The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-11-08
a Question OF Dress.

When Christine Wallis Uncle John
was going back to New York last
summer ne said to her: "Coax your
father to bring you and Laura up to
town some day. I will drive you out
to the park and we'll take luncheon at
Blanks" naming a fashionable res
taurant.
Christmas eyes sparkled. "That
would be delightful Indeed, we will
come, uncleP'
The Wall girls had a few amuse-
ments. Their father was mechanic
in country town, with a limited in
come. But he was glad to bring any
possible pleasure into their lives, and
when he heard of his bachelor brother s
invitation he promised his girls in
Christmas week to take them to New
York for the day.
"Just in time to see the city in its
holiday dress, said Christine laughing
with delight.
"But what shall we wear?" asked
Laura, anxiously.
"Our cloth dresses, OF course" said
Christine. -.
"ImpossibleT' exclaimed Laura.
"Why all the fashionable women in
New Yorl, 70 to Blanks s, and what
would they think Of these brown
frocks?"
"They would think nothing" said
Christine, "and if they did it would
not matter to u.s. She went on
quietly with her daily duties, Keep
ing the thought of the day in
New York to cheer her when she was
tired. 5s. .,,.....,.
But Laura was weighted down with
anxiety. She consulted every fashion.
able paper within her reach; she had
long consultations with the village
dressmaker. ..s5..l,a..,
She and her sister were able to earn
more or less money at certain seasons
Of the year by doing work at home
for a manufacturing establishment in
town. So she felt at liberty to incur
some extra expense in dress. After
much thought and hesitation she at
last discovered that certain color
was sas in vogue in Paris. She bought .
gown Of it, which she made in what
she supposed was the extreme Of
fashion, going in debt to the shop
keeper, the dressmaker and the mil
liner for . new hat, gloves, shoes and
q fine umbrella carried tie bills up toa
height which il terrified her to think
upon. sa
pear among fashionable, people in
New York unfashionably dressed" ," she
said. .,...
81 do not see why said Christine
' When the eventfdl day arrived and
the girls with their father entered the
great room at Blanks their Uncle
John glanced at Christmas plain
brown gown and hat with pleasant
smile. He knew nothing Of details,
but he saw that the dress was neat and
becoming. .i.t.
They passed to their table. Chris
tine was delighted with the pretty
room, delicate dishes, the gay groups
around her, but Laura could enjoy
nothing, Sc great was her astonish-
ment and chagrin. Notan eye rested
on her or her gown. These people are
all too busy with their own meals or
companions to notice her.
The waiter, indeed, who served her
like an automaton, observed her dress
and thought it loud and vulgar. But
fortunately Laura did not know that.
The day was one of continued morti-
fication to her. When she went
home her useless fnery remained,
and with it a a load Of debt, which
proved burden Of misery to her for
months.
When al last it was paid she said to
her sister, with laugh that was not
far from tears: "Ah, Christine, how
much worry and anxiety and money
would be saved to girl if she only
knew in the beginning how insigni6i,;
can't place she holds in the worldF'
The lesson Of our own insignifcance
is bitter and hard one, which some
men and women never learn. But
those who do find that it greatly sim
plifes the conditions of life and lifts
them above. all petty anxiety, envy
and jealousy.
The poor in spirit reach even in this
world the peace of the kingdom of
heaven.-Rebecco Harding Dauts, in
the Household.