The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-11-04
HOW L BECAME THE FASHION.

was born beauty; from the time I
could talk and understand it was in
stilled into me as fact. When | could
toddle about, some judicious person,
probably a nurse, gave me the name of
Beauty and it stuck to me ever after.
l don't think l was Unfortunately proud
ofmy distinction. although even in child
hood it makes difference, but it seems
to me as look back that my attractions
were made use of by my brothers and
sisters for their own benefit. They
were always sending me to beg holt
day on the plea that. Papa won't re-
fuse Beauty or later on, to get leave
to 60 to this or that place of amuse-
ment for Mamma is sure to let
Beauty have her way"
It's wonder wasn't quite spoiled.
but don't think l was: at least no
such accusation was ever made, even
when sisterly civilities were being in
terchanged We were large family,
principally girls, all presentable except
my eldest sister, Matilda; she had no
looks to speak about, but she made it
up by a superabundance of brains-she
was the family head-piece, sort of
plateau to be relied upon on all state
occasions. She certainly was a remark
able woman: her one idea was to push
ones self forward in life-an English
adaptation of "Aide-toi. et le Gel
tatdera," (Help yourself and Heaven
will help you).
How angry she was when l married
Charley. She was at Gibraltar settling
my brother Edmund in his appoint
ment. and l was Mrs. Redcar before
she came back. Charley was a Captain
with good prospects of getting on, but
Matilda made him sell out and put his
money into a new company started to
provide Venice with tram cars; after
this we came up to town. because Ma
tilda said that with my beauty and
Charley's connections London was the
place for us. We were sure to push
our way; but curiously enough, we
didn't. Charley's connections be-
longed to the Plymouth Brothers and
Sisters, and my good looks were quite
thrown away on people who wore poke
bonnets. There was one old man, a
grand-uncle of Charley's, who had lived
in the Regency days, and said l was
the image of Dolly Bloomfield, whoever
she might be.
A year or so passed very quietly, and
then Matilda came up TO see how we
were getting on. She was very indig-
nant when she found that we had made
no way, and scolded us roundly for our
supineness.
Il have no patience with either of
you." she said. with Beauty looks
and the Redcar connection YOU ought
to be at the very top of the tree" And
then we explained to her about the
Plymouth Brethren.
but there's Charley's godfather's
wife; she has nothing to say to trade or
meeting-houses, because see her par
ties every other week in the Morning
Post" said my sister, with alook which
meant: "You can't impose on me; if
Beauty were only seen there She d soon
push her way"
Charley looked at me and l looked at
Charley, and then we both burst out
laughing. 1t was a NORTH ing confess
sion. but the truth was we had been at
Charley's wife's godmother' s-no, !
mean Charley's godfather's wife-more
than once, and nothing had come Of
my "being seen there" but the bills we
had to pay for the dress wore and the
carriage.
Matilda looked very glum when we
told her this. II don't see what you
are laughing at she said, GROSSLY.
mo one but fool would find amuse-
ment in their own failure" This was
very severe, but Matilda was awfully
put out, and in the evening, when Char
ley had gone to the Rag" to have his
smoke, she spoke very seriously to me.
II don't like the look of things" she
said. II shouldn't be at all surprised
if those Venetian tram shares don't
come to much. The people there are
SO SILLY, they prefer the gondolas. and
if they go down where viii you be?''
"Good gracious! Matilda, thought
you recommended them. and said they
would double our income"
'.And haven't they done so, you silly
thing? All you have to do is to put
your shoulder to the wheel, and push
Charley, and that will make it al
right. As for him, he is a regular stick
in the mud. So you must do it your
self"
II? Why what in the world can
do?''
Make yourself the fashion!'' said my
sister, Oracularly.
The next day Matilda, Charley and
went to see the pictures at the r. A.
It's long way from Inverness Terrace
to Piccadilly, particularly on hot day,
so we went in an omnibus. dOn'l
mind an omnibus, but Matilda thinks
it's disgrace to be seen in one. She
has provincial idea that every one
knows her. She sits far back with hel
veil drawn in tight little ball over hel
nose, which makes her ever 80 much
more remarkable. This day in particu.
lar she was in q great fright and wal
very indignant with Charley and me-
who were laughing at the faces she
made.
When she got out she said: "Te
think that our Beauty should be brought
down to sit with washerwomen in ar
omnibusr'
Charley flushed up. He's the most
good-humored fellow in the world; but
he doesn't like Matilda. ''She should
drive in coach with six horses, If
could give it to her." he said; ''but she
knew was poor man when she took
me-"
''And liked you all the better, -
cried gayly, as l pressed his arm Of.
fectionately; but Matilda only snort
ed. heard her mutter: "a pair OF
foolsr'
The Academy was very full that dayl
and thought it great bore. Neithel
Charley nor care much for pictures,
but Matilda says she understands ''col-
Or" She goes round religiously with
her catalogue and pencil and marks the
good ones. She leaves it on the draw
ing-room table when she goes home,
and holds forth to the country people
upon the ''flesh tints" of Millais, and
the ''deep impasto'' of Burne Jones.
soon got tired, 90 I sat down near