The Washington herald., 1911-11-23
SHAKE THE SHAMS;;
LAY ASIDE POSES
Be Yourself, or Don't Try
to Be at ALI.
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

BY JULIA CHANDLER MANI.
I recently received an invitation to the
home of a wealthy woman who ended
her request for my company with the
information that she was terribly Bo-
hemian" The statement rippled on
with little laugh that said quite plain
ly: of course, you know 1 have no
right to be, but just the same, I am
This will possibly recall to you invi-
tations that have come from well-to-do
women who told you wiz high pride
that they were ''frightfully unconven.
tionaI," or quite Bohemian
With the majority of women who boast
about being different from other people
the motive is one or two things. Either
they are brainless, silly bits of feminin-
fly, who like to create a little sensation
by leaving one to think them quite
naughty individuals. They deceive no
one by their insistence that they are
''dreadfuIly Bohemian for they haven
the first characteristic of a real Bohe-
milan, and can lead no one into believing
they have
The other motive is the desire on the
part of certain women to be thought
clever and artistic. They have large
and luxurious homes. to which they in
wife second and third rate actors and
actresses, WRITER'S, ana dTIlSIS-dHu lniuh
by so doing that they have created
Bohemian atmosphere in their domiciles
that will stamp them truly artistic in
their tastes and friendships and social
connections for all time to come
Makes Them Ridiculous.
The Bohemian pose makes any woman
ridiculous, for everybody who knows
anything of the true cosmopolitan knows
that he never boasts of his Bohemianism.
He has too many real issues OF practical
life TO meet to be found posing for ef-
feet.
The Bohemianism of one woman of
whom I know consists OF a certain ia
miliarity CT her guests toward her. In
variably the frequent visitors to her
house greet her with a peck on the cheek,
which is as stiff as it is improper. The
invariable refreshment in this house
when visitors drop in during an even
ing is something -other-in-a -Chafing-
dish. served with rye bread and beer
that foams over big stems. The woman
in question never fails to make point
OF her Bohemianism when extending
one an invitation to come and see her.
We are regular Bohemians, you know,
my dear" she will tell a prospective
guest proudly and if the visit is really
made the guest has every reason to
wonder over the why's and wherefores
of the pride in the voice that gave her
the invitation TO this make-believe realm
of Bohemia.
Has No Real Friends.
The affected woman has no real
and lasting friends. Acquaintance
would be dull indeed who did not dis
cover the falsity of her .pretensions and
fee only disgust for the pose that had
been assumed.
Whatever else you are, be yourself
Don't try to ape other folks because the
things they are supposed to do and be
sound good TO you.
This reminds me of a woman I met a
few years ago in Chicago. For a long
time she was the subject Of much spec
ulation on my part, for her manner to-
ward me varied as much as though l
were meeting an entirely different in
dividual every time ! came in contact
with her. Upon occasion she would meet
me Esyly, be full of vivacity, charming,
Rffable, and a delightful conversations
alist. The next week II was quite prob
able that I would find her sunken in the
deepest depression, the shadow Of black
gloom gathered closely around her. The
tragedy one read in her eyes was posi-
lively heartbreaking. After some six
months of this sort of impossible con-
duct l met woman who had known
her intimately from her girlhood days.
and I remarked upon her peculiar and
radical changes of disposition. suggest
ing that perhaps she possessed more than
one personality.
Clever Poses.
only poses. my dear" said the friend
with a laugh.
Anna is a constant reader of novels
II II happens to be The Children of the
Abbey this week. why, then, she is TAX
ing the weeping Amanda as her ideal of
womanhoOd and is living up to her part
faithfully.
when she read The Bishops Car
rage she actually became the girl
thief and made several clever hauIs She
is always the latest female character
OF whom she has read and it is really
remarkable how well she portrays them"
This is rather a remarkable case of
posing, but We see examples of il in
everyday life. wherever we go. women
pretending to be Bohemians, others try
ing to make one think that they are
right there when it comes to standing
under the proper social awning, and still
others pretending that they have char
acteristies that in reality nature never
gave them.
Shake the shams.
Lay aside the affectations that are so
easily penetrated by the public eye
For poses make a woman seem a fool
to everybody but herself.