The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-01
The Flirtatious
Southern Girl


Virginia girl is almost invariably a
born nrt. SO was her mother her
grandmother ana her great grand
mother SO will she ne until tho end
OF creation
Beginning In earliest bsbvhood
continuing through graceful girihood
eNcelling In triumphant bellehood. in
outvTins womanhood aud old age. the
southern coquetto leads unbroken her
career Of Irritation and disarms death
by tho smile with which shs eroets
him
y book was written some years ago
by Richmond authorizes in which one
OF the most striking characters was n
woman who in her youth had been
lovely and greatly beloved ard who
had been the centre ~ unlimited devo-
ton. the object ON which unlimited
wealth had been expended. The por-
trait Of tho woman in her radiant girl
hood. with little Loves worshlplng at
nor feet or holding wreaths OF flowers
above her head. hung on the walls OF
nor drawing room a darling of the
gods. she went on her way untouched
by Time or Mihfortune. When their
turn came at last the woman stu es-
capped them. Her memory and mind
went. too. and TO the end OF the chap
ter she sat beneath her portrait. fra
gle and dainty gowned in satin and
lace, with every S~slicate whirn and
taste catered To by her children's self
eacrifce and utter self-abnegation
In the history of Southern States
and cities occur here and there names
of women as famous In their way as
were Helen and Cleopatra. Mary Queen
o. Scots and Catherine of Russia
women whose charm was as forever
unhroken.
1t seems altogether natural then for
tho sirl baby TO assume little impe-
rious airs to insist that her hair be
tied with pink ribbons and her mite
of a waist be cncircled with a pink
sash, that her kid shoes and socks be
adjusted with care ana nicely For
girl children are wise beyond belief in
the matters of the toilet and along
! with lsping speech awakcs tntuitive
knowledge OF values in matter OF color
and dress quite beyond belief
If tho embryo woman is thus preco-
cious along certain lines in babyhood.
II may be we'll assumed that she is an
adept In maidenhood. wide open. inuo-
cent eyes. dGmure. downcast looks,
! frank. engaging smiles to the contrary
In the game OF Irritation she can give
aces ana spades and then come out
/ easily a winner.
Many men. like the class who rush
| In where angels fear to tread. fall
| upon hard fate because they tempt il
! with her by rashness For the genu-
Inc tlirt is annoyed by any rude intru-
! sion upon her nnesse. with her CO.
quetry IS practiced as a fine art, and
clumsiness or lack of perception and
| Responsiveness are altogether certain
to merit instant and sharp reprlsal
1t is difficult to analyze the power
eNerted by a flrt. Impossible to tell in
Just what her fascination and her abil-
ity TO control others lies. Some times
in n pair of eyes and divine smile.
sometimes in a brilliant wit; oftenest
Of all in a personality that answers
10 the need OF a mans nature and
! supplies entertainment and oomrade-
ship, thus putting n man at his best
| In his own esteem.
II IL curious to note that woman
Who has tho natural art OF Irritation
viii always exercise It. irrespective of
age or class. From the girl in the
slums 10 the queen on her throne. the
attitude ami the result arc the same
Helen OF Troy had entered upon the
| stage OF what is known as "middle
| age" before she vert fsom Troy back
! 20 the household of King Alenelaus
| IN Grace. Yet who thinks of Helen as
anything but young and eternally
! iair? Cleopatra was far from young
when Mark Antony flung a world away
for her sake yet Augustus Caesar only
found safety from her wiles by flight
and by refusing 10 see her When
Mary Queen of scots was put to death
she went to tho block rs If she were
| going to mcak bridegroom 1t was
not until afterward that her gray hair
aud her wrinkles betrayed to tho curl
! Gus the ravages Of Time and her SUI
forIng.
sa it has been through all the history
OF women who have held sway over
tho affections of mon. Like the Virgin
IAN, who sat through years of inepti-
tucd. smiling and satisfied. beneath the
picture of her youth. they carry in their
minds an amulet which bids defiance
30 AN adverse influence and keeps them
always upOn their shrincs before
which are kneclins their adorers
Her Dear Little Nellie.
Seated at little tables in an old
fashioned concc-houso were a number
of honest working men. partaking OF
their humble dinner
Presently there entered poor. nc
drasglcd woman who was bitterly
Weeping and who looked tho picture OF
misery
"My dear little Nellie" she sobbel
she's just been run over and kiliedr'
They were only hard working min
hnuds. but their hearts were touched
and DON the hat was being passed
round among thorn for tho beneht OF the
afiictcd woman
"And how old was she?" asked one
OF tho sympa thizers.
Five years" came the answer: and
ia had her ever since She was a kit
ten
Whit She Really Wanted.
They looked like newly married folk.
but evidently wore not or their honey
moon. The woman laid down news
paper She had been reading and said
TO Ier husband:
DO you know. I wish / had ono Of
these annitics. Oh think It would be
Just s-r-a-n-d 10 sit on a rock with
somebody and have him rave about