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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 1909)
Frenchman's Idea of the Lives Led by Women of America HILADELPHIA.Tho Lode or of this city published the conclusions or iMnrc Debrol'n study of tho rich youtlff Wonmn nf Artinrlpii. recently npponrlng In the Nouvollc Kovuo or Paris. Mr. Dcbrol trnvelcd much In this country, studying 1Mb Bubject at closo range, and ovon tho young women themselves will find tho expressions or his convictions Inter esting, to sny tho least. AMERICAN GIRLS; THEIR MISSION. Dy Marc Debrol. Thoro Booms to bo no vlslblo dlf rerenco between tho young girl nnd lho young married woman; they wenr very much tho samo gowns, tho same Jowols, and bolmvo In about tho samo way. Thoro Is no such thing ns on In gonuo nny more. Tho American woman Tools no ob ligation to watch over her homo; her enormous rortuno mnkoB it unneces sary rrom her point of vlow. Sho Is not a natural housekeeper and has no lovo for pursuits that obllgo her to keop still, llko dcllcato nccdlowork and flno ombroldorlos. Sho prorors fiports nnd nctlvo nmusomentB that take hor out of doorB, Sho may lng nbout her "Homo, Sweet Homo," but hIio is quite will ing to got awny from It. A great many prefer to llvo In hotolB rather than to bo bothered with Iho caro or a houso; responsibility Booms to frighten thorn. Thoy watch over tholr children's education nfter n certain fashion, but thoy dread tho coming of a child nnd look upon It as an impediment. Thoy havo no vocation for mntcrnity; In fnct, thoy fear its sulTorlngs, its pains nnd its duties. A convincing proof of this was published recently in ono of' tho American nowspnpors. In ono of tho lnrgo npartmont houses in Now York, arranged to accommodnto a number of tonantfl, 175 families wero installed, nnd 'thoso 175 families hnd 20 chil dren all told; figures that aro moro eloquent than words! Thoso rich THE young women havo. takon vows qulto dltforont from thoso of "guardians or tho hoarthstono." Thoy havo married mon who nro promlnont In tho world of nrfalrn and their buolnoss la to spend tho fortuncu Hint tholr hus bands nro piling up day by day with nu much eclat an posslblo. Thin be comes in a way tholr mloslou In so ciety. Adepts In Spending Money. i "Sho would mnko an admlrnblo wlfo for a millionaire," has boon Bald of many a charming nnd bonutiful, but poor, young girl. In this enso, rlchcBBo obllgo. Tho women nro partuora who bring tholr brilliance, their elegance, nnd thoir social rola HonB into nn association in which tho other partner supplies tho money. In Buoh a union onch ono has n cortatn part to play; tho ono must know how to mnko monoy, but tho othor must havo tho art of spending it, and tho American woman is pant mistress In tills art. Tho husband works to give tho wiro hor houso In n good neigh borhood, hor cottngo at Nowport, her $400 gowns, hor jowols or the best, nnd hor trips to Europe; In short, to Burroiind her with tho luxury that sho requires. And what dooB olio givo In ox chango? Hor bonuty, and, what Is or oven grcfitor Iraportanco, her reputa tion ns a woman or tho world. Con jugal llfo becomea, In this way, a Bcpnrato oxlstcnco in which onch ono t;oen bin own way; tho wife to her so cial obl'gitlgna and tho husband to hlo business affairs. Ho liven In ouo part nf town nnd trauencts lilo bust- P Hess In another; nnd it sometimes takes un hour to go rrom his houso to his onico. Ho leaves homo In the morning nnd returns only nt night, having lunched at his club or In some restaurant downtown. Young women very seldom vonturo into tills part or "downtown," nnd many wives havo never boon in their husbands' offices; Indeed, they know but llttlo about tholr affairs. Tho things Hint absorb tho man's ilfo nro or no Interest to tho woman; sho nsks no questions ns to whero tho monoy comes rrom Hint Jb given to her, provided only that sho gets enough of it. Her Life a Busy One. During HiIb dally nbsonco of hor husband tho wlfo ontortnliiH hor Ul timate friends at luncheon in some restaurnnt, or tnkos thorn with her to teas nnd mutlnccs. Sho lends a busy llfo as a member or society. Descondcd from immigrant ances tors, sho ,1b trcmondotiBly attached to tho country her forerntliers havo built up, but Bho is conscious, nt tho same time, or her nfllliatloiiB with tho tui tions of Europe. Sho in a most pa triotic Yankeo, but Is nlso n cosmo politan. Hor very independence) makes her unstablo nnd very changenblo. As alio haB not been educated in nny tradi tions, and Is not held to nny inherited lino of conduct by acquired habit or prejudice, sho Is what sho makes horsclf. Sho develops freely llko n young trco that hns never been pruned. Tho daughter of a vigorous race, sho hns an astonishing vitality, an excess of onergy and will power, as it wore; but fortune and tho con ditions or nctual oxlstcnco rreo hor rrom nil necessity or employing hor resources to any good purpose 8ho dooa not havo to cam hor dally broad nor strugglo to tnko care or horBoir. Tho law protects her. Hut, In addition to its physical vigor, tho American raco pobscbbos nn nston Ishlng'intollectunl energy. Tho mon oxpond this forco In tho intenso ef fort that directs nil their lnbor Jn ono chnnnol to ono end monoy making. Tho rich Amorlcnn woman has not IDEAL. this rosourco, sho hns no occupation, and thoro 1b, consoquontly, n great dlBpnrlty botwoon hor nntural Abilities nnd tho uso sho makes' of them. The Evil of Divorce. As wo havo said, Bho has llttlo by llttlo discarded tho normal and tradi tional duties of hor box, commencing with tho idea of duty to tho family. In point or rnct, tho ramlly in this country bus not sulllclont prostigo or unity to bccomo tho main objoct or u woman'B oxlstcnco, or to bind her to a heorthstono that la very orton only temporary. "Tho facility of dlvorco is n monnco to our country," said Mm. Tart, tho wire or tho prcsldont or tho United States, recently. "It is nn ovll that Is Increasing Instcndlng or grow, lug less. Whon n nation 1b suffering from n laxity of morals, and family bonds can bo broken for a hasty word . . . n greater danger throat ens such a nation than enn arlso rrom any war With tho outoldo world." In truth, tho wlfo cannot attach hursolf solely and absolutely to n hearth that sho may turn hor back on to-morrow, if such bo hor good pleas ure. Social questions fall to nrouso hor enthusiasm, or, at loast, thoy only In toroBt her ob an amateur, since sho has no need to strugglo on her own account. Woman In tho United Statos occuploa a moro privileged position In tho oyc8 of tho law than anywhere elso In tho world. Schools, univer sities, women's work clubs, nssocla Hons for rcllof nnd charity, nil aro clnsulflod and organlzod officially. It Is useless to bo niado a "lady pa troness" nnd go about visiting tho poor, who can bo much moro directly and effectively rollovcd through spe cial burenuB. Ono field alone is loft open for tho rich woman nB nn outlet ror her mental and moral cnorgy, and that is socloty. Sho brings to It all hor ardor, her ambition, nnd her nc tlvo and undivided Individuality. Her Main Object In Life. To go rast, straight ahead, to raovo about In tho open, laugh, fidget, chat tor, to rush horo nnd there without nny object but to reel one's soir nllvc, nnd use up ono's superabundant ener gy; nothing could bo moro Bymbollc or nil this thnn tho American wom an's beloved rocking-chair. Even In rcposo Bho Bwlngs to nnd rro, and must havo movement oven when she is motionless. It is this Bame unemployed vitality that drives tho young Ynnkeo to such extremes or exuberance. Sho Is prone tb enthusiasm nnd nddlcted to super latives, especially In adverbs or man ner llko "nwrully," and "absolutely." Sho adores or hates; everything is "stunning" or elso "horrid." Sho "loves chocolates" and Is "crazy nbout a dog;" her thoughts aro ojected In phrnscs nnd exclamations; sho has no bnlanco nnd oven less constnticy. Her enthuBlnsnis do not last long; her friendships nro inrntuations, and tho comrade of the moment is more llko a favorite, whoso day 1b suro to bo a short ono. It Is impossible to mnlntnln her nfrcctlons nt such a high pitch; when thoy rench tho point Hint thoy can grow no gronter, thoy break down of themselves, llko beautiful THE fires or straw, that orten flaro up again rrom tholr ashes. And this is easily explained; hor admiration Is governed by no rulo, hor onthuslnBm controlled by no law; hor reelings are spontaneous, and sho is unmindful, nlmost unconscious, of them. Moreovor, tho Amorlcnn wom an, who has no worlds left to conquer slnco llfo has given hor everything, this "victorious Evo," rulor and sov ereign, tho American woman, I ropent, is Isolated by hor oxcoptlonnl privil eges, Sho becomes a sort of supremo bolng, an idol; sho forms hor own uni verse, she knows no object but hor own Butlsfnctlon, and no law but hor own dcBlro. Sho Is guided by hor own caprice, and Is horBoir Its first vic tim, slnco sho sees that all her wishes como truo aud no longer knows what to wish for. Her imagination nnd hor nntural tasto for romnntlo ndventuro Impol hor to seek "oxcitoment." Sho dronms or unattainable or unhonrd-or things that rack hor norves; sho would rathor havo tho rovcrso or tho modal than tho monotonous llfo that Fortuno has glvon her and that sho Is lncnp ablo of idealizing. Search for Happiness. A spoiled child of dostiny, she cries for moro, nnd Is rondy to admit mira cles ir only Chnnco will work somo In her rnvor. It la "to reel horsoir allvo" that sho marries on n mo menta impulse, elopes, flirts, dlvorcos hor husband, nnd takes up with tho weirdest religions. Sho wants to bo happy, and, not knowing how to ere nto hnpplnoBS rrom her duties nnd through hor nffectlonB, sho Becks It In tho outer world. Tho American woman is complote in herself, hor will is absoluto and in flexible, hor personality unchaugeablo and necessarily Bolflsh. Extromoly feminine in her movement and charm, civilized oxtornally to tho utmoat point of rennomont in all that con coruB physical woll bolng, luxury and pleasure, tho samo dollcacy of feel ing has not yet penetrated to her soul. Her nkln lias bccomo sensitized before hor heart, Just as tho rain wots tho Burfaco, but takes n long tlmo to soak into tho hidden springs. Tho daughters or social "newcomers," perhaps tho children or working peo ple, they hnvo had to pass alone through tho stage that separates tho lower rrom tho upper classes. "In tho second generation with ub tho typo is modified," said a Now York woman, "tho hands aro v less coarse, tho manners have changed, nnd tho grandchildren or n workman nro nl ready gontlcmon. It is tho monoy that does it, money that clothes nnd ndorns nnd mngnlllcs everything." Yes, monoy does It, but It Is not money alone; it has to bo coined Into train ing, Into education, nnd Intelligence, nnd It Is tho young Amorlcnn women who hnvo accomplished this mlrnclo, who. by tho nldo or tho mnn who Is tho "money-getter" nnd nothing elso. hnvo ncquired grace, elegance, nnd tho mnnnors or pollto society, and who, with tho dollars put Into tholr hands, hnvo assisted at tho birth or nrts und letters and tho establish ment of social lire. And that wns cer tainly nn admirable and noblo task. Sees Much Promise In Future. Amorlcnn women mny lack tho deli cacy or touch that conies only rrom experience; thoy may still havo Bomo where nbout them a llttlo or tho roughness or n now race; they may bo more sensual than sensitive, moro pnBsIonato than tender, moro selfish thnn devoted, more superficial than REAL. profound, but thoy aro nlao stronger, more vigorous, younger In tho truo moaning of tho word. Thoy must havo tlmo to learn to control their instincts, to bow befoi-6 conventions, nnd yiold to compromise; thoy must hnvo tlmo to "abdlcato" Hicmsolvcs into unison with tho old wnys that aro Indulgont Just becauso thoy havo lasted so long. Dut It Is easy to foresee their rap id evolution; to-day theso women hnvo nerves; to-morrow they will havo learned to weep. To-day thoy "adapt" themselves, but very soon thoy will begin to orlglnnto; nt pres ent thoy nro brllllnnt, but in tho tlmo to como thoy will appeal moro to tho feelings. To this brilliance, which la universally acknowledged, thoy will add tho warmth or BenslbilltloB pntlontly acquired and ripened by ,nd vorBity. la such nn evolution to bo desired? Howovor tliat may be, their rolo la an onvlablo ono, and their mlBsion a high ono. Thoy havo brought a lovo or beauty Into this eminently prac tical country, and ngnlnst tho back ground or tholr unlovely towns they project their plcturesquo turnouts, tholr alluring sllhouottes, tho rustllug or tholr skirts, and tho ringing chimes or tholr lnughtor. Thoy make a "show" whllo tho men get tho inonoy. Llko skillful envoys, thoy go over to Europe and bind yet closor tho ties botwoon tho two contlnentB, creating a constant lutorclinngo botweon thorn through their dealro to lenrn nnd to fill their minds with impressions or beauty that can bo transplanted to their "bolovcd America," to embroider now stars on her flag, to plant flow or8 on tho terracca or tholr lO-story buildings; in short, to carry back to their own country that or which It stands most In need or a llttlo beau ty, a llttlo lloxlbllity, and n llttlo Idcnl Ity. And for this thoy deserve woll of their country. He Is By CHARLES (Copyright, by An Imnondlnc stillness brooded It was Good Friday morning nnd Mary Doyo tho older viciously manipulated ingredients for a batch of hot-cross-buns from the sheer hnblt of n cus tom handed down rrom her Now Eng land forefathers. Mary, hor niece, was tremulously awaiting tho words that would next como from her guard ian's tight-drawn lips. There was a marked resemblance between tho two women, tho one's angular thinness nnd hard-showing features symboliz ing a main stem that has run to seed, whoso well-pruned off-shoot tnkos upon Itself tho comllncBa of youth ful fragility. "I Mow yo shan't marry a preacher; Uioro'B 'nough said on't," came tho rasping sontonco nt last. Tho flush of excitement that had provlously suffused tho young glrl'n delicate chocks now gavo placo to a pallor which drew unto Itself oven tho Ironical glance of tho maker of buns. "Aunt Mary," bIio said Blowly. "You would havo married n preache'r long nco. and now vou nro nunlshinc John nnd mo for that other's Bin." "Land to goodness!" ejaculated tho spinster as her nolco stalked from tho kitchen. "It's n blessed thing I sot my foot down now elso I'd be'n clenn run from tho house. That John Wil son's a high stoppln' critter," sho con tinued to herself. "Seo what ho'i J 111, ' 8? n,lrCadyu Mn""I a preacher. Indeed! hynocrltcs tho hull pn8soll of 'em. And there's Deo kin Sims; and every psalm-slngln' slstor In tho Mcetln' house. What do But Hlo Dancing Eyes Sobered at tho Motion of Her Head. thoy keer of I co to nordltlnn nr tnst turn Into n hopper-toad as some id JertB claims dead pcoplo becomes?" Tho Irrltntcd woman horo slammed down a freshly baked nan of dolin.i. cics to emphasize hor thoughts. Her minii wns afloat on a thomo with which it had wrestled for mnnv a dreary year; and being over bold from long lamuiarity it drew to depths that havo hold to destruction, manv nn nn. suspecting bark. "Bah! with such religion," it whis pered. "It pears tor mo. Mnrv Dovn. of God had over been flesh nnd blood,, nnd wns truly gono back to Heaven, ho wouldn't hnvo lot you git Jilted and pcoplo net thnt-a-way in Ills houso." SomethinK hnnnonod nt thin nnlnh tho mighty heredity bestowed by n lino of God-rearing forobenrs clntnlipil for tho spirit that was aloft on tho balances; and in the act of forming ft SUKftr cross, tho wrlnklort Imrwl started a-trombllng as from an aguo. "May tho Almighty forgivo mo." moaned tho woman, nnd swept tho buns unsugnred into tho closet. Mary, tho younger, passed a mlsora- hlo cxlstcnco through tho following hours. Tho vounir mlnlstnr wl but recently como to tho vlllngo wos oxpected that ovonlng to suo for her hnnd, nnd unless tho provorblnl worm should turn and tnko matters to It- soir, his outlook was anything but hrlcllt. TllO Oldor Mlirv'fl ilninnniint- was moro moroso than combative dur- tho day; hor termagant tonguo giv ing uttoranco to no admonitions or rebukes, which circumstnneo hnvo called from tho girl great won derment nt any other tlmo. Spring had nlreudy breathed ovor tlm vii. lago lowlands, and tho air was primed vun mut rrngrant aroma which tolls BO BUlOly to man that lio wna nnt meant to llvo nlone. Hut tho chiming poopors in tho distant swnmp seemed n melancholy chorus to Mnry Doyo us alio awaited In tho fnst-dcoponlng twilight her lovor's comlmr. rn t morrow ho wob to load tho EaBter serv ices at tho old Mooting houso: nn.l how JoyoiiBly Bho had anticipated this ns tho fit occasion to publish hor hap piness. "If wo can not niarrv I win stop going to mooting," bIio uncon sciously resolved, tho dellcnto Hne3 inning 10 inemsoivos Bomctiiing of tho other Mary's hardness: but timv quickly softened ns rapid stops could bo heard approaching. "Hollo. Girl! Is It cood nmv.q vn.i havo to toll this wonderful eve of Eas- tor? cheerily grootcd John Wilson. Hut his dancing eyes -sobered nt tlm motion of her bond. "Como, stop a bit nnd talk It over," ho said gently; and ns the dentil of tho milnatcr'r, tirnlti. dlco was mado clear to him tho mnu hummed a fow notes of a favorite Risen EDWARD HEWITT W. a. Clinpmnn.) hymn, as was his wont in porploxing moments. "Seo here, little, girl I" ho Bpoko nfter n bit. "Tho troublo lies In that your aunt has lost faith both In God and mnn; thoso sancU moniouB hypocrites at tho Mooting houso nro greatly to blame for it too, Now this 1b Easter Tide, when all peo. pie should rojolco together, so I shall write on this slip of paper tho most chorished knowldego of my soul; nnd will you give her It this night nnd sny: 'John Wilson wnnts that you should partako of his Joy ovcu though ho mny not Bhnro yours.' " "But John! that will not bring our mnrrlago any nearer," whispered tho girl, turning aside lest ho should catch tho quaver In hor voice. A strong nrm drew her closo, "You ask her again about mo, Girlie, in tho morning; thoro is n mlraclo in my Joy." And pressing tho roldod Blip to her bosom Mnry Doyo prayed for tho Bhowlng of tho mlraclo. "Is Jesus Christ In Heaven truly?" over and over again did a seducing volco Inquire, and mock and disclaim, to a meagro stern faced llttlo woman who Btrovo vainly to oludo It. "Wroto tor mo did ho?" sho snnppcd, ns tho noto was timidly given her. "For two pins I'd pitch It Into the hearth 1" But lato that night tho crumpled slip wan still hold in trombllng grasp. Twenty years tho old family Blblo ' hal lain unused in tho sparo closet, We'll sob if it backs un this noto o' ihat trlflln' preacher," muttered Mary tho older at near on to midnight. Her oyos Bhowcd cold and glinting as sho opened tho Great Book; but soon tho hardness melted boforo that which has ransomed tho guilt or eternity. "Could a man pray rer thorn that nails Him to n trco?" sho marvolod. "And tho Story suro reads llkoly: Ef Ho did, hadn't I oughter pray rer Dookln Sims and tho rest ot 'em? and mobby rer him that deserted mo? Oh You Preacher! You that prayed ror thorn that nailed Yo! Ask tho Al mighty Father to rorgivo a slnrul woman." Tho hours passed by unnoted by tho older Mary, and ub glided waves swelled upwards rrom tho oast, sho glanced rrom her chamber window arid saw a girlish flguro .steal from tho houso and start ascending a hill which overlooked tho village. "Land to gracious! It's Mary a-goln' to git n look at whero bo's a-stoppln'," sho ejaculated, and then tho Svondrous Story that hor oyes had but read. in. tho Book unroldcd to her soul in the mightiness or Its Truth. "It must havo bo'n scch a mornln' when that Othor Mary wont' to seo His Gravo," sho whispered. "And then Sho round THIS: "nnd tho crumpled slip of paper was smoothed In tho lamp's fast fading light. "I soo it! My poor old oyes seo it," cried tho woman, now on hor knees. "And I must set tho gnl n seeln' of It too." Down stairs shuflled the llttlo worn an, near falling in hor feverish haste. "Thero! That plagued door ain't shot," she gasped. "Nover mind, with tho Lord's help this old hand o'mlno '111 stay to tho plow and I won't turn back." It was a stoop ascent and tho pant ing pursuer called wildly to tho othor. "Wait for mo, gal, I want to toll yer about tho noto." But tho object of hor bcsoechlngs thought onmlty wns In tho motlvo nnd quickened tho paco to n run. A mighty wonder had moan whllo gathered In tho oast, whoso translucent hnlo glowed and deepened with tho subllmo travailing of tho morn, and lo! Thoro was born to tho quickening earth a ball of molton gold; by who3o spondor night's sor row sweat was changed to Iridescent glory. For Bomo reason tho glowing rndlnnco dazzled tho fleolng girl, and her foot caught upon a stone. "Let mo holp yer Mnry, child," pant od tho othor woman, In a volco sur prising oven horsoir in its gontleness. "I only wanted to show yo what thai thero preacher or your'n wroto tor mo. I'vo bo'n a misernblo crlttur all thoso years, but now I thank tho Al mighty that Ho has Ono Good Son, and that mobby yo havo round ouo that tnkeo after Him somo." Tho younger Mary read tho crum pled noto, - and then glanced at tho shining cast. "Tf.o words nro truo," sho murmured. "God also haa sold in yonder sky, 'HE IS RISEN,' " Stolen Picture Found. Thoro la much Joy over tho return of Vandyek'B celebrated canvas, "Lin ing or tho Cross," to tho church of Notro Dame, In tho nnclont city of Courtrnl, Belgium. Two yenrs ago tho plcturo wns stolon nnd only recoy oral rccontly. It wns so roughly ban died by tho thieves that it was neces sary to send It to Antwerp ror restora tion. This wook it was carried back to Courtrnl In triumph. A long pro cession or prominent cltlzons and lo cal soclotles followed It roverontly through the streets, and It was In stalled In Its formor placo to tho ac companiment of choral masses. Sometlhng New. "Seems to mo your play runs too much to epigram. "I'm loading up to a now form of thrill. Instead of dodging dostrucUon by locomotlvo. buzzsaw or nllodrlvnr. my hero narrowly escapes being talked 10 ucam."