The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-05

How . Cautious Amsricsn Spinstsr BE-
came Converted to IL.


came Converted to IL.
That number OF the Sun with the article
on the Partisan petticoat was sent to me
from my native State, New York. Now
happen to be an American spinster, liv-
ing In Paris, with a pretty fair income.
I love Paris and the Parisians. but do
not say take to all their naughty little
ways and manners, either in the streets
or out Of them.
It's quite true. what you write, that the
Partisan woman does lift I'D her skirts
very high, but 1t isn't because she wants
to do wrong. or show her pretty bottines.
as she calls them. to those dreadful men
who sit at the cafes and laugh at all the
world. It's only the mud, the Shiny dirt
in the streets Of Paris, that's driven her
to those lovely petticoats. to showing
them. and the boots and other things.
A naturalist has put In a book that
there's always a reason for changing a
habit or an instinct In an animal. Now,
/ always study men and women Just as
those science men study animals, and
find that when the climates frigid all are
In their furs, and when the air is warm
the head is bare and the neck and arms
ain't covered up. And I'm sure that IL
what Mr.. Stanley tells us about those
terrible immodest creatures In Africa is
true, they just take off all their clothes
when the weather Is very hot. Perhaps
II an Eskimo went to Africa furs and all
his morals and his modesty might be very
much changed from what he does in the
cold. But there. perhaps I'm saying more
than quiet single woman ought to-
Well. / want to tell you just how II all
came about that j was led to see IL this
way. because If you ever come here and
see me marching about with those laces
and fringes and silk things. why II wasn't
my choice. l was driven to it-yes.
driven.
Gladys mother said to me in London.
"Sabrina, you're a dear, good creature;
won't you just take my little girl over to
Paris with you for the winter and take
care OF her"
Now, Gladys isn't little; she's five feet
eight, and stands half head over me.
And Il isn't an easy thing 10 take a
kittenish young girl all around with you,
because it's real troublesome to watch
them when they are flying around like
the kittens after ball OF yarn and then
Lnere's the balls, and the bouillon to be
drunk hot afterward, and all the little
wraps and fixings, to say nothing OF see
ing that they don't sit In the conservatory
with the wrong man. But | said yes,
because Gladys uncle was a great friend
OF mine when we were young people.
Some did say we were lovers. Well, over
TO Paris we went. While we were cross
ing the Channel Gladys said to me.
cousin Sabrina, / wish / had one OF
those sweetly pretty petticoats that wo-
man hast Another girl told me II was so
ell fnr
YOU. when YOU travelled" There was a
little French girl, with frizzy hair, and
great big black eyes on deck, and she had
her gown lifted up a bit. There was
little lace fiounce that hung down.
I said: Hush, child! It's much better
TO have long one like ours
But all the same thought, "Well, that
does look kind Of nice"
When we got to Paris II was raining
Ike all possessed, and we didn't see mucn
that afternoon. But next day we went UP
near that big church. the Madeline, TO see
the Mace Concorde and do little shop
pipe. II was raining still a little mite,
but a lot Of people were In the streets.
Everywhere was the sticky, yellow mud
that Is ali over the bouievards when the
STOW and rain comes down.
Presently Gladys said to me- LOOK at
NV gown. IL is DOIIiu IL nao' oNt
enough, and so was mine, with great yell
low splashes over them. But L sald,
"We'il hold them up" So we did, ana
there were the underskirts all splashed'
too. and as wet as wet could be. JUST
then a slim young thing came along the
sidewalk. I don't know how they man
age, but they just pick up the nounces
and fal-lals in a bunch In one hand, KIM
OF shake them out, and away they CO.
like sailing. She looked at us, nttle
contemptuous, / thought. and turned on,
and there we saw-well, yes. 1t was legs'
no mistake And pretty legs they were.
tool Just like those you write about.
with dingle dangie laces and things, and
lots of pretty colors.
Gladys stood still, and, "Oh, how aw-
fully jolly!" said she.
GLADYS, don't look" said I. Because
there was dapper little Frenchman
standing at the corner, looking hard at
her. She's real pretty, with pink cheeks,
ard big, blue eyes. and such childs
face when she looks at you.
"Anglalse," said the little man TO big
fellow with him. and then they both
stared hard at us. and our clothes and
shoes.
cousin, I'll cry In few moments II we
stay here" said Gladys. Poor child!
There we were in that Rue Royale. The
rain had stopped, and lots OF people had
come into the street. There were women
and girls, and all of them had their petit
coats lifted up as high as high.
Laces and friDges. and big and little
founces, we saw them all. And such col
ored stockings, and pretty little boots,
as I never saw before. IL was just like
a flower garden all along the Rue Royale.
And how could guardian, as they call
their queer policemen, arrest lot OF
walking flowers? They went along bend
ing and bowling. and showing all the reds
and greens and puppies, like the garden
In a hard blow.
And there we were in yellow. muddy
shoes. and heavy. long cloaks and gowns
and skirts. We got I'm cab and went
back to our hotel. Gladys sighed. Dear
dear what shall we do?"
"Cut em shorter" said I. So we sent
for a woman, and she fixed them. But
the yellow stains would not come out
When we went to the Bon Marche.
Gladys went right over to the skirt coun-
ter.
II want TO see what those jolly things
are like" she said to me. smiling sad.
So the man talked and chartered, and
showed us about fifteen different kinds,
and he told us In their ridiculous Ian
Rudbt tHdl lHcy put lioSc bAiSi dSh
trimmings up so high because the ladies
could, when It rained. make their robes
walk well out OF the unhappy difficulty"
Isn't IL a shame to waste words SO? He
means the vile, yellow mud by difficulty"
said to Gladys.
They were pretty no use In denying II.
All pink and red, and yellow, and green,
with little finicky Fittings and quillings.
and lace things going up and down and
all Rund. But, lands!" said to Gladys.