The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-15

with a young lady assistant to verify the
measures Of some of San Fran isco's Gin
derellas.
OF course we never for moment doubted
the veracity of the Cinderellas, but as they
themselves modestly stated, the measure
ments had been taken by admiring friends
and relations, who were more likely to
strain the measure just little than an I'M
biased outsider would be.
The first Cinderella we interviewed was
30 tiny that we felt like giants beside her.
She was quite willing to have her measure
verified, and took off her light shoe in such
a businesslike manner that we went on
with our work in grave silence.
Cinderella suffered much less than we
did, for though we may have grown more
reckless as the day wore on. during the first
interview we were oppressed withgthe fear
full responsibility of our position.
Ii Is no joke TO have voice in deciding
who shall be San Francisco's Cinderella.
At tho second house visited Cinderella
was tall a1d we'll developed. 1t seemed i'm
possible that she could preserve her eQuilib-
rum on feet less than eight inches in
length and slender in proportion. 1t was
with breathless eagerness that we slipped
the gauge over her right foot and tested it
with the tape measure.
Alas, poor Cinderella 1t was only by
small fraction of an inch that her dainty
foot was too large; but she was perfectly
willing to own herself that according TO
the exact measurement she could not wear
the coveted slipper.
The next competitor had a name that ex-
cited our suspicious Green. 1t did
not seem probable that the heroine of the
popular song could be among the candi-
dates. We feared that some one had been
trying to perpetrate joke. possibly on
lady from Chicago.
Miss Green? was asked In fear and
trembling Of the girl who opened the door.
'Oh, yes; come in she answered, with
difficulty suppressing giggle.
we went into the parlor and looked
anx1ously toward the door, expecting
wrathful vision to emerge
Instead OF that charming. mlddle-aged
lady came with her daughter and explained
that the latter had taken the name of Mary
Green through excessive timidlty.
''She was really afraid to compete at all"
observed the mother. 1.-The girls persuaded
her into it."
or course that accounted for the giggle.
which had evidently been one of delight.
'Why did you not let yourself be per-
suaded few mails earlier?' we could not
help asking. regretfully, for this Cinderella
was an IDEAL. No child who dreams over
book of fairy tales could imagine anything
prettier or daintier. from the curly blonde
head to the tip of the tiny foot incased IN
lavender silk.
"Have l no chance of the prlze?" she
asked little sadly, knowing that her foot
was we'll within the measurements.
Those who came in before you have to
be tested yet" we answered, and for two
whole blocks we exchanged wishes that the
fairy. fairy" Cinderella would get the prize.
Then we wavered and wished she could
share it with the next competitor.
The next one was pretty, too, and her
nnrfo in TIA 70
though it was not clad in silk. Indeed, as
my competent assistant observed later,
1.-THE only large thing about her is her eyes,
and they tell tale of anxiety and hard
work"
1t was with a feeling of profound curl
Osity that we sought out the next Cinder-
ella. Accounts that seemed fabulous had
reached us of her inintesmal feet that
were reported 10 be so small as almost to
satisfy the geometrical definition of a point,
namely. that which has no magnitude"
''Oh, yes the shoe would be great deal
too large for me" she observed smiling, as
she held out her foot to be measured, and
noticed with merriment how the gauge had
to be slipped forward nearly an inch from
its position of ~ inches to meet the point
Of her foot.
Less than 7 inches loDglv we murmured,
thunderstruck. while the little fairy burst
into peal of laughter. happy in the knowl-
edge that it would be hard to beat that foot.
"But there are others in before you who
have to be verified yet" we observed.
''The first to enter the competition who
can wear the slipper wins the prize"
These are just few of the Cinderellas
visited yesterday. They were all good
natured and all anxious for the prize.
though modest about their qualification for
winning 1t.
Those who were disqualified bore their
failures without any indignation. IL can
see it is too large" each observed frankly,
regarding her foot ruefully. as though she
had really expected better things of that
member that was so much admired at home
and abroad.
And then the would-be Cinderella gener-
ally cheered up and observed, They only
persuaded me to try for fun, anyway"
1t may be asked why the coupons were
not verified in the order in which they
reached the office.
This plan would occupy too much time.
The coupons that fulhIl the required condi-
tons are being verified in districts.
The shoe measures ia inches from toe to
heel; any foot which exceeds that length is
ineligible. The winner of the prize money
and the Cinderella slipper will bs an
n0unced In Saturdays issue.
MARIE EVELYN