THE CHARMING WOMAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1208, 25 March 1880, Page 3

THE CHARMING WOMAN.

"V^e must not coniound the charming woman with the fascinating woman. They are different types, and belong to a different genus. The charming woman is not a deep nature. She is not always patient j she is not, as a rule, a good family womar... She mut.t have the little element vanity to sus- ! tain her through the necessary schooling. ' She has a good cjealof knowledge of human nature and has entirely primed down' the I egoism that, ma <es a woman utterly unfit for society;. She ia naturally of, quick i sympathies, and has an amazing pqwe* of withstanding- ennui,' In point pf fact, She is more trained and disciplined than many a higher nature. She Ms a genius for making the best of everythng and of everybody, and, would put the world in good temper with itself. She nas a deal of good nature, and consideration for oth*ers and a talent foe investing trifles with an attractive form, like a Skilful, cuisjniere who can make a souffle out of very small material^. ' 1 he term may be most applicable jfco-an accomplished, hostess. The flock of'de-' licious little inpon'^stencies about ' her make the day go by, harmonise conflicting natures, and animate the household. She has the eye-< of Argus, watching over her guests' comfort, yet always appearsat ease. i he charming woman is not what is understood by tho term a good li->tener,although she can give thi intelligent smile and the responsive glance that are occasionally more eloquent than wo dx;but long stories and conversational essays are against her creed. She loves to make the conversation ripple; she is attracted by the discussion of the smaller a*peots of life— those that lend themselves to epigrammatic maxims and witty sayings; she knows how to make uiuohofthe brighter nothings that are said ; and she also excels in the art of kindly taking down a bore. he never offend* in dres • ; she lajrs behind somewhat in adopting the newest fashions ; she is never at the height— but she is never out of fashion. There is a flavor of individuality in her costume, for she is well aware of the strong points in her peisonal appearance; and with her subtle ooquetry, she makes the most of them. She enhances them, but she does it without emphasis. It ia one of the tenets of the charming woman never to be emphatic She never offends in taste, and holds it as the greatent Bjn 8 j n to hurt the feelings. She nevor drives one into a comer ; never asks i direct question ; never pays a direct compliment ; she has a delightful f tshion of insinuating that she is pleaded and interested ; and always dinp ays a genial appreciation of her kind. She does not, howover, belong to the tragedy »f life, and you musi not expect from heronduring sympathy. Her eyes will giowdim and her voice soft when she hoars a tale of woe; but she will notweight her life with aay emo ion beyond tnatof the p^sinir moment, cannot carry a burden. You must » ot put a high-bred r.icer to draw a waggon. She has nothing of the heroine about her; yet there isacor'ain pluck and determination in the way sbe oarries out her philosophy of life, for it requires both to remain bright and liufht-hearted as yea 8 go on, without showing any trace of hardness, and and the chcirnin^r woman is always and essentially feminine. She never loses her individuality, however, never merges it into that of the man she. loves, She is never subdued or humbled by her affections, but sways her sceptre with grace, any compels obedience to her rule. One of her most potent spells is that she ignores the possibility of her will not being law. She keeps upthe fiction with all her energy that the world is the happiest place, and her house a paradise, .^he is so convinced of this, that her faith is catching, and ugly cares and chilling anxieties seem unnatural anomalies near her. We grow ashamed of them. There may be m the background a sense that this insonoiant, summer-day feeling is all an illusion ; but as it is, we accept it gratefully, from her, and hug it. The charming woman, is not common in England, but ahe thrives on the Continent. She is especially to be found in those Parisian salons, the famo of Avhioh dates from tho salon bleu of M&dame de fiambouiliet. — Queen.

A Gorman lately applied for a situation as a bailor on board a vessel lying 1 in tno dock> — 'Have j r ou over been to .sea V asked the captain. Tho < lerman stared a moment, and tliou said, 'Does * ou s'poso I combed from German/ in a ballooul-'