Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-11-06
TALE OF A BALL GOWN.

Before | begin my story | want you to
look closely at me. See my patterns
silver oak leaves and acorns on a white
ground Now examine my texture-ahl
they don't make such brocades nova
days. Be kind enough to bear in mind
that | am an heirloom.
| was woven in France and brought TO
Newport. where | was made up to be
worn ut a colonial ball. | was trimmed
with point lace rufles then, and my mis-
tress' hair was powdered and decked with
ostrich feathers,
She wore a coach and four Of court
plaster on her forehead and other CO.
quettish patches on her cheeks. Her
daughter wore one when she danced a
minuet with Lafayette and her grand
daughter when she threaded the mazes
with Aaron Burr.
After the Aaron Burr episode | was
carefully pinned in lavender scented
sheets and packed away in a cedar chest,
where for many years | lay in undis-
turbed ~seclusiOn. was comfortable. The
combined perfume Of cedar and lavender
was grateful to my senses.
One day | received a rude shock. /
heard a click above me, the linen cover
ings were torn away, and | was literally
dragged out and violently flung upon a
chair, while n silvery voice cried; "Oh,
look here, Suel isn't this a stunnery'
Then two young women-who were,
/ must confess, reprehensibly pretty,
though their manners lacked the patri-
clan repose of my former mistresses-ex-
anined me with great delight, pointing
out my beauty and suggesting so many
ways of utilizing me that my lace ruffies
shivered with Indignation.
From their conversation, which was
extremely difficult to comprehend, so in
terlarded was it with extraordinary
words, ! gathered that they were grand
uieces of my last mistress. The old New
England home. where for many years
lad peacefully rested. had come into
their fathers hands and they were ran
sacking it for h%eirlooins.
My existence in New York began with
a quarrel. Fannie and Sue fell ont over
me. Both wanted me-the one for anna
teur theatricals, the other for a ball
gown, to be yelled in tulle. A compro-
mise was at last effected and / was hand
ed over to Sue.
must not dwell on the physical suf-
fering | was forced to undergo when
Sues dressmaker shipped and clipped and
ripped me-the subject is too painful. ]
felt the cruel scissors and, most terrible
Of all, | was constantly put through an
engine OF torture. which ran with a
ceaseless click.
At last ! was again joined together
all but one breadth, which the dress
maker put away to make n sofa cushion
for herself-and then they draped a lot
OF fluffy stuff over me, packed me in a
great box and sent me to Sue.
A maid took me and laid me tenderly
on a lace covered bed, where for a few
hours / lay in utter exhaustion.
Then / was lifted from the bed and
slipped over my new mistress head and
hooked and fastened about her. When
was fairly adjusted and my last fold in
place, she stepped back a bit, took a long
look mt herself, and said;
I'm simply delicious"
| blushed for the audacious little bag
gage, as / did later, when, having sent
the maid into the next room for her
bouquet, she said as she drew on her long
white gloves;
III tins gown doesn't fetch Jack I'm
sure | shall give up in ~despairV'
fetched Jack. That evening in the
conservatory he put his arm about me
and drew ne close 10 him and told Miss
Sue that he wished her TO be his wife.
And she? Why, she interrupted him.
In my day maidens were more shy. But
Sue needed no besieging. She did moi
look down. blush and sigh, but only
snuggled more closely 10 the bold young
man and said, "Yes, Jack"
She wore me once or twice again
Then. p%rononncing me a perfect rag, she
hung me ANONYMOUSLY away in a darl
closet.
Some time later "A hand clutclled mt
and brought me forth. It proved to b
that Of Fannie, to whom she had givei
me. Fannie, l o o found, was stag
struck. ! learned that her father lief
very little money, and she was preparing
10 elevate the dramatic profession by en-
tering it.
OF course she made her debut in Juliet
and, equally Of course, | appeared will
her. / was fnynished with bands o
snowy feathers and some long, droopinl
sleeyes-I believe they called them ange
sleeves-were fastened TO my shoulders
Thus renovated l went In On the potiol
scene.
Fannie made a hit. So l gatherel
from her conversations with her leading