The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-06-26
1T WAS CRUEL KINDNESS.

IL w <AO OhCE NDNESS.
Some things are all wrong in this
world sighed the girl in the black and
white hat, land 1 only wish had a con-
tract to set them straight
What would you do first ?" asked the
girl in the pink shirt waist.
do? I'd establish bureau for teach
ing young men how to select the right
kind Of presents for girls; that's what
I'd do
Him. Well. it wouldn't be a bad idea,
out l don't know that you would have
many patrons; most of them think thew
know just what we like and we haven't
the courage to undeceive them"
very true. l suppose, however, that
men who had been engaged before and
Wldowers and possibly men who have
sisters"
Nothing of the kind, nv dear. don't
you believe it. Men who have Sisters
will keep on asking them what to give
other girls while this planet endures."
ana those sisters will continue to
suggest articles which no girl would
never want or which cost as little as
possible" broke in the girl in the blue
blouse.
Il fear you are right" sighed the cir,
In the black and white hat. THAT mean
Eva told Frank-after 1 had been q
month working up to it-not to give me
a Jeweled belt buckle, as she was sure
wouldn't like to accept anything so
expensive. She advised him to give me
book OF poems instead! Oh, I'll get
even with that girl some day-if I live
long enough
You needn't, DEAR" said the girl In
the pink shirt waist. edwin has done
1t for you. What do you think he gave
her on her birthday"
"A birthday book, hope, Or"
An alarm clock. dear. I was there
when it came; it was fearful blow to
her hopes, for she knew as well as / did
that no man who had anything but the
most platonic feeling for a girl would
ever send her such a prosaic thing
I'm glad to hear it, said the girl in
the black and white hat. ooh, you ought
to see the things Fred brings Dora, now
that they are engaged; 1 believe the
chambermaid at his hotel selects them
for him. She is ashamed to let any one
see them, so she tells him she values
them so highly that she always keeps
them in cotton wool and under lock and
key
Yes, she truly loves him." sighed the
girl in the blue blouse, 'but what will
she do with those things after they are
married?'
Tell him the truth about them, SUD-
pose" said the girl in the pink shirt
waist; ut will not matter so much then.
you know. By the way did you ever
hear how I selected Charley's present for
myself and how
Il didn't know he ever gave you a
present." cried the girl in the blue
blouse; tell us all about it."
We'll, 1 never could be sure whether
he liked me or Fan best until one even
ing when we were both at her house and
it happened that she and 1 both men
tened the fact that we were dying for
a solid silver afternoon tea kettle. On
the way home he asked me to go with
him to the silversmith's the next day.
I agreed and asked what he wanted me
to help select, and when he told me a
tea kettle I was ready to die of joy"
Yes, how nice to let you select it your
self; then you would know just what it
costs, too" said the girl in the black and
white hat.
THAT was what I thought, too, and 1
selected handsome one, tell you I'm
sorry now 1 did,
"Oh, well, he can afford"
1T wasn't that, dear. 1t turned out
that it was for Fan-and, Oh, girls, she
gave an afternoon tea just to display it
there, too, and l had to smile Just as if
nothing had happened, when 1 only
wanted to deluge him with the hot
water"
TRILBY's AFFLUENT SUCCESSORS.
Trilby would stand amazed if she
could see what washing is in France
nowadays. 1t is we'll known, having
been attested by Mr.. Du Maurier, that
Miss O'Farrall was a capital blanchis-
seuse, but then washing was not in her
time what it is now. Machinery enters
largely into the laundry business in
these days.
An exhibition of laundering will prob
ably be a feature of the Partisan
Worlds Fair. Statistics have been gath
cred to show that each Frenchman soils
six and quarter pounds Of linen a week,
and that the total quantity of linen laun-
dered for year is 1850, 900, 900 pounds.
Adding to this the washing for the res
taurants, eating houses and hotels the
entire quantity is 5000, 100000 pounds.
The cost of washing 100 pounds of
linen has been estimated roughly at 10
francs, or ST. and therefore laundries
in France each year earn 100000, 900
francs, or $4,000 900.
1t is not an unhappy lot, therefore, to
be a blanchisseuse even nowadays, par
ticularly when it is recalled that these
women have their perquisites, the most
important one of which is the queen
ship of the mid-Lent carnival of Paris.
A regular election takes place each year
for this honor and the young woman
chosen not only has to be beautiful, but
she must submit authenticated proofs of
her good character.
In France 24,00O000 francs, or nearly
S., 900, 0O0,are spert annually for wash
ing soda; A, 900, 900 francs or 50, 900, 900 for
ing, and 5000, 900 francs, or 100000 for
flle1.