The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-03-21
MADAM WHIMS.
Her Devices to Conceal the Cruel
ties of an Insane Husband.

ties of an Insane Husband.
A young girl, who had just arrived,
was the center of group OF women
on the porch of the old-fashioned hotel
in Wildgrapeisle, little island the
medicinal qualities of whose springs,
especially in the case of nervous COM
plants, were just beginning to be
known, one lovely August evening.
"And now" said she, after the usual
welcoming speeches and compliment
airy remarks about the becomingness
of her travelling costume had all been
made, "tell me who is here,
.Oh! the old set" answered two or
three of her friends together. ''With
the exception added two or three
more, "of Madam Whims," chorused
all the rest.
Madam Whims," repeated the new
arrival. "What very odd name. -
ooh! it isn't her real name, ex-
planned several of the group in one
voice again. Her real name"
Suppose one of the party enlightens
me while the others remain silent, 4" in
terruptcd the girl, laughingly. Its
rather confusing, you know, listening
to a chorus on subject of which the
listener happens to be in total ignor-
ance. You, Maud, used to be capital
etory-teller in our school days, and
that isn't far enough away for your
tongue to have forgotten its cunning,
and so suppose you narratc and oblige
yours truly, Bell Morrison.
There isn't any story to tell, Bell,
my DEAR replied the youthful, bright
eyed matron thus singled out. THE
case is simply this: A lady is stopping
hcrc-she came about three weeks age
whose name is Eleanor Halpin, but
whom our circle with common consent
have dubbed Madame Whims, because
nv dear, she really is the whimmiest Of
whimmen. Pun intcndcd-hope you
all see it,
Il recognized it at once said Bell
''having met it many times before
notably in the old verses which, if my
memory serves me Alright, runs some
what in this way.
''when Eve first wooed with love so kind
Her Adam called her woman; -
But when she brought him grief and woe,
Why, then he called hcrwocman.
Since then the men declare the sex
With folleS oVcrbrimmin,
And so they've changed the name again,
And now they call them whimmen."
"Am | to go on, or have you an,
more verses to repeat?h asked Mistres
Maud.
"You are to go on, and go OF
quickly" answered her sprightl
friend, "for | haven't had my suppe
vet and l shall soon be awfully hungry
You said last she was the 'whimmies
of whimmen. Pray tell me wha
shapes her whims ta&e?'
Oddities of dress, principally
When we first boheld her, tw
DAYS after her arrival-she had keI
her room in the interim-she wore
sort of turban, apparently evolve
from large, soft, crimson silk hant
kerchief, tilted rather rakishly over til
left eye. 1t was not altogether unb'
coming, but it was extremely quee
In few days the turban was discarde
and she appeared in very long, yer
loose gloves, morn, noon and ev
breakfast, lunch and dinner, for nearl
week. Then she came down with
an affected little limp for another wee
Then a lace scarf graced her hea,
tied down over her ears, my dea
with big bow under her chin. Al
tonight, warm as it is, she has sever
yards of white illusion twined arour
her throat and standing up at Il
back of her neck in manner tn
strongly suggests an Elizabethan ruff
(Which suggestion of an Elizabeth;
ruff / suppose l shall have the pleasu
of seeing.n said Bell, las each of n
lady's vagaries seem to last for sever
DAYS But tell me something abo
herself, Maud. Is she pretty? Is S
clcverp Is she wife, widow or divorce
If wife, what kind of husband h
she?"
We'll, she is not ugly, rather prett
in fact, and somewhat clever; so we
fer from what conversation we ha
had with her, which is very little,
it is one of her whims to have her HI
band ALWAYS 1T her side, and you knt
how hard it is for women to talk
each other when there is man arour
BY the by, we also infer from
never-yarying brightness of her ia
chat she must be very happy, We
sweet-tempered woman.
Aud her husband?'
Oh! yes, was coming to him.
isa splendid looking fellow Chou
Kate button, who is given, you kno
to finding resemblance to animals
human beings, declares there is h
of tiger about him). BUT we are nt
OF rs particularly interested in h
because, to tell the truth, my dear.
hasn't shown the slightest interest
any of u.s.