Untitled

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8443, 17 August 1889, Page 5

Engliah womin would appear lo be forwardncßf gives tho impn>s«iou of piquancy with the one, and whnt wi uid savour of Inconvenient familiarity pas?es for agreeable condescension with the other. The slight twang which occasionally spreads an all-pervading shadow over this pleasing picture is not an evil of great magnitude, even if, as is not often tbe oase, it is enduring ; indeed, it appears to have become almost fashion•Me. But the above only refers to the very best and the quite exceptional specimens, favored in every way, and therefore impelled, both by ambition and inclination, to seek a livelier sphere for thoir conquests than the somewhat insipid and tame life of A merioan society. The majority of trans-Atlantio women are not of this type, and it is doubtful if any large Stale in the world presents a wider field of mediocrity in the beauty line than tbe United States. Ou'door exercise is, of course, notuuknown ; but, in most places anything beyond a drive in the park or a sbort promenade amongst the shops is an exception. The majority of Americau women over the age of twenty-seven look sctir and pinched, as though the sap and freshness of life had departed for ever, aud they knew it; oosmeticß are in almost universal use, and the prhctice of prolonging the artificial appearance of youth by means of these seems to rapidly develop into a necessity. The hot air of their liomis, the too bright summer's sun, and the cold dry winter soon parch Up and wrinkle tho akin. The early use of rice-powder accßiituites thcs<, marks of premature decay, and makes it neoessary not only to smooth over defeots by a fictitious coloring, but to level up irregularities before there is a surface which cannot be smoothed at all. The hair gets tljin and sickly, and takes the form of most artificial- looking bangs and frizzes. The pampering of the appotite with a diet of oysters, hot rolls, oandies, ice-creams, and green tea soon produces a want of tone in the digestive organs, and a set of teeth' which require the frequent care of the dentist. The number of female remedies advertised in the way of pills, bile beans, and potions of all der-criptions is legion. Neuralgia, sick head-aches, absence of appetite, fatigue under exertion of any sort, are as often the rule as the exception to it, and there is an absence of oheeriness which is often quite depressing. The formal and pointed deference always shown by men to women seem born not only of a feeling of respect entertained by the former, but one of reserve and sußpioion on the part of the latter, in countries like France, nnd especially Germany, where women's liberties are more restrioted, there is a hearty playfulness, not in any way bordering bn licence, between members of both sexes, whether alone or accompanied, who may happen to be thrown together on a s'eamer, or public stage of any sort. Iv America it is quito different. The men seem to have no idea of playful badinage or small talk, except of the coarser or Bhoppier-de scription, and amongst themselves. The women do not s^em to expect it or to appreciate it : in fact they appear to distrust, if not resent it. There is a soar prudency in their manner which does not leave the least impression of excessive modesty, "but rather one of aversion and menial indigestion. If an attempt is made to share with suoh a "lady " tjie interest inspired by a pajstog view, the reply Is likely to be " Tes, sir I I guess there's many canon b like that in this section of the country ; " or, " Yes, sir, it's real fine ; " in suoh a tone that further conversation is at once discouraged. In accepting a small favour or service, such as supplying a niokel for the hasty purohase of a newspaper, or opening the stiff carriage door (footmen are a rarity) for the strange occupant, there is no friendly Bmile, suoh as an English lady would vouchsafe even to a polite tinker, but at tbe utmost a formal inclination of the head or an, "I'm sorry to have to trouble you," which sends one away crestfallen and discouraged. Most JEnglish women, Bitting in a railway waiting-room, would cheerily reply : — "Certainly, with pleasure," if asked by a decent man of any degree to oblige by keeping an eye on his parcel or bag until he could procure a tioket. The American dot s not refuse, but says, " I'll look after it as long as I'm hero," as though she meant to say, " I don't mind assisting an inferior creature so long as be takes care not to inconvenience me ; " and when he thanks her, she does not rejoin, "You're very welcome," as she invariably does in a matter of business, but shifts herself uneasily as though she would desire the conversation to end there. I was once Bbunted on to a ride line where, owing to an accident, the " car " had to . wait for an hour or more.- ■ 'Tho passengers one by one found this out', and walked up aud down the " track." It struck me that I might as well Bee the town, bo I seleoted a stout and inactive female, who did not suggest nimbleness, and inquired if Bhe was likely to remain the whole time in the car. She replied suspioiously that Bhe guessed sho would, 1 therefore said that I took the liberty bi asking ber io allow tpe to place my bag on the vacant seat in front of her, She said, pointing to a side seat ; " Yes, if you put it right there, it ought lo be Bate." " Can I get anything fur you in the town?" Tben, noticing her astonished look, I added: "I mean, can I bring you some grapes or fruit of any sort P " To this she replied : " No, sir ! I didn't have any intention to purchase anything in this town." Returning an I hour later and thanking her " very much," she looked blankly ahead as if che was ashamed of the situation. On (mother occasion Jl went tp a bpsrdijighouse just to see 'in what that differed from an hotel, The women lodgers oame down shivering in the morning with their shawls on, and complained of the window which I had opened to let a little sun in and air. As the men came In, each of the women replied, "Good morning, Mr Jones," if each was first addreseed, but none Bpoke first. The men all bolted their breakfast in silence, looking sheepishly at tbeir plates, or whispering fearfully together. The women picked like sparrows at their food, but ate soarcely anything. My attempt. to engage in cheerful all round conversation was soon damped by their stiff and twangy replies, and then they engaged ln a conversation together about their headaches ; not feeling well ; going to lie down ; having a nice oup of tea in their bedrooms ; and so od. The Only cheerful female was the negress in waiting, with whom I. struck up a conversation, much to the horror of tho reßt. Amerioan women figure well on ranches, or anywhere where it is absolutoly necessary for each person to work. JJlere tbey seem to 'lose the lackadaisical 6nd sickly ways which are enpoiir--Bged t by town life. Qn one occasion I was overtaken by the snow, and was obliged to present myself before h lone landlady and her daughter literally dressed in sackcloth, whilst my clothes wera drying. These exceptional women rose nobly to the occasion, and both washed and mended my clothes during the hour of breakfast, not affecting for one instant any embarrassment at serving my meal as I sat dresßed in three com sacks, with bare feet and arms. In justice to all American women it must bo conceded that they generally do rifle to the occasions hen real difficulty ocours, and are never in ihe least afraid of a man however much they may keep - him at a distance. On tbe whole, they are not so neat as English women. Many neatly kept ranches <.r rest houses jmow signs of woman's care;' but, as a jfofo it ii only \yhere the -distress does

the work herself. " Helps " are Hsually more occupied in thinking of themselves and their rights. In no part of America have I ever seen any of those female waitresses what are suoh a pleasant feature in Australian and New Zealand hotels, sometimes of the first class ; and never does the Amorican "help" stump about so industriously and modestly as do the active waitresses of the colonies. They have not the physique for the work." The few specimens of negro waitresses I have seen are muoh more willing and sympathetic in their manner than the whites ; and indeed, the negro waiters, too, are generally very obliging fellows. Negro women, not in the position >l' ; menial servants, are rather vain ai.J ( bumptious. Not content with the ample improver with which Nature has provided them, and which indeed might carry a flattening collar round it in place of an additional bustle, _ they I persist, when they can afford it, in ! bedecking themselves with this absurd apparatus, in imitation ef the whites, which stands out about two foet behind and looks as though thoy were carrying their valises suspended by hidden ropes from the shoulders. Tbe taste for dress is usually more gaudy in all American women than with us, but tho negresses outrage taste in every possible way. In some towns like Montgomery, thoy are sensible enough to wear a peculiar dres3 suggestive of tho peasant, with a clean white apron and cap, — but always with an improver. In others they encase their enormous flit feet in kid boots with high heels in such a way as to givo the improver an upward slant. There is a profnsion of ribbons in their attire, and a tawdriness about their wholo getup which very soon wearies tho eye, / and divests them of ail ethnological ia terest. In Baltimore thero is a race of ati-oug-looking women of the labouring class who dress somewhat like the same order in Liverpool. Here, also, in advancing from tbe South, there appears to be a greater freshness, or, at least, absence of dryness and biliousness in the complexions of the women. In New York, Boston, and the Mew Emjland towns, tbe freshness increases, aud, although these places are colder, the excessive over-heating of the atmosphere seems less general than in the warmer south. Steam, too, is often used in place of the offensive stove. It is in the Southern States that thp women are the least prepossessing, and tho most unprepossensing of all are the half-breeds, who seem to havo loßt the native robustness of the genuine black, and to have imbibed tho lazy habits of tho sickly white.