As to a point of Etiquette.

Otago Witness, Issue 2151, 16 May 1895, Page 49

As to a point of Etiquette.

They were both clever young ladies, and it seemed passing straDge that they should differ upon a point of etiquette. They were unable to agree that a lady did not transgress the bounds of propriety iv. tying her shoe in presence of gentlemen. 11 Ia my opinion," declared the tall girl with liquid blue eyes, "she should retire to another room." " Not at all, my love," rejoined the petite damsel with the rich flush on.her cheeks ; " euch conduct would be prudisb, and pcudishness is Bug^r stive." 11 Would you," finally demanded the defender of tho stricter school, " venture to stoop and tie your shoe in the middle of a crowded drawing room ? " The brown disputant would do nothing of the sort. 41 1 should caivlesily move," she exclaimed, "without attracting attention, behind a palm : or into some other corner." "Aud" " On the prstence of stooping for some other purpoge I should adjust the laces without being noticed, and without making myself conspicuous by leaving the room." " And suppose a — a man persisted in looking right at you ? " " I Hhould ignore him." " But still he would see you." The petite beauty was at no pains to conceal her contempt. 44 My love," she observed, with the suggestion of a sneer, " I am astonished at your innocence." The blue eyes opened very wide. 4> After your fiuiih.ed education," loftily pursued the dark baauty, " you ought to know that in a hypothetical instance of that soit there would be no possible awkwardness in a man's watching me so long as he did not know that I knew he was looking. The awkwardness, in a word, is objective rather than subjective, don't you know ? " The tall lady could only think. Words had failed her.