Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-10
Pointed Toes.

Pointed Toes.
The following article appearing under
the above caption in the Omaha Chron-
icle Of the 9th ult., is reproduced in
this paper by reason Of its literary
merit, and for the further reason, that
Its author, Miss Dollis Maple, has been
a resident Of Custer since early child
hood, where she enjoys the highest
e&esm Of all of her acquaintauces, all of
whom will be pleased to note the high
standard of literary talent displayed in
her maiden effort in this direction.
Miss Maple is at present, and has been
for years, a pupil in the Sacred Heart
Academy, Omaha, and ranks with the
most popular young ladies of the ad-
vanced classes of that famous education
al institution:
1t was dreary September evening
the rain was falling in a slow, persistent
drizzle, while the wind was bowling
furiously making mimic fire works of
the red autumnal leaves, so profusely
scattered over the gravel walks. l was
sitting before the CRATE, reading but, as
the shadows gathered | laid my books
aside, and dreamily gazed into the
glowing embers. Ny thoughts soon
took most peculiar turn. Suddenly l
found myself in a quaint foreign town,
standing before an immense building,
on the front Of which was placarded the
following strange sign:
Opening Session of the Great Inter
national Congress"
l entered, and to my amazement /
was confronted on all sides by twins
clad in leather. and Of such shapes and
sizes The different groups bore no
family resemblance, save in their ge-
neric name shoe" To my right, l
beheld sandals Of all ages, while to my
left were the martial boots worn in the
time of the first Napoleon.
Higher up, erectly stood a wrinkled
pair of sturdy boots marked George
! Washington's own" before which,
/ instinctively bowed in reverence. On
turning saw directly in front of me a
veritable congress Of diversities Walk
ing shoes with great broad toes, indoor
shoes with square. fat heels, and nearby
stood numbers of dainty French high
| heeled slippers then came the rounded
I tpSS oht ACbS hA4S ASOC
conspicuous, were the pointed toed
/ delegates who seemed. as they were
| quickly wheeled about, to cast disdainful
glances upon the less pretentious. All
seemed to be in great excitement. Con-
fusion predominated over order, and
each leathery sole made vain efforts TO
be heard above the other. The congress
had evidently developed into a contest,
| 20 Itnh ka ~
: popularity. DO you not know that we
are undeniably the most ancient promo
tiers of comfort, if perchance not the
most showy? l contend that as a
staunch protector of the human sole.
man has no older. truer friend than the
sandal The first in the old world 10
mark the progress of man, the first to
imprint the footsteps of the missionary
in the new: here a glance was turned
10 the dainty French heels which were
perched up near by, and seemed to be
gazing Tuefully on the inclined plane
between them aud their extreme limit
the toe.
Why" quickly exclaimed the French
delegates, ''it is not to be disputed that
We are superiors in social position. We
move in courts, at royal bidding, trip in
the mazes of the dance, tread in state
on coronation days, at the movements
of queens. Who can deny our suprema-
cv in the slippery world ?" continued
the naughty Partisan representatives.
The broad heel and square toe listen.
ed unmoved and when they thought
their worldly companions had ex Exhausted
the limits of their own praises they
calmly and deliberately spole:
% oh htr Ia
who have good common sense and al
though our fat"
Yes" interrupted the pointed com
mlttee; yes, that is where We eclipse
you all; you are all too flat, and 20
stumbling about while We come to the
point. Dear relatives and friends do
you know that this is the age of points
1t is the point which is most appreciated
in any story; what a sorry thing is a
pointless argument; what is even Joke
without point? But l suppose it is
needless TO argue with you, as you could
not appreciate the point, were il ex
planned to you. Bat, my friends with
broader soles here present should have
sufficient breadth of understanding 10
comprehend in manner my argument.
How can you dispute about popularity,
1 HCh dul ptCsCnl w nlt tuG uOlc
| world is in a fever of admiration over
my slender proportions and shining
points. The yc!ce cs the people pro-
claims my supremacy In popularity.
True, my fellow delegates you have each
in turn been popular, but not to such a
degree as we. have you received the gay
worlds applause"
During this argument the simpler
4 aolo ~ ell -,
now there was movement, and one, 9
little blunter and mere stupid looking
than the other raised his heel and spoke
ave are bound to admit your superb
ority in some respects, but we. too, are
bound to declare that you are puffsd up
with pride TO your extreme points. You
have even become insolvent in your
criticism on our bluntness and have
provoked our patience TO such an extent
that we are determined to stand your
impertinence no longer, and yet you
boast OF your polish you are always
ready to see point our horizon is more
extended. We seek to do good to
others, not to inflict torture upon them
to uphold man, not to trip him. IL is
useless, however, for me or my fiat, un-
calmly companions to argue with such
narrow minds. but, when you are de-
throned and others occupy the place
which you now SC arrogantly fill, will
you then see the point2
After the loud applause which follow
ed and order was again secured. deep,
solemn voice was heard proceeding from
the Washingtonian boots:
"lfthe laurel of popularity must be
awarded to our pointed delegates il only
shows, my friends. to what point the
world has come"
| At this last remark I was suddenly
startled and on becoming fully aware
again Of my surroundings found l had
been doing, and already it was growing
late. The embers had almost died out.
Al stopped to pick up my books which
had fallen at my feet. smiled 40 I saw
nv own pointed toes reflected in the
DYING embers' glow.
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