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Literary
January 24, 1879
The Cincinnati Daily Star
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio
What is this article about?
A satirical prose essay critiques the 'artless fair one,' a woman who feigns childlike ignorance and simplicity in conversation, boasting of her unenlightenment to charm while frustrating intellectually sensitive men, limiting topics to superficial amusements like opera, fashions, and scandals.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The Artless Fair One.
A victimized man speaks eloquently in behalf of his unprotected susceptibilities:
There is a certain style of woman who affects the most innocent simplicity on questions to which every one past first childhood can give an answer; whose cue is naive ignorance, whose charm is her unenlightenment. She absolutely makes a boast of her ignorance; the tone in which she says, "Oh! you are too clever for poor little me to talk to; and I dare say you are right; but then I am such a little goose I do not understand you," is quite sufficient to annihilate you for the evening, if you chance to be of those unlucky ones who are sensitive as to the impression they make. She, so simple, so untutored, the child of nature, makes it plain to you that you have gone on a wrong road when you have spoken to her as to a reasonable, decently educated, and have assumed that she possesses a mind and some degree of instruction. She is all heart; if you like she can expatiate on her dear dog, or that darling boat race; but she cannot let you think that she has ever used the eyes of her mind, or seen anything deeper than the self-reliant superficialities of life. Her subjects of conversation are few; all she wants to talk about is the opera, or the fashions, or the latest scandal, the latest amusements; and anything to make her think and use her brain, though in the mildest way, ruffles her serenity and transforms you into a bore of the first magnitude.
A victimized man speaks eloquently in behalf of his unprotected susceptibilities:
There is a certain style of woman who affects the most innocent simplicity on questions to which every one past first childhood can give an answer; whose cue is naive ignorance, whose charm is her unenlightenment. She absolutely makes a boast of her ignorance; the tone in which she says, "Oh! you are too clever for poor little me to talk to; and I dare say you are right; but then I am such a little goose I do not understand you," is quite sufficient to annihilate you for the evening, if you chance to be of those unlucky ones who are sensitive as to the impression they make. She, so simple, so untutored, the child of nature, makes it plain to you that you have gone on a wrong road when you have spoken to her as to a reasonable, decently educated, and have assumed that she possesses a mind and some degree of instruction. She is all heart; if you like she can expatiate on her dear dog, or that darling boat race; but she cannot let you think that she has ever used the eyes of her mind, or seen anything deeper than the self-reliant superficialities of life. Her subjects of conversation are few; all she wants to talk about is the opera, or the fashions, or the latest scandal, the latest amusements; and anything to make her think and use her brain, though in the mildest way, ruffles her serenity and transforms you into a bore of the first magnitude.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Naive Ignorance
Artless Woman
Social Charm
Feigned Simplicity
Conversational Limits
Literary Details
Title
The Artless Fair One.
Subject
A Victimized Man Speaks Eloquently In Behalf Of His Unprotected Susceptibilities
Key Lines
There Is A Certain Style Of Woman Who Affects The Most Innocent Simplicity On Questions To Which Every One Past First Childhood Can Give An Answer; Whose Cue Is Naive Ignorance, Whose Charm Is Her Unenlightenment.
She Absolutely Makes A Boast Of Her Ignorance; The Tone In Which She Says, "Oh! You Are Too Clever For Poor Little Me To Talk To; And I Dare Say You Are Right; But Then I Am Such A Little Goose I Do Not Understand You," Is Quite Sufficient To Annihilate You For The Evening, If You Chance To Be Of Those Unlucky Ones Who Are Sensitive As To The Impression They Make.
She Is All Heart; If You Like She Can Expatiate On Her Dear Dog, Or That Darling Boat Race; But She Cannot Let You Think That She Has Ever Used The Eyes Of Her Mind, Or Seen Anything Deeper Than The Self Reliant Superficialities Of Life.
Her Subjects Of Conversation Are Few; All She Wants To Talk About Is The Opera, Or The Fashions, Or The Latest Scandal, The Latest Amusements; And Anything To Make Her Think And Use Her Brain, Though In The Mildest Way, Ruffles Her Serenity And Transforms You Into A Bore Of The First Magnitude.