The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-06-17

diminish the apparent size of the waist.
This may be so. Men do not always un-
derstand such things. 1t certainly adds
to somewhat aggressive air Of independ-
ence which finds its birth in the length
of her stride. Novissima strides in (from
the hip where men and wom-n fear to
tread. In the evening simplicity again
marks her dress. Always close -fitting-
always manly and wholly simple. Very
little lewelry and close-ftting hair.
Which description is, perhaps. not tech
nical. Her hands are steady and some
what in evidence. Her attitudes are
strong and Independent. indicative of a
self-reliant spirit. With mild young men
she is apt to be crushing. She directs
her conversation and her glance above
their heads.
Prettiness is one OF her pet aversons.
Novlssima is. by the way, not pretty her
self. She is white. Pink girls call her
sallow. She has long face, with DIS
contented mouth, and nose indicative
of intelligence. and too large for feminine
beauty. as understood by men. Her
equanimity, like her complexion, is I'M
assailable. One Cannot make her blush.
1t is the other way round. In conversa-
ton she criticises men and books freely.
The military man in the object of her
deepest scorn. His intellect, she tells
one. is terribly restricted. He never
reads-Reads. that is. with a capital.
For cllrates she has sneaklng fondhess
"a feminine weakness too deeply in
grained to be stamped OUT in one genera
ton of advancement. Literary men she
tolerates. They have probably read Some
OF the books selected cut of the ruck for
her approval. But even to these she talks
with an air suggestive of the fact thatshe
could tell them thing or two if she took
the trouble. Which no doubt she coul d.
Novissima's mother is wholly and meek
Nv a. hun, n nha
spectacle lady's attitude is best described
as speeches.. If she opens her mouth
Novissima closes IT for her with toler-
ant laugh or a reference to some fictional
character with whom the elder lady is
fortunately unaoquainted. "Oh, moth
toned. Eyes, but she is hopelessly be-
hind the times, you know" That set
ties Novissima's mother. AS for her
father-a square built man who is little
deaf--he is not either of much account.
Novissima is kind to him as to an ami.
prim, and takes good care, in her jaunty
way, that no deleterious II ction comes
beneath his gaze. "He would not I'M
derstand it. poor old thingl" she ex-
plains. And she is quite right. Young
Calamus, the critic, has had better edu-
cation than Novissima's father. he
knows half dozen countries. their IAN
guages and their literature. And he does
not understand NONlSolHld liOe'oh' ~
world is apt TO take Novissima at her
own valuation.
When she makes statement-and
statements are her strong point-halt the
people in the room know better, but
make the mistake OF believing that they
must be wrong, because she is so positive.
The other half know better also, but are
too wise or too lazy to argue. There is,
of course, moral to the sketch. Novis-
sima, after speaking Familiarity to Gala
mus for years, ut length meets him at
country house, and displays the treasures
of her intellect to captlvate him. GAIA,
mus is interested and thinks that she VIII
| do we'll for side character in his new
| book. That, he reflects. is her position
| in real life. "She is not like the rest,
| but it is the rest we fall in love with and
marry, He..regards her merely.as prod
uct OF cheap education, proving nothing.
| In due course he marrles. Novlssima Is
shocked that he has thrown himself
away but he is quite happy So too Is
his wife. 1t is only Novissima who is
not contented. She has tried to prove
| that woman's mission is something high.
err than the bearing of children and
bringing them up. But she has failed.
| Now, of course, all this Is whimsical
and seems a bit hard on the new young
person who has undertaken to grow
against the traditional Egrain, but then i
is but part of the great hard world
| give and take.