. Good comradc She
may be. firm friend. devoted wife and
tender mother. But she Is not apt or
willing TO surrender her individuality
or 10 merge 1t in that OF another. Her
self she is. and remains to the end of
the chapter.
Socially speaking the American wo
man INNS AT NOIuiuS SnoTL OF leduCT-
ship. and knows not the meaning Of
the word defeat. In society. as "
her admirers. she goes from one VIC
tory to another She calculates her
chances for triumph and marshais her
forces with the same care and fore
thought as Caesar might have done.
Like him. she may exclaim not once
but many times, II came. saw. con-
CURED
tta~ To- IL, he gor
that the American type of womanhood
Is not given TO self-indnlgence. such
women bend their energies and their
powers to whatever they desire TO ac-
complish and go on TO an end without
requiring path of roses to walk on
until the end IS reached.
In Its indomitable will. its absolute
courage and It's determined pride. the
mind of the American woman Is akin
to that OF a Spartan and soldier. II
Is capable OF as true patriotism and
OF as sustained heroism as that dis
played by the greatest soldier In the
supremest crisis of his career. In her
couragt the woman knows no COM
promise and will make none. She car
ries her banner to death. but never to
defeat Through her devotion, defeat
itself takes on the likeness OF vic.
tory.
rights. the American woman Is never
critical or unduly reserved. Therefore
she meets advances quite halfway and
is always ready to give her confidence
and friendship where II is merited and
desired. She is full to the brim o.
warm goodness that quickly overflows
to meet the needs of those who win
their way to her favor
A recent writer has eloquently said;
n 10
world and not of IL: who can walk
through fire and not get burned; who
in the world as we'll as in the home
are surrounded by an uplifting at
mosphere." The typical American wo
man is in a state of evolution but
taking her all in all, the description
quoted might be used in her portrayal.
THE PASSERBY.
The Wedding Reception.
The old fashioned idea OF having
bell of white flowers. or canopy OF
flowers, under which the bride and
groom stand at the wedding reception,
has been done away with--the decor
atoms usually consisting of masses OF
greens and flowers at one end Of the
drawing room. The brides mother
and father stand at the door OF the
drawing room to receive the guests as
they enter. the bridesmaids standing
in a group near the bride, and If
seated wedding breakfast is served the
bride and groom and bridesmaids and
ushers. sit at the brides table, which
is usually decorated with white flow
ers 1t is more usual, however, to have
buffet breakfast except at coun-
try wedding
A pretty custom is for the bride to
throw her bouquet to her bridesmaids
when she goes upstairs to change her
wedding gown for her going away
costume. Halfway up she pauses, and
amidst much laughter and excitement
throws the flowers into the centre OF
the expectant group. in observance OF
tho old superstition that the girl who
succeeds in catching 1t will be mar
ried within year. The other old GUS
tom Of throwing rice at the departing
couple is also still in vogue, but the
slipper is conspicuously absent.
For some years 12 o'clock was con-
sidered the fashionable hour for we'd
dings, but now they are frequently
held at or o'clock In the afternoon,
and are followed by reception