Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-03-29
Converting a Husband.

In some things women are silly and
ridiculousp
Here John Harding laid down the
magazine artic hs bad been reading
and which had for its theme the appa.
rently inexhanstible one-the follies
and shortcomings of the sex to which he
had alluded.
Mrs. Harding glanced from the bow
she was fastening to the solmen face Of
the speaker.
In some things this is encouraging,
surely! I've known such quantities of
men that were silly and ridiculous in so
many. What is it now, wonder?"
Loftily oblivious to the quiet sarcasm
in these words, Mr.. Harding continued:
Just look at the way they dress, for
instance
'Ohp
Not only devoid of common sense,
but of all artistic elegance or beauty
Really, john retorted Mrs. Harding,
drawing her needle through her work
with SO much energy as to snap the
thread, however silly women may BE- in
your estimation, l think they might
know how and in what style to Dress
They might, suppose was the cool
response; 'bvt that they don't is very ev-
ident. Have you read Dress as it Re
lates to Health and Beauty in the last
monthly"
No. responded Mrs. Harding, with a
toss of the head. 1T was written by
some man, l suppose
No matter who it was written by; it
is is sound sense, every word of it.
wish you would study that article; l
think it would do you an immense deal
of good. don't mean to say you havn't
got sense in good many things, which
surprises me all the more that you
should show so little in the way of
dress"
Mrs. Harding's red face grew still
redder
John Hardingp
There, now, Mary; don't fly in pas
sion because l tell you the truth, all for
your own good. Just look at the trim
ming on your dress, for instance; &C
cording to all artistic rules, the line
should be unbroken from waist to feet.
and here it is cut up and destroyed in
half dozen places
Have you ever seen me in a dress
whose skirt was entirely plain, or as
you term it, with the line unbroken
from waist to feet?
No; but should be glad to do so'
You would? Have you any further
complaint to make? If you have, beg
that you won't be backward in stating
it.
i don't mean to be. There's the hat
you wear. That is what you call it, /
suppose, though for any use it performs
it might as well be called most any
thing else, mass of ribbons, feathers
and flowers piled up as high as possible
and worn upon the back Of the head.
And then your hairp
How would you have me arrange it,
dear2'
forehead and cOiled low at the back of
the head, SO as to preserve its artistic
outline. Something the way it is in that
picture. See?'
Mrs. Harding glanced at the picture
to which her husband pointed, that of
a very lovely girl, with small, regular
features, and whose wavy hair was
loosely knOtted at the back.
Yes, see; but don't think you ever
saw hair dressed in that STYLE
1T would be an immense improve
ment if you would dress it so; you'd
lock quite-another person.
Il think should. But have you no
further suggestion to make? Your |
ideas are so original that you interest |
me-
Not at present. returned Mr.. Hard |
ing, biting off the end of a cigar which |
he intended to light as soon as he got on |
the steps.
A few minutes later he put his head /
back into the room whore his wife was
sitting. l shall be around with the po-
MES at three, Mary. Don't keep me
Mrs. Harding belonged to that very
large class Of ladies whose attractions
depend more or less on style of dress,
and no one understood this more clearly
than sho. She knew her strong and |,
weak points, and how to bring out the
one and conceal the other. For in
stance. she had fine eyes, hair and COM
plexiOn. but her features were rather
irregular, her forehead especially being
put of proportion with the rest of the
face, and the form wanting in round
ness of outline. but so skillfully were
,hese defects remedied by the adjust
nent of hair and dress that they were
scarcely noticed, and she was consider
N by all who knew har-har hua hand