Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-09-24
Martyrs 10 Yanity.

es'J'o w ''''ss@s
Miranda has the lovellest arms you
ever saw. She Is delighted that short
sleeves arc worn. and her gloves are not
nearly 81 long as other peoples. Her
savoritc attitude vs. sitting, with her right
elbow Ia the palm Of her left hand. She
waves her hand when she speaks. AT n
dance her right arm Is well displayed
behind her partners left, II he is tall, or
on his shoulder, II he Is small Those
beautiful arms have spoiled Miranda.
She wears black. though II does not suit
her complexion, because her arms look
80 white against H. She Is always d.
rectlng YOUR attention 10 those unlucky
ones, numerous enough, who have thin
arms. Whoever marrcs her will have
Ia be very careful never under any cir
cumstnnces. TO admire another woman's
arm. Ii he should make slip In this
direction there would, 10 use good old
phrase. be wigs on tho green.
Did YOU ever see such dear little feetP
Or such perfectly turned anklesp Or
moro wonderful stockingsp Never, in
decd. Her pretty feet are Lcsba's
speciality. That Il why she wears those
lowered stockings and those little,
H'iul'U ~llVt~s lIUl ~ lib l'h7On lti
skirts aio 80 unusually short. Lcsbia Is
bright aud clever. She Is sensible about
everything but feet. She Is a trying girl
10 talk 10. She will interrupt the most
interesting conversation just when you
think YOU are both beginning TO get on
80 Wen, to ask II you approve Of high
heels, or some other such leading gues-
ton. 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 10 Nora. whose feet
are we'll shaped enough, but has 'no
style She talks inerrily and pleasant
~ when you know her wen, but is
rather quiet with strangers. Not at all the
sort of a girl to get on. Her voice is
moi 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 a soubrette-
like trip, swaying her gown from side
10 side, as Lesba does. In fact, she
will never look anything'''in room
though she may be we'll 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 he, for 1t 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
mattersp Does II not belong TO the
Immediately strikes the beholder. Ho
wonders how so small waist can pos
sibly be so obtrusive. Were 1t two yards
round II could not more aggressively
insist on being noticed. Draperies are
50 arranged as to lead the eye down to
| IL, and skirts are Of such fashion as to
| guide the eye up TO It. Letitia walks
with her elbows we'll 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 TO
you she puts a hand on either side OF
this wonderful waist, and appears to be
curbing herself in, as it we're. She
wears the tightest Of jackets, and never
Is seen in a dolman. She gets terribly
cold In winter, because she will not wrap
up. In fact, her whole existence Is q
burnt-oflering to her waist. Were she
to grow stout her object in life would
DO gone. Letitia denies herself even
the qualification of an excellent appetite
in the interest Of small waist--a self
sacrifice that would be noble in better
cause.
Mira has the loveliest complexion in
the world Without IL she would be a
perfectly charming girl. With ii she is
quite bore. II there is any wind she
Is unhappy. "because it makes my
cheeks so rough If the sun shines
she is miserable. because / tan so
frightfully." If 1t is hot she grumbles,
II flush so painfully" If it is cold her
cry is, Il can't 90 out to-day, for Iget
SO blue in cold weather." Her checks
~ of such an indcscribable texture
that roughness has never yet invaded
them; tanning never approaches them.
She iushes the prettiest dainty pink you
ever saw; and In cold weather soft
color rises in her face and a 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 ~ thousand vicwlcss enemies
on her mplcxion's account. She Is a
martyr TO her own consciousness. -
London Truth.