Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1884 — WOMAN GOSSIP. [ARTICLE]

WOMAN GOSSIP.

In Strict Confidence. First Bridesmaid “You’ll never tell?” Second Bridesmaid—“Of course not. I never do, you know.” First Bridesmaid—“ Well, she told me, in strict confidence, understand, that, though Jack was poor, they were going to travel all summer, and stop at the best hotels, and that they got the money by selling their duplicate wedding presents. I wonder whether my spoons are paying *part of the expenses ? Troy Press.

The Soprano Voice In Politics. Whatever foolish notions the novelists may have instilled into our minds, woman is not all emotion. The American woman has her fair share of good sense and administrative ability, and there is reason to believe that she might bring into the region of governmental .affairs positive contributions of thrift, order, integrity, and economy. Hers would be the soprano voice in politics, the voice of aspiration, the voice of inspiration. It was no dreamer, no mere sentimentalist, but the profoundest poet of modern Europe, who gave us as the closing prophecy of his Faust, “|!hfe woman-soul leadeth us upward and on!” —Judge Pitman, Boston. How He Got Hurt. “Oh, my child, how did your face become so bruised ? Come to mamma and tell her all about it.” “I-I-I was over ’cross the r-o-a-d playin’ with Mis’ Howe’s little g-i-r-1; boo-hoo-00-00-oo.” “And did she hurt you like this?” “Y-y-y-y-e-s.” “Well, that was real naughty in her. What did she do to little Georgie? ” “Sli-sh-she knocked me d-o-w-n, an-»n-and then she hit m-e w-wi-with a b-r-i-i-c-k, and pounded me w-wi-with a b-r-o-o-m-s-t-i-o-k. ” “Oh, dear, what a terrible child! Well, don’t cry any more, Georgie? What were you doing when this happened? ” “Pl-pl-playing w-we w-a-s m-a-r----x-i-e-d.”

A Lesson in Self-Control. One day, when I was a very little girl, I was watching my mother make strawberry pre'serves. I can see the great kettle of boiling liquid now, clear as rubies. Beside the. stove stood a large milk-pan containing some squash for “company” pies, with a plenty of milk and eggs in.it. “Now, Bridget,” eaid my mother, at last, in a satisfied tone, “it is done;-take the kettle off.” This was accomplished, and then, with almost incredible stupidity the “help,” actually emptied the strawberries into the squash! My mother turned her Bead just too late. She was quick and impulsive, but there escaped from her mouth only a despirmg, “Oh, Bridget!” Then as she saw the girl’s instantly regretful face, she uttered no angry reproaches, no useless lamentations. No •doubt when my tired mother, who was not strong (I lost her at 15>, went upstairs to rest, she felt disheaftefied, and thought that her preserves and squash, her time and labor, had aJPL been wasted; but, probably, she never did forme a more valuable morning’s work than when she gave me that unconscious lesson in sweet self-control. —Mothers in Council.

A Talk with the Girls. Girls, you have mostly received a fair, plain education, thanks to our great and universal reform in the educational system, and many of you a high-olass, brilliant scholarship. To the first I would say improve yourselves in every possible way, until you have attained to a well-informed, practical, useful and refined woman. To the latter: Do not hide your talents under a bushel, as you have received ®o freely. Bestow and by every means seek to diffuse the knowledge you possess, among your less fortunate sisters, many of whom have to toil from early morn till dewy eve to obtain the bare necessities of life, and whose chief (and in some cases only) pleasure is ■derived in perusing the pages of light, cheerful but cheap literature, the productions of the pen of some clever but needy author. Here is an opening to you, my fair friends, whose means are large and aocomplishmefits great, to wield your pens and commit to paper your brilliant thoughts and lofty ideas. If you cannot shine as an authoress write your experiences of school life and jntersperse it with some patterns of high-art needlework, such as is only taught in the homes of the w.-althy. Depend on it these would meet with a hearty welcome from the sisterhood, and be highly appreciated, for they have in the majority as.fine and keen perception of the beautiful as

yourselves, and were it not for the lick of the same advantages would become clever, talented, noble women. “The Household Column” in this paper is open to you, so there is no escute; bear in mind, as ye sow, so shall ye reap, and where much is given much will be required. This reminds me of a lady I once knew, who had a family of six daughters but no son. She herself was the child of a poor but beloved clergyman, and at an early age married the younger son of a large cloth manufacturer. It did not at the time appear a very good match for the lady, as she descended from a long line of the ancient nobility on the maternal side. However the young people loved each other dearly, and set out on the highway. of life together, with steady hearts and willing hands. The young man showed great aptitude for business, and by the aid of his father soon raised himself to the topmost round of the* ladder in the mercantile world. He became very successful, and when called from earth to a better and brighter land left his widow and children in very great affluence. The daughters were mostly out of the schoolroom, consequently were great comforters to that bereaved mother, who mourned her husband’s loss sincerely and truly, but like the good, nobleminded, high-souled woman she was, drowned her own sorrows in alleviating the woes of her poor but honest neighbors. Her house and grounds, which I need not add were very beautiful, were situated about a mile from the small manufacturing town where her married life had been spent, and here it was that many a well-formed plan and grand resolve was brought into full play. There factory girls were taught three evenings a week, by the young ladies themselves, not merely strokes, pothooks and multiplication tables, but music, drawing, and, don’t faint, dancing, as well as all kinds of fancy work. In addition to this, one night was set aside for the kitchen cook, who entered heartily into the arrangement, gave them practical lessons on economical cookery and the making and baking of bfead, for which our York and Lancaster lassies are so justly famed. The other spare evening was spent in needlework and dressmaking, for I must whisper this, these little north country sisters are very tasty in dress, as well as clever in music. Why, bless you, I have seen one of the working miners and his wife (a factory hand) enter their cottage and after sotting the kettle on to boil, make for the piano and play off a duet which for expression and brilliancy of touch would vie with many of our grand professionals. There was a kind of home or local magazine, edited by some gentleman, a friend of this "interesting family, and all were invited to contribute to its pages. This was a great success, as the outpouring of many a true, honest heart found its way there, and the" humble efforts of the poor lad working under ground and the fair, winsome lass at her bobbins in the factory from their respective perilous duties were looked through, revised and published, though simple ’they were, full of heart-stirring melodies, ' and found ready responses from many a noble laird and bonnie leddie. Now, young ladies, whom fortune has showered wealth and talent in greatest {>rofusiou at your feet, “go thou and do ikewise,” and when life’s fitful dreams are over, your children’s children with the stranger within the gates shall rise up and call yon blessed. —Old Aunt Patty, in the Household.