Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-04
Martyrs to Vanity.

Miranda has the loyeliest arms YOU ever
saw. She is delighted that short sleeves
are worn, and her gloves are not nearly
50 long as other peoples. Her faVOrite
attitude is sitting, with her right elbow
in the palm of her left hand She waves
| her hand when she speaks. At a dance,
her right arm is well displayed behind
! her partners left, if he is tall. or on his
! shoulder, If he is small. Those beautiful
arms have spoiled Miranda. She wears
black, though it does not suit her COM
pleXiOn, because her arms look so white
against it. She is always directing your
attention to those unlucky ones, numer-
GUS enough, who have thin arms. Who
ever marries her will have to he careful
never, under any circumstances, to adj
mire 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 lowered stock
ings and those little, pointed shoes. That
it the reason her skirts are so unusually
short. Lesbia is bright and clever. She
is sensible about everything but feet. She
is trying girl to talk to. She will in
terrupt the most interesting conversation
just when you think you are "bOth begin
ming to get on so well,' to ask if you APP
prove of high heels, or some other such
leading question. She is like Mr.. Dick
with King Charles, and must drag the
topic OF feet into everything. 1t is pity :;
and yet many prefer her to Nora, whose
feet are well shaped enough, but who has
mo STYLE" She talks merrilv and pleas
antly when you know her well, but is rath-
er quiet with strangers. Not at all the sort
of girl to get on. Her voice is not sufi-
GENTLY loud or imperiOus. She does not
hustle about with an air as though the
world was made for her. She wears pref
ty gowns, but does not bunch them out,
nor mince along with a sOubrette-like
trip, swaying her gown from side to side,
as Lebia does. In fact, she will never
look anything Gin a rOOm." though she
may be well enough as the presiding
spirit of home. She is hopelessly I'M
fashionable.
Letltia 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 q matter of course.
But then it is such a wonderful waist 1t
cannot measure more than seventeen
inches, at the very most. The pressure
has made her nose permanently red. Not
all the waters of Araby would make that
nose white again, but what matters Does
1t not belong to the smallest waist in Lon
don? One thing Immediately strikes the
! behOlder. He wonders how so small a
waist can possibly be so Obtrusive. Were
1t two yards round, it could not more az
gressiNely insist on being noticed. Ora
perles are so arranged as to lead the eye
down 10 IT, and skirts are of such fashion
as TO guide the attention up to it. Letitia
walks with her elbows well out from her
SIDES, so as TO advertise, in a pointed way.
the tact that your view is scarcely inter
rupted by her slight and well-distributed
figure. AS she stands talking to you,
she puts hand on either side of this
wonderful waist, and appears to be curb
ing herself in, as it We're She wears the
tightest OF jackets, and never is seen in a
dOlman. She gets terrible colds in winter.
because she will not wrap up. In tact.
herwhOle existence Is a hurnt-offering to
her waist. Were she to grow stout, her
object in life would be gone. Letitia
denies herself even the qualification of an
excellent appetite in the interests of a
small waist, Il Self-Sacrifice that would be
noble i'll better cause.
Mira has the loveliest complexion in
the world. Without it, she would be a
perfectly charming girl. With it, she is
quite bore. If there Is any wind, she is
unhappy, ''because it makes my cheeks
so rough" If the sun shines, she is
miserable, because | tan so frightfllly."
If it is hot, grumbles, 81 flush so pain
fully" lit is cold, her cry is, Il can't
go out to-day, for l 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 nushes the pretti-
est dainty pink you ever saw; and in cold
weather, a soft color rises in her face. and
a wistful look comes into her ewes that
makes her quite adorable. Why, then, all
these excuses? Simply because she thinks
prevention better than cure. and is afraid
Of a thousand viewless enemies on her
compleXi0n's account. She is amartyr to
hnr own Consciousness