Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-04-21
A VANITY BOOK.

Personal Record Keeping Whose Interest
Excuses Its Vanity.
In the beginning ones parents must
be the authors, or if the parents will
not then some devoted aunt may win
for herself the warmest thanks in years
to come. When Hearts Delight came
to earth some 10 years ago, a substan-
tial volume was bought to be her book.
Into this went first the genealogy OF the
family on father and mothers sides as
far as there was knowledge of it. Pho
tograplls of great-great- grandparents,
grandparents and parents were inserted.
The wedding dress of the paternal
grandmother was shown by small
piece, and the maternal side was rich
with bits of the wedding dresses of
mother, grandmother and great-grand-
mother. Photographs of father and
mother at the time Of their marriage
and when Hearts Delight was born
were also added To these were added
one of the house and the room which
the little maid made blessed by her
coming. The announcement card went
in and letters written for her welcome.
Mamma wrote description of the won
der, and papa took her photograph.
All this was for the beginning but
as months went on there was more to
chronicle. Baby's ways, the coming Of
her first tooth, her first word and when
it was spoken, when she began to creep
and then to walk-all these were re-
corded. Into the book went, too, such
treasures as the first sock, the first lit
/ tie shoe, piece of her first colored
dress Everything of whatever kind
| that marked beginning found per-
manent place in the Vanity Book, and
| the story of tho child's life may be read
| therein.
AS the child developed the character
| Of the items naturally changed. When
| she went to school, her early efforts sup
| piled more material, sometimes in the
| shape OF school work and sometimes as
stories Of childish temptations or griefs
and joys Hearts Delights first letter
| is entered III the book.
There are SO many tokens here that
| are treasures, more valuable as they
grow older The first invitation to 6
| party, the first theater programme, anc
| with this are other programmes OF
those things which have impressed the
| child. Her first party dress, of course
was shown in the book. Throughout the
book are photographs Of Hearts De
light herself as she grew toward girl
hood and Of the girls and boys who
were her friends
Long ago the bookmaking fell int
the hands Of the girl herself, and sht
adds to it all that points to the story
she is making Everything of pleasure
OF special benefit in her life, is to be re
called from this book, and even nov
she prizes it above all her possessions
What will it be to her when she is SO
What will it be worth to her son O.
daughter when some enc writes "Finis'
to it for her? " hat would you not giv'
for such u book left you by your mothe
OF fathtr? Ii would be worth more thai
money.
There is great deal of pleasure to b.
found il making such a book for oneself
thoug., if one begins it after CHILDHOOD
he loses much that went into the littl
ones book. 1t Will become filed, how
ever, with the important things Of life
each making these for himself. a vani
t. beck is che Of the best things in tn
world to show how ones ideas Of value
change and how life's horizon expands
It records q life with some of thos
which preceded it and gave it its ben
and those which accompanied and de
veloped it Though it may be vanity
it is yet vanity with lesson.-Ney
York Sun.