The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-12-14
Martyrs to Vanity,

Miranda has the loveliest arms Won
ever saw. She is delighted that short
sleeves are worn, and her gloves are not
nearly SO long as other peoples. Her
fayorite 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 partner 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 complexion, because her arms look
so white against it. She is always di-
reetlng your attention to those unlucky
ones, numerous enough, who have thin
arms. Whoever marries her will have
to be very careful never, under any cir
cumstances, to admire another woman's
arm. If he should make a slip in this
direction there would, to use a 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, in
deed. Her pretty feet are Lesbia's
specially. That is why she wears those
lowered stockings and those little,
pointed shoes That is the reason her
skirts are 50 unusually short. Lesbia is
bright and clever. She is sensible about
everything but feet. She is a trying girl
to talk to. She will interrupt the most
interesting conversation Just when YOU
think you are "both beginning to oct on
so well, " to ask if you approve of high
haalc Or soma -Ctbo1. s,,ab
ton. She is like ''Mr. Dick with King
Charles, and must drag the topic of feet
into everything. 1t is pity; and vet
many prefer her to Nora, whose feet
are well shaped enough, but has mo
style" She talks merrily and pleasant
ly when you know her well, but is
rather quiet with strangers. Not at all the
sort of girl to get on. Her voice is
not sufficiently loud or imperiols
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 a soubrette-
like trip, swaying her gown from side
to side, as Lesbia does. In fact, she
will never look anything sin room, -
though she may be well enough as the
presiding spirit of home. She is hope
leSsly questionable.
| Letitia has a waist. 1t is her great
point, and she is very proud of it. Well
may she 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. But, then, it is such a wonder.
full 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 it not belong TO thv
smallest waist in London? One thing
Immediately strikes the beholder. He
wonders how SO small waist can pos
siblv be so obtrusiye Were it two yards
round it could not more aggressively
insist on being Noticed. Draperies are
so arranged as to lead the eye down tC
it. and skirts are of such fashion as tx
guide the eve up to it. Letitia walk:
with her elbows well out from her sides
so as to advertise in pointed way the
fact that your view is scarcely inter
rupted by her slight and well distrib
uted figure As she stands talking t.
YOU she puts hand on either side o
this wonderful waist, and appears to be
curbing herself in, as it. were. Sh
wears the tightest of jackets, and neve
is seen in dolman. She gets terribly
cold in winter, because she will not wral
up. In fact, her whole existence is
burnt-offering to her waist. Were sh
to grow stout her object in life woul'
be gone Letitia denies herself evel
the qualification of an excellent appetit
| in the interest of a small waist-a sell
sacrifice that would be noble in bette
cause.
Mira has the loyeliest complexion il
the world. Without it she would be
perfectly charming girl. With it she
quite bore. If there is any wind sh
is unhappy, ''because it makes m
cheeks so rough" If the sun shine
she is miserable, because | tan s
frightfully" If 1t is hot she grumbleS
/. Il flush so painfully" If it is cold he
cry is, Il can't 90 out to-day, for | &C
so blue in cold weather" Her cheek
+ are of such an indescribable textur
e that rOughness has never yet invade
n them; tanning never approaches then
She flushes the prettiest dainty pink 20
ever saw; and in cold weather so
color rises in her face and wistfl
look comes into her eyes that makes he
quite adorable. Why, then, all thes
excuses? Simply because she thinl
= prevention better than cure, and
afraid of thousand viewless enemit
on her complexion's account She is
martyr to her own consciousness.
London Truth.