ones, from the invitations which she issues. First in her estimation,
come the fashionable people, those she asks to her dinner parties; then
the people whose position in life is not very good, she asks to
luncheon; then at last, come those whom she really does not know how to
place, and they are the ones she asks to meet her alone.

Now this poor woman, for whom I have a degree of pity, not unmixed with
contempt, is in a constant struggle with herself, in her desire to do
what she thinks to be right, and at the same time, do everything that
her neighbors do, for she is bound hand and foot and dare not make an
independent move. But if Mrs. Fitznoodle were to do certain things, Mrs.
Fitzsnob would follow her example, and the people who are asked to meet
their hostess--alone, might find themselves seated around the mahogany
with Mr. and Mrs. Fitznoodle and daughters and a select circle of little
Noodles.

Again, Mrs. Fitznoodle, with several marriageable daughters, is
constantly on the lookout for unwary young men, ignoring the fact of
their want of brains, lack of breeding, and wholly regardless of the
fact that they have no "family" connections, but she spreads her net and
perhaps succeeds in catching this "eligible" young man. Mrs. Fitzsnob
immediately sees something in that young man to admire, and seeks his
acquaintance, and much to his surprise, and to the surprise of everyone
else, he finds himself for the first time in what is termed _good
society_. Now this Mrs. Fitzsnob is not a _rara avis_, but is frequently
met with. Yet how many ladies do we see? We meet many calling
themselves such, who do not hesitate to talk scandal, to injure their
neighbors; to ridicule people, to accept of hospitality and comment
ill-naturedly upon it, to talk slang. All these things and more, people
do who call themselves, ladies. There are houses on which should be
placed signs, as on pest houses, and whose occupants should be labelled
"dangerous," for their tongues are more dangerous than the sting of the
adder, and they are in so-called "society." Heaven save the mark!

Woman, the most perfect of all God's work, why do you not scourge
society of scandal mongers, of snobs? Why do you not _dare_ to do what
you think and know to be right? Why will you allow yourselves to be
ruled and guided by the opinion of others? A woman's instinct is her
safest guide; if she follows it she will not err.

It is not women alone, who are tainted w