Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-26
MARTYRS TO VANITY.

Miranda has the loveliest arms you ever
saw. She is delighted that short sleeves
are worn, and her gloves are not nearly so
long as other peoples. Her fayorite atti-
tude is sitting, with her right elbow in
her LETT hand. She waves her hand when
she speaks. At dance, her right arm is
well displayed behind her partners left, if
he is tall, or on his shoulder, ii he is
small Those beautiful arms have spoiled
Miranda. She wears black, though it does
not suit her complexion, because her arms
look so white against it. She is always di-
recting her attention to those unlucky
ones, numerous enough, who have thin
arms, Whoever maIries her viii have to
be very careful never, under any circum-
stances, to admire another woman's arm.
If he should make slip in this direction,
there would, to use good old phrase, be
"wigs on the green.
Did you ever see such dear little feet
Or such perfectly turned ankles ? Or more
wonderful stockings? Never, indeed. Her
pretty feet are Lesbia's speciality. That is
why she wears those howered stockings
and those litgle pointed shoes. That is the
reason her skirts are unusually short. Les
Dl1 IL DliEAk alo ClSNSAs QUO - cCLhAOlO
about everything but feet She is trying
girl to talk to. She will interrupt the most
interesting conversation, just when you
think you are both beginning to get on
so well, " to ask if you approve of high
heels or some other such leading question.
She is like MI. Dick with King Charles,
and must drag the topic of feet into every
thing. Il 10 a pity and yet you may pre-
fer her to Nora, whose feet are well-shaped
enough, but who has 'no style" She
talks merrily and pleasantly when you
know her well, but is rather quiet with
strangers. Not at all the sort of q girl TO
get on. Her voice is not sufficiently loud
or imperious. She does not hustle about
with an air as though the world was made
for her. She wears pretty gowns but
does not bunch them out, nor mince along
with soubreste.iike trip, swaying her
gown from side to side, as Lesbia
does. In fact, she will never look any
thing Gin a ROOM" though she may be
well enough as the presiding spirit of a
home. She is hopelessly understandable.
Letitia has waist 1t IS her great point,
and she is very proud Of it. Well she may
be, for it is the result OF patient years Of
pain. She has laid on the shrine of that
little waist many precious things-gOod
health, good temper and good spirits.
Having sacrificed the first, the two others
followed as matter Of course. Bat then
it is such wonderful waist. 1t cannot
measure more than seventeen inches at tbs
very most. The pressure has made heI
nose permanently red. Not all the waters
of Araby would make that nose white
again, but what matters? Does it moi
belong to the smallest waist in London
One thingimmediately strikes the beholder.
He wonders how so small waist car
possibly be so obtrusive. Were it two
yards round, it could not more sggressively
insist on being noticed. Draperies are
so arranged as to lead the eye
down to it, and skirts are oI
such q fashion as to guide the attention up
to it. Letitia walks with her elbows vel
out from her sides, SO as the advertise, il
a pointed way, the fact that your view is
scarcely interrupted by her slight and we'll
distributed figure. As she stands talking to
you, she puts hand ON either side of thi:
wonderful waist, and appears to be curbing
herself in, as it were. She wears the tight
est of jackets, and never is seen in dol
man. she gets terrible colds in winter,
because she will not wrap up. In fact, her
whole existence is burrt-offering to her
waist. Were she to grow stout, her object
in life would be gone. Lstitia denies her.
self even the qualification OF an excellent
appetite in the interests of small waist,
a self.sacrifee that would be noble in a bet.
ter cause.
Mira has the loveliest complexion in
the world. Without it, she would be a
perfectly charming girl. With it, she is
quite bore. II there is any wind, she is
unhappy, "because it makes my cheeks so
rough" If the sun shines, che is miser-
able, "because tan so frightfully." If it
is hot, she grumbles. {" l flush so pain
fully" If it is cold, her cry is, L can't
go out to-day, for get SO blue in cold
weather." Her cheeks are of such an in
describable texture that roughness has
never yet invaded them; tanning never
approaches them. She fushes the prettieJt
dainty pink you ever saw; and in cold
weather, soft color rises in her face, and
wistful look comes into her eyes that
makes her quite adorable. Why, then, all
these excuses? Simply because she
thinks prevention better than cure, and is
afraid of Thousand viewless enemies on
her complexion's account. She is martyr
to her own consciousness.-[Lo London Truth.