Year: 1870

A lady writer in a New York fash
ion paper thus discOurseth:


1t is noticeable fact that men who
meet as strangers in a place of busi-
ness, or in the casual juxtapOsitiOn OF
travel, will psss the time of day, strike
up an imprOmptu conversation en- the
merits aud dement's Of the weather,
discuss politics, compare opinions and
part in a courteous way, perhaps never
to meet again, but stronger by the
friction Of antithetiC nature, and better
in mind and heart for the barter OF
sentiments and ideas.


Now, women, moving. in the same
social circle, will not do this when
they meet. They must be regularly
introduced and indOrsed by RESPONSE
bic parties, and the exact position they
hold in society defined 10 a hairs
breadth, and when it is accurately de-
termined who and what they are, how
many their servants, what the extent
of their WardrObes, who their dress
maker, they are admitted to the PRIV
ileges of acquaintance, and may, in
the course of time, arrive at a kissing
friendship. Then the danger Of be-
coming toe intimate begins. They
get so familiar that they begin to dis
cuSs small faults and eccentricities of
dress and manner. They inform their
next best friend, in strictest conf
denee. of course, that the servants are
allowed too many privileges; and the
cook wastes things; that the husband
is Jealous, and The lady cross; and
that a certain person dyes her hair,
and has freckles. And the story be-
ing told again in confidence, there is a
general quarrel and permanet cool
ness.


Sitting at the counter Of fashion
able dry goods store lately l saw one
lady examine the panuier OF another
standing near, to see if il was lined
with silk or glazed lining cambria.
The wearor of the p6nnier in question
happened to turn and discover the in
solent woman, and / wish [ could
describe the unutterable scOrn and
contempt with which she transfiXed
her enemy by a glance, or the hauteur
with which she walked away, carry
ing in her features a look of injured
innocence, as if she had been angel
and somebody had cut off her wings.


Now o man who had discovered
another man examing the cut of his
coat would have smiled at the con0eit
OF the thing, stepped out to show it
of to adYantage-giving his tailor's
card, and very likely asking his crit
izising inspector for a light or offered
him an Havana from his own case.


Why women persist in hedging
themselves in with so many cOnVen-
tiOnalities Of fashion, custom and sOci-
ETY., cannot imagine, unless it is that
they would show their strength by
clearing them at one bound, as they
often do. There is not one faShiOna-
bic, aristOeratic woman in five hun
dred who would dare to stop on a
promenade and speak 10 a poor girl
in q WoOlen shawl and delaine dress
if she did she would assume such an
air Of state and grandeur that all who
saw might read, HStand aside, / am
holier than thou" And there is not
a woman in five thousand who would
take the hand of an erring sister and
talk to her twenty minutes in a public
square, in sight of her own refined and
VirtuOus associates. What would pOO-
pie say? Even tpe respectable Mrs.
Grundy would be Shocked, and Young
Reprobate in Mrs. hetty's carriage
would lisp, Highly Epproper you
know"