Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-01

servation and Imagination. He over
hears some chance remark in the street,
and from that with the help OF imagi-
nation he constructs character-even
an entire novel. I've worked on the
same lines. I've taken as my starting
point the little that remember of the
fashion papers and the shop windows,
and I've allowed my imagination to
play all around it."
He began to read the first sheet. 1t
was to the effect that the season would
soon be at an end, and that the au-
tumn would follow with its beautiful
foliage, and subsequently he and other
high-bred English girls would give
themselves up to round Of country
house visiting.
That's all very WELL" I observed,
'but it's not fashions"
"No; that's the introduction"
"Well, cut the introduction"
He turned over few sheets and read
as follows:
"In the meantime the park every
Sunday looks very gay and smart. One Of
the best dressed women that have seen
there lately is unqucstionably Lady Il
She wore coat and skirt OF Iris
Cuipurc of dull bronze color, wit
tabs Of cau-dc-nil silk bordcrcd wit
passcmcntcric. The same color was re
pcatcd in the accordion-plaiting on tn
porn-pom, AID the whole was sur
mounted by hat of vicux rose surah,
trimmed with skunk What do yor
think of that?"
IL must confess that it sounds just
like the real thing"
Quite so. And it's all imagination
Here's another bit: AN equally tasteful
confection was worn by o lady of q
rather more matronly type. The skirt,
cut after the present approved fashion,
was of pctunia face-cloth, shot with
bombazinc; this was suitably allied
with cape of Roman satin of some
what deeper tingc, edged with brown
Siberian dachshund, and having a
deep empire collar of amber velvet cut
V-shape.'"
did not care to hear any more. l
thought then. and still think, that it
sounded all right. Apparently it was
not all right, as the following extract
from n letter l received from Sale
maker two days later will show:
You will never see me again. 1t is
all over. The editor apparently showed
my copy to his wife, and has written to
ask me what l mean by sending a cow
ardly and offensive parody in place of
the work that he ordered. He has told
me to call and, if possible, explain. /
shall not do SO. do not think that |
can look him, or anybody else, in the
face again. feel that l am rightly
punished for my presumption. 1t was
wrong Of me, in my pride in my
own versatility, to have under
taken that thirteenth column. Every
thing is against me now. 1 went into
restaurant the other day, and there
was Miss Calling lurking behind some
tea and large bun. 1 dashed out,
jumped ON to a bus, and found that
the woman whose clothes l had so mis-
takenly attempted to sketch in the
park was sitting opposite to me. can
not escape from my unspeakable shame.
Fate reaches out long arm of coinci-
dence and collars me at every turn.
That attempt to write the thirteenth
column seems to have swelled up and
filed my entire life. Before the sun
has set shall probably find myself in
the same railway carriage ' 18th the
proud girl who sold me SO much elastic.
But / must risk that. England has
become too small for me, and / must
CO."
The remainder Of the letter was
purely personal. That week Home
Happiness announced that its fashion
article was unavoidably crowded out,
but would appear In the next number.
There never was q next number.
In the following week the whole of
Home Happiness was crowded out, and
1t never appeared again.
Meanwhile the friends and relations
Of Charles Backerton Shoemaker. are
getting very anxious, and any informa-
ton as to his whereabouts would be
thankfully received.
1.-THE ENp.l
Maternal Love.