Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-01-04
WHAT JOIN HARDING THOUGHT.
A STORY FOR THE GENTLEMEN.

"In some things women are so silly
and ridiculousW
Here John Harding laid down the
magazine article he had been reading,
and which hal for its theme the appar
emily inexhaustible one-the follies and
shortcomings If the sex to which he had
alluded.
Mrs. Harding glanced from the bow
she was fashioning to the solemn face
of the speaker.
an some things? That is encourag-
ing surely. I've known such quantities
of men that were silly and ridiculous in
so many. What is it now, l wonder ?"
Loftily oblivious to the quiet sarcasm
in these words, Mr.. Harding continued:
'Just look at the way they dress. for
instance"
"Oh!"
mot only devoid of common sense,
but of all artistic elegance and beauty"
REALLY, John" retorted Mrs. Hard
ing, drawing her needle through her
work with so much energy as to snap
the thread, however silly woman
may be in your estimation, I think they
might know how and in what style to
dress.n
"They might, I suppose" was the
cool response; but that they don't is
very evident. Have you read: Dress
as 1t Relates to Health and Beauty in
the last Monthly?'
MOI responded Mrs. Harding, with
a toss of the head. at was written by
some man, L suppose"
mo matter who it was written by; 1t
Isl sound sense, every word of it," [
wish you would study that article, Ma
ry ; it would do you an immense deal of
good. | don't mean to say that you
haven't sense in good many things,
which surprises me all the more that
YOU should show so little in the way you
dress"
"Mrs. Harding's red cheeks grew still
redder.
"John Hardingw
"There, now, Mary, don't fly into q
passion because l tell you the truth, all
for your own good. Just look at the
trimming on the skirt of your dress, for
instance; according to all artistic rules.
the line should be unbroken, from waist
to feet, and here it is cut up and destroy
ed in half a.doZen places ?"
"Have you ever seen me in dress
whose skirt is entirely plain, or, as you
term it, with the line unbroken from
waist to feet"
mo; but should be glad to do So. /"
"You would? Have you any farther
complaint to make? If you have beg
that you won't be backward about stat
ing it."
Il don't mean to be. There's the hat
you wear. That is what you call it,
suppose, though for any use it performs
II might as well be called most anything
else; mass of ribbons, feathers and
flowers, piled up as high as possible, and
worn upon the back of the head"
"Anything further?"
ayes. Lock at the way the hair is
worn by nine-tenths of the ladies'
yours among 'em, part Of it in snarl on
the forehead and the rest braided and
festooned at the back of the head"
Chow would you have me arrange
it?"
"Why simply drawn back from the
forehead And coiled low at the back OF
the head so "a TO preserve its classic out
line. Something the way it is in that
picture. See ?"
Mrs. Hariing glanced at the picture
to which her husband pointed, that of a
very lovly girl, with small regular fea-
lures and whose wavy hair was loosely
knotted at the back.
eyes, [ see. But | don't think you
ever saw my hair dressed il that
style"
at would be an immense improve
ment if you would dress it so; you'd
look like quite another person."
think ! should. But have you no
further suggestions to make? Your
ideas are 50 original that they interest
yue.n
mot at present" returned Mr. Hard
ing, biting off the end of cigar he in
tended to light as soon as he got out on
the steps.
A few minutes later, he put his head
back into the room were his wife was
sitting:
81 shall be around with the ponies at
three, Mary. Don't keep me waiting"
Mrs, Harding belonged to that large
class of ladies whose attractions depend
more or less on style of dress, and no
one understood this more clearly than
she. She knew her strong and weak
points, and how to bring out the one and
conceal the ether. For instance, she had
fine eyes, hair and complexion, but her
features were rather Irregular her fore
head especially being out of proportion
with the rest of the face, and the form
wanting in roundness of outline. But so
skillfully were these defects remedied
by the adjustment of the hair and dress
that they were scarcely noticed, and she
was considered by all who knew her
her husband not excepted-to be an at
tractive and very charming woman.
Mrs. Harding spent the greater part
of the morning in the attic overhauling
4 chest that had belonged to ng hus-
bands aunt; apparently we'll repa1d for
her trouble by the garments fished >up
out of it's dark depths, and which she
carried to her own room Out of one of
these she fashioned dress very SINH
lar in style to the one for which her
husband had expressed so much admi-
ration.
az hate to disfgure myself SO J" she
thought, as the straight folds fell lankly
around the tall, thin form, making it
look still more tall and thin "but moth
ing else will cure John; and if he kee ps
on he'll drive me frantic ~
Then she proceeded to take down the
heavy braids of hair, and combing it
smoothly from the forehead over the ear
arranged it in a pug low at the back of
the head.
GOOD gracious didn't suppose any,
thing could make me look so much like
fool" calculated Mrs. Harding, as she
noted the change that it made in her
appearance But no matter; it's only
for once, and | guess [ can stand it, if
he can ~
Taking round, fiat hat, very much in
vogue few years ago, and whose only
ornament was ribbon around the
crown Mrs. Harding went down into
the parlor.
She did not nave long to wait. Ten
minutes later John came up to the door,
In an open phaton, drawn by the we'll
matched g1ays that were the pride of his
heart.
Running up the steps, he opened the
door of the room where his wife sat.
He stared at her, for moment, in
dumb amaZenlent.
Heavens and earth! Mary, is that
you? | thought it was-I don't know
what! What lave you been doing to
yourself?"
81 have been trying TO carry out the
hints you gave me this morning in re-
gard to dress. | hope it suits ypu and
that you admire its effect ?''
"Well. no." respond Mr. Harding
taking critical survey of the odd-look-
ing figure bePfe him. II eant say that