Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-03-07
FIFTY MIsFIT CARRIERS.

A remarkable thing happened in con
nection with the organization of the
Circle of the Golden Garter in the cor
set factory in Shelton, Conn.,, last week
The girls employed there are interested
in secret societies, and it occurred to
one of them to organize an association
with a secret ritual, signs, grips and
passwords. She consulted her fellow
employees, and they all agreed to join
it. After work, one afternoon, they got
together and signed a constitution,
nearly fifty names being secured. 1t
was proposed to meet for organization
last week, when the originator Of the
circle was to submit the ritual and the
ietails. The question of a badge was
brought up at this meeting and, as it
was thought best to have the badges
ready to give out on the night of insti-
tuition, the question was settled then
with little difficulty. A golden garter.
made of silk, was adopted with unani-
nifty that was surprising, when it is
considered that all were young women.
One of the charter members is con.
sidered an expert with the needle, and
to her was given the contract for fur
pishing the carriers. She purchased a
large quantity of the material-how
much is not made public-and set
at work on the carriers, and kept
at it industriously for several even
ings. On the night of institution the
garters were ready and the contractor
took them with her to the place of
meeting. Before the meeting was call.
ed to order one ofthe girls, pretty and
plump lass, proposed that they take
look at the new badges, as il would
save time after the meeting opened.
The idea met with approval and the
packages of carriers were opened and
passed around, each one of the fifty
girls taking one only one was to be
worn, on the rig bit leg-and examining
the workmanship. This passed inspec.
ton and the maker was complimented
on her skill. Then one of the girls,
bending down, said she would try one
of the garters on Just for fun. She I'M
buckled it, passed it round her leg just
below the knee, gave look, grew rosy
in the face tugged triae, looked
around and stood up again.
"What's the matter, Mamie ?" asked
one of the girls who were watching her.
Nothing, only that garter isn't large
enough for me-" said the young wo
man. please hand me another"
1t was passed to her and again she
bent down. The rosy cheeks grew reddtr
and redder as she tried to clasp the two
ends together. She threw the badge ofthe
order on tile floor in a pet and walked
into an adjoing room, where she con-
ferred for few minutes with the orig
inator of the circle. That young
woman came and remarked that it
might not be bad idea to try on the
garters and have each member select
one that would fit. The suggestion
was approved, and then began a re-
markable scene. Forty-nine cookbook
ing girls, none over twenty-three years
old, all bright and interesting, sat
down on the floor, put their feet upon
chairs, stopped down, or assumed some
other convenient position for putting
on the carriers. There were numerous
elaCul6llOUS VI MOuUCi ou0 SUI piioS,
while an occasional word of deeper
meaning could be heard above the hub
bub. At last something happened.
One of the leaders threw her garter
across the room and cried. Then an
other said something about scandalous.
Another mentioned broomsticks. There
was general cessation of buckling on
carriers and each looked at the other in
surprise. II
"Say, Kittie," one of the girls said
finally to the girl who had taken the
contract to make the carriers, did you
make the badges all of the same size ~
"Why yes didn't think to vary them"
"Wel!, do they fit your legs?7
eyes: 1 made them by one of mine"
"Well, then. you can wear 'em. There isn't
one in the lot that will fit anybody else, and |
as for me, Pm proud of it, and tears came
into the speakers eyes as she made dash for
her hat and cloak and started for the door.
This WAS the signal for the dispensing OF the |
crowd. In ten minutes nobody was left in |
the place but the girl who took the contract,
and she had fifty handsome yellow silk gar
ters in box which she did not know Whist to |
do With.
The Circle of the Golden Garter hasn't or
ganized yet and its prospects arc mighty
-slimmer than certain other thin legs.
l.l1ot;nc 81, TT G O..