The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-05-06
Clara Belle Tries snOwshOes.

Clara Bell, the New York cor
respondent OF the Cincinnati En-
q,jirer Cately deceased) tried on pair
ofsnowshoes while on a visitto Albany,
and she thus stated the scarpe they
got her into:
Everyone knows the story of the
fashionable woman who was estranged
from her daughter because of the
young womans appearance while
being carried by fireman from her
sleeping-room in a burning building.
why mother, said the young woman,
how could I tell that my ankles were
uncovered at such a time of excite
mentY %, find no fault with that
said the leader of fashion; your ankles
are well enough, so far as that goes,
but you had on white stockings,
which have not been either fashion
able or even permissible in the last
five years. Never address me again,
for l shall not acknowledge You as my
child
Well, haven't that girls fault to be
charged against me, l had hosiery
OF ultramarine on when got into my
snowshoe scrape. Snowshoes you
know, are an Indian device. They are
like battledores, pear-shaped frames
criss-crossed with thongs. Above Il
little hole in the center OF each you
put your foot, andit is then strapped
to the netting, just by the ball of the
foot, so that when you walk the great
frames, with their long tall sticks, go
hip-hop, hip-hop, in the most horribly
awful fasion. Girls who go in for the
things were moccasins, tennis stock
ings, blanket knee-breeches, a blanket
skirt, q blanket ulster and worsted
toque or liberty-cap. Unfortunately
| was dressed as | always am out OF
doors, presentable walking attire.
| stood on rock while my
lady friend strapped the frames to my
toes. All around me was a sea OF snow
deep snow. There were two or three
gentlemen at distance, waiting for a
aun. | had a temporary engagement
with refractory stocking-suspender,
so whispered to my friend, Run on
Alice, dear, and get those men away
while | fix something. I'll follow
presently Like good girl she gave
start and fip-fopped along, the mer
taking the signal and leading the way
Alas it was not SO easy to follow will
your first steps in snowshoes. coul(
not get off the rock to save me.
was unable in my tight skirts to stel
far enough to make the stick clear tn
rock, and when l tried sitting on m.
heels and sliding, | pitched forwar'
and went off the rock sure enough
but head first, and with my hand il
the deep, soft snow. Think OF it! M.
snow-shoes were four feet in tie all
, on the rocks, while | was in the snoV
to my shoulders, with my face buried
and suffocation only a question g
moments. l knew that il stirred II
in the air it would be worse. The ger
tlemen came speedily and put me o.
my feet, burning with modification
"We saw your signals OF distress
:, my girl friend whispered, tantalizingl,
al would rather have died tina
been rescued, was all that ! said, an
r l meant it.
n II bit my teeth with vexation, ant
a stumbling to the clubhouse, got bo
Vi to unlace my frames. To-day | al
Y paying for my fun even more dear
t. than while it lasted. The simp
n truth is that | am paralyzed from tt
waist down, have used up ~ bott
of liniment, the room smells like
chemical works, and I am prone upC
II lounge by the stove in my frient
bedroom. Yesterday thought OF bu
ing pair Of snowshoes. To-day
wouldon't take snowshoe factory
2p a gift if it was paying twenty per ce
Il profit. hate the word 'snowshoe