Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-15
BETWEEN OURSELVES.

Mr.. Fimblehemp is merely known as the
husband of Mrs. Fmblehemp. That ought
to be enough individuality for one man. Any
other construction of him would be excep-
tional, if not irrelevant.
Outside of his conjugal conspicuousness, he
Is clerk for Frounce & Franion, and seems
to have more leisure for a subordinate and
more pay, Judging by external indications,
than any clerk in the Northwest. He must
have financial aptitudes of extraordinary
power, or he never could have all the advan-
tages of man deep in TIE Thousands, while
working on the salary of dependent de
ought to be secretary of the treasury instead
of that other Minnesota man.
Mrs. Fimblehemp is the third and last OF
the pretenders to beauty-through cosmetics
and portrayed for the GLOBE gallery.
She is by all odds the most re-
pulsive. The head is long and narrow, and the
light, cunning eyes are very close together,
sufficient warning to the wary, according TO
Lavater's Interpretation.
The brow is pinched and ignoble. The nose
is like thin cartilage between the disagree
able eyes, but broadens into shapeless thick
ness at the base, oftentimes throwing lumpy
shadow over the greedy and treacheroue
mouth, which seems to have no fine and con-
fining lines, but is loose and slipshod, like
that of an animal. 8 tt
The complexion is deadly. Walter Savage
Landor describes some ones 'lightning pale
ness" but Mrs. Fimblehemp's is the most un-
wholesome yellowness. IT'S suggestive of
IT,. has for.
chilly.
Because Mrs. Fimblehemp gives open pro-
clamation that she dishkes children-can't
bear them, in fact. They were never compre-
hended liz her scheme of life, for they are too
troublesome and exacting.
They require too much self-abnegation, and
monopolize the thought and attention of the
household. Mrs Fimblehemp is not willing
to abdicate in that way-and SO she is satisfied
to let the poor, and the martyr element man
age the population. She was bound to be one
of the "show" people whose mission is to ex-
hibit the enhancing power of dress, and elicit
appropriate homage. She is an expert at self
adornment.
No wonder From the time she had the first
definite thought about anything, her ideas
have all crystalized on the subject of ornate
and becoming dressing.
She would be stupid indeed did she not show
some of the results of so much time and study.
e Superficial establishment is the keynote of
her existence, and she has struck it fine, and
true to the refrain of self-always SELF
She Graves the richest and most fashionable
garb, and it is hers. For to do her ex-
act justice, she is always
admirably dressed. a happy selection
and tasteful care are legible in her attire from
head to foot. 1t may not be what you would
like to wear, on account of some old conserva-
tive prejudices to the least suggestion OF
''fast," but it suits her to charm, and height
ems the fascination she has for many people.
public assemblage her appearance always
makes quite sensation" in the vicinity where
she happens 70 sit. Persons analyze the effect
of her presence, and think it is mainly due to
her expensive toilettes.
We all know that it is chiefly the conquest
of clothes, for our heroine isn't much given
to the crude clap trap of cosmetics as seen
ad mauseum all the while.
She knows her gift of artistic elaboration in
accord with everything she wears.
Other people and their clothes are gen.
orally at variance, because they have
not had the advantage of being on
familiar terms with tints, outline shapes,
combinations and effects. IT'S a sort of hap
hazard selection with them-quite as often the
shop-keeper's and vendors influence as the
choice of the purchaser. For such inept
creatures Mrs. Fimblehemp has fullness of
silent contempt.
Their bungling and laundering makeAa fine
back ground for her own especial accomplish
ments, and her dearest dear friend is a
dowdy. whose admiration of Mrs. Fimble-
hemp's completeness as a dress authority
borders on fanaticism.
Otherwise Mrs. Fimblehemp is not a pro-
nounced success, for she moves in circle
which just grazes the right one. It is near
enough to be tantalizing-and yet it is the
remotest thing in the world when Mrs. Finn
blehemp wants to get at it. Her orbit is in the
new-rich sphere where the ruling ambition
seems to be to out dress everybody else, and
splurge it generally. 1t opens peoples eyes
but not their doors.
Besides! st. Paul has passed that stage
when such evidences are any bait for civic
promotion, and it has reached stage
when its population must have such a class
for metropolitan representation in its
society of course, but for a classification of
social conditions.
So Mrs imblehemp is just outside of the de-
sirable enclosure of good society. Near enough
to be torture, and yet softened with the salts
faction of having her charming clothes seen by
fastidious and exclusive folk, who are seldom
exquisitely dressed, aud are often scandalous-
ly Indifferent to fashion plates, and their elo-
quent letter-press.
This is a source of endless wonderment, be-
cause the small mind of Mrs. Fimblehemp
cannot take in and appreciate any success or
distinction independent of fashionable attire
She is disturbed at times with feeling ap-
preaching envy when she sees 'outlandish
looking women" with no cultivated predilic-
tions about their raiment, in places and
with set she would fain know.
But at heart she would scarce be willing to
exchange her own supremacy in the matter of