The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-11-11
HOW | BECAME THE FASHION.

was born a beauty; from the time l could talk
and understand it was instilled into me rs fact.
When l could tOddle about, some injudicious per-
son, probably a nurse, gave me the name OF
Beauty" and it stuck to me ever after don't
hink was inOrdinately proud of my distinction,
although even in childhood it makes difference,
but it seems to me as l look back that my attrac-
tiOns were made use of by my brothers and sisters
for their own benefit They were always sending
me TO beg holiday on the plea that Papa won't
refuse Beauty" or later on to get leave TO go tC
this or that place of amusement, for mamma il
sure to let Beauty have her way"
It's wonder l wasn't quite spoiled but don't
think l was; at least no such accusation was ever
made, even when sistery inciviites were being in
terchanged We were "a large family, principally
girls, all presentable except my eldest sister Ma
tilda; she had no looks to speak about but she
made it up by a superabuRdance of brains-sht
was the family head-piece, sort of plateau to be
relied upon on all state occasions. She certainly
was a remarkable woman; her one idea was tC
push ones self forward in life-an English adap.
tation of aide tOi le ciel taidera.n
How angry Matilda was when l married Char
ley she was at Gibraltar settling my brother
Edmund in his appointment, and | Mrs
Redcar before she came back. Charley a
Captain with good prospects of getting on, but
Matilda made him sell out and put his money
into new company started TO provide Venice
with tram cars. After this we came uD to town,
because Matilda said that with my beauty and
Charleys connections London was the place for
US; that we were sure to push our way-but cur
iOusly enough, didn't Charley's connections
belonged to the Plymouth Brothers and Sisters,
and my good looks were quite thrown away on
people who wore poke bOnnets. There was an
old man, grand-uncle of Charley's, who had
lived IN the Regency days and said / was the
image of Dolly Bloomfield, whoever she might Ue.
a year or 80 passed very quietly, and then Ma
ulda came up TO see how were getting on.
She was very indignant when she found that we
IN fan Ff- for pflr
supineness.
II have no patience with either Of you" she
said. "Mith Beauty's looks and the Redcar
connection, you ought to be at the very top of the
tree"
And then we explained to her about the Ply
mouth Brethren.
''But there's Charey's godfather's wife; she
has nothing to say TO trade or meeting-houses
because ] see her parties every other week in the
Morning P1stn said my sister, with look which
meant: 'Gou can't impose on me; If Beauty
were only seen there, she'd soon push her way
Charley looked at me and looked at Charley,
and then both burst out laughing. 1t q
notifying confession, bat the truth was we had
been at Charley's wifes godmothers-no, mean
Charley's gOdfather's wife's-mOre than once, and
nothing had come of my ''being seen there" but
the bills we had to pay for the dress l wore ano
the carriage.
Matilda looked very glum when we told hel
this.
~ don't see what you are laughing at" she
said, Grossly. "NO one but a fool would fno
amusement in their own failure
This was very severe, but Matilda awfully
put out, and, in the evening, when Charley hao
gone TO the Rag to have his smoke, she spok,
very seriously to me.
81 don't like the look Of things,u she said. 81
shouldn't be at all surprised if those Venetian
tram shares don't come to much. The peopl,
are silly, they prefer the gOndOlas, and if they
20 down where will you be 2'
Good graciors Matilda, thought YOU rec
Ommended then, and said they would double oul
income
"And haveat they done so, YOU silly thing
All you havgto do is to put your shoulder to tn,
wheel and push Charley, and that will make il al
right. As FIR him. he is a regular stick i'm tn,
mud. 20 you must do il yourself"
4? WY what in the world can do ~
'Make ypursef the fashion" - said my sister
The nexi day Matilda Charley and went f,
see the pttures at the Royal Academy It's :
long waytrom Inverness Terrace to Piccadillv
particular ~ on a hot day, 80 we went i'm an ommi
bus ! do mind an omnibus, but Matilda think
it's a disgrace to be seen i'm one. She has pro
vincial ilea that every one knows her She sit
far backNith her veil drawn in tight little bal
over M nose, which makes her ever so mucl
more rfnarkable. This day in particular she wa
in greai fright and was very indignant at Charlie,
ant I'D avho We're laughing at the faces she fna,.
IS nentAc got out, she said
"T0ihink that our Beauty should be brougb
dow r. sit with washerwomen in an omnibus g
CfafeY flushed up. He's the most GOOD
humded fellow in the world, but he doesn,
like Matilda.
"Sle should drive in a coach with s;x borses
cQlld give it TO her. he said but She knew
frasa poor man when she took meU
nd liked you all the better cried 7 o.,,-I
as pressed his arm aflectionately. But Matifj
ony -norted l heard her mutter, 'sA pain !
foolsr
The Academy wac very fu' that dav and
Fought II q great bore Neither Charley nor
ere much for pictures, but Matilda says She y,
1ersta,ls color" She goes round relig'ousl
With dialogue and pencil and marks the goo
bnes .e leaves it ou tle drawing room tab
Eher goes home aud holds form to the coul