The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-25
LOUIS BALLOON.


was sitting quietly in my room ono morn.
Ing, when noto from my old friend, Lou
Llyermore, was brought In. j was very fond
ofLou, as, indeed, all her friends are though
she still remains, like Holiness aunt,-
"The sole ungathered rose
On her Rncestral tree.H
She lives far up in the country, but occa.
hionally comes 10 Boston on visit Her
note was as followS:-
the west end oft Is thnt the hubblest part
wonderH am coming over to sec you on
Thursday. meant to 60 to-day but can't i;
I'm all used uP,--" clear tuckered out" as
Aunt. Polly used 10 say. "what has done
itI" Why, my new dress and such dress |
II will give you fits to sec how my beck Is
bptched up and pulled out, I'm regular
balloon o fashlon.plate; aanything that Is
huge and hideouS,- - camel or dromedary,
for example: only they, poor things were
born with humps on their backs, and l WASH /.
How came 1t 50 defomed?" In an evil
hour ] listened to the voice Of the tempter
and put myself into the hands Of city dress.
maker.
nshc's very stylish, quoth the tempter.
Little wrecked In my ignorance what that
meant and went to her rooms In sweet,
confding simplicity, bearing In an innocent.
looking dress pattern under my arm. / had
three Soiaet1 with Mrs. Cuttit, most impos.
Ing penonGgc, Of whom ! stood In moral
terror; and at length emerged, transformed
i Iwcnt In slim fcane out stout; / went in
plain ! came out hump-backed; I went in
with forty dollars in my pure I came out
with Just enough TO pay my faro home on the
strect-car,-thc collapse having been trans.
ferrcd from my person to my purse with in.
credible celebrity and case
Verify, fashion ''doth make towards Of us
all; 1" yea, and putf.balls also | wish / had
the courage TO 80 through the world in n
gored gown without pinch or puff or pucker
omit but1 haven't 80 / am q balloon, that
by some ineompIehcnSible machinery Is raised
into mountainous ridges. surmounting these
ridges. at right angles to my body-if there
be body inside this corrugated elobe, Of
which am In FERROUS doubt, 70 say nothing
Of an immortal soul-proleets tan.shapcd,
be.fringcd, be.puekercd basque, looking, for
all the world, like spread turkey.tail. On
the top Of this projection a good sized trunk
could be comfortably seated only Il might
fall in | wonder II pappooso couldn't DO
inserted somewhere: do 30 long 10 blend
fhe useful with the ornamental
Now, Hepdbah, you are sensible married
Womln, competent 10 give good advice and
Task you, what am to dot Go round the
world In this harlequin gulse, or give tho
whole thing great smash should be
glad 10 preserve q niodicum OF self.respect /;
but how can ], inside Of q ballooni
I shall appear In full spread on Thursday
TO spend the day can't sit tdown but /
should like the lo1n Of bed.post and cord /;
might 90 up, you know, I'LL then, In
every 6bre Of my stitfening. Yours truly,
.buL TIE GRrAT ExrANDEp,
Isat laughing over this when in walked
Hester Gfaywood, another old friend. After
the first salutation, she slowly twirled herself
round, and sank into o chair exclaiminE
"Behold the woman who dares''
ALL l saw she, too, had on new dress.
II was Of sllyery.gray Silk, made with one
Skirt, without q particle Of trimming on IL,
and q Sacquc Just bound With bias fold oil
the same. Yes, she had dared. Itwas really
o refreshing sight and she looked perfectly
bewitching In the quakerllke costume, But,
then, Hester Graywood Is snch,a pretty little
creature, she can't help looking lovely In
anything; and she knows Il, 90 Il does NOT
require 90 great courage in her 70 dare. Yes,
she looked charming. Yet, on second
glance, there seemed kind OF barencss about
her, asif something were wanting. Was this
because had looked 20 long on mountains
Of frppery that my eye and taste had both
been corruptedl Ten years ago We all wore
such plain, single gkirtc, and considered our.
selves elegantly dressed |; why should they
look mean and Rkimpy now
i read LOUIS note to Hester, andphe prom.
ised 70 join us at dinner on Thursday.
Extremes should meet, " she said.{
She stayed on awhile, and we had little
talk on dress, and the bondage fashion I'm.
poses | or how the taste q the community Is