The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-03
The american
Eagle MUS& 60.
BENJAMIN Franklin Was Opposed to His Adoption as me
National Emblem

| to crack as she walks, but who because
~ her great wealth is invited every
whore. persists in wearing the lowest OF
low bodices and natural flowers in her
bairi She is one of the women who
didn't understand how to grow old grace
fully. With years have come an accu-
mutation of folly, and this poor old
wretch-for with all her wealth, she de-
serves pity-makes herself laughing
stock. is a deaths head at feast, and
vet the people who know her best and
care for her most do not dare to hint to
her that she is dressing over 90 years too
young.
I don't read Greek, but have seen no
end of pictures of Grecian ladies, and,
though the costumes were as artistic as
the Anthony Comstock Of that day would
permit, still in not single one Of them
can I find a woman who looks over 30
years old. Now, what did they do with
their old women? Evidently they did not
permit them to dress in Greek fashion
and sit on benches in artistic attitudes.
What a pity some of those people who
are always digging antiquities up can't
get hold of real Greek, a Greek Of the
time of long ago, put life into him and
induce him to tell how the elderly Gree
clan lady dressed!
This sounds disrespectful to old age,
but it isn't meant to be so. There is
nothing so beautiful to me as the woman
who respects herself and who, being a
great grandmother, doesn't display a
large portion of the upper part of her
body to soothing multitude. For the
women who insist upon doing this it can
only be said that, having no respect for
themselves they cannot get it from other
people. The fat woman looks like a
food exposition, and the thin one looks
like an umbrella frame. If you have
any doubt as to the truth of what | am
saying, compare one of these improperly
dressed old women with an elderly Qua
keress, or even think of her and then
think of the dignified woman of many
years who wears rich but handsome
clothes suited to her years, and her posi-
ton in life. Until the elderly lady Dress
es properly she need expect no consider
alton. but / do wish that she would
think over how she might look if she
would.
Do you ever wish? Do you remember
that Swedenborg said, MAN, beware of
that which thou wishest with intensity.
for it will surely come unto thee| |
was at wishing well this summer, and,
remembering this, l got frightened and
concluded not to wish anything very
much for myself, but to do lot Of wish
ing for other people. Here are my wish
es and here are my answers:
l wished that might have new pair
of shoestrings. got them.
/ wished that might have some new
silk stockings. I got them.
wished that / might have birthday
cake. I got it.
/ wished that women were more loving,
children more polite and men less selfish.
/ don't know whether that's come true
or not yet.
/ wished that somebody would write
some good books, books that would be
books that would be bright,
without nasty ideas for the plots. / got
a few of these, but / am still sticking to
Dickens, Thackeray and Kipling.
/ wished that the girls might get all
the pretty clothes they wanted and their
fathers be willing to pay the bills. The
returns from this wish have not come
in yet.
wished that men wouldn't be so
snappish when you asked them why they
never reached the house in time when
they were to take you to the theater.
This wish seemed to go to the very bot
tom of the well and will probably be
found when truth is discovered, or else
/ didn't wish it with enough intensity,
for I am still waiting for the answer.
Then I grew selfish and wished that /
might hike everybody and everybody
might like me; that could learn to turn
frisky horse without the assistance of
a small boy when there were three other
women in the carriage, and that I could
have all the books and pictures and pref
ty babies and nice dogs in the world.
Out of regard for the people with whom
/ live nothing has been heard of this
wish. Curious, isn't it? Bah.