The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-01-04


sell it,"
"Who?"
"Oh, students-medical students, and,
don't know, doctors, | suppose, Do
you know anybody you could get piece
of skin from?"
"Not Without their noticing it,"
Don't you know any medical stu
dents or young doctors?''
"Why, yes; rafts.''
There you are, then" said the maid
OF honor. "That's all you want. Tell
them to look out for a good piece for
you. There's lots of difference but T
don't know much about 1t, except that
backs are biggest. Come up to nv
room and I'll show you my piece.
She went lightly up the stairs before
me, dainty little Dresden shepherdess
figure in her lowered silk matinee and
lacy little petty pokes, and on the land
ing she turned her innocent, fower-like
face over her shoulder, so small, so fair,
of such white and pink purity. She did
not look like girl who would want to
carry grip covered with skin from
dead woman's back, but you can never
tell. L followed her into room, which,
like herself, had certain delicate Dres-
den china effects.
She dropped on the floor beside the
chiffonier and pulled out of drawer a
large package and handed it to me. 1t
was wrapped in pink tissue paper.
"Open it," she said.
l unrolled it slowly and a broad piece
of firm, tan colored leather rolled out on
my lap. I.marveled at it's board-like
stiffness, its thickness and it's unllkeness
to anything suggesting human skin; and
yet it was human skin. 1t had been cut
away frorn dead woman's body.
"YOu see, it's a beautiful piece-so
smooth, and isn't it a fine colorP' said
the maid of honor. THERE'S enough
for small trunk. She must have been
immense"
81 think must CO." said, rising
quickly.
She scrambled to her little feet. The
woman's skin fell to. the floor and she
pushed it aside and stepped oyer it
lightly.
"Oh," said, stopping at the head of
the stairs, "whom do you get to make
up these things?"
"Shreve," she salu.
Half an hour later l was standing at
the leather counter of Shreve's. "Have
you any belts of skim" asked the sales
mans
"What kind of. belts do you wish to
see9"
II understood" 1 said, ''that human
skin was being worn this season."
sob, yes,'' replied the clerk, COM
posedly. "We're making up some hu-
man skin belts, but more purses and
card cases than BELTS"
Doesn't it make strong belts?"
''Yes, it's very good, strong skin.
Only there's been more of a demand for
purses. dare say there will be a call
for bets.' I
"You think it's going to be fashion
able, then?'
81 think So; yes"
"Aud purses and card cases--have
they been made for men or women2"
ooh, ladies, nearly always. You know
ladies' like such little oddities. We use
little silver or gold in trimming, or
8 me special design. We made up a
purse for young lady of the Red Gross
Society DOT very long ago and she wanted
it fastened with regular Red Gross de.
sign. 1t looked very neat"
"YOu could finish the skin, l sup
pose?"
The clerk hesitated. "You'd better
get your own skim" he sad. GWEN
have it tanned for you, OF tell you where
to take it 10 have it tanned ="
"Here in the city?"
"Oh, yes. There's man down on
Market street-Wegener, of the Visala
Stock Saddle COmpauy-Wh handles it,
and then there's leather company over
in Montgomery avenue, 40. 21S. think
they may have something to show you"
The man IN Market street, Mr.. Veg
ener, had nothing mad up in human
skin TO show me. He said he wished he
bad. he told me he could sell all the
purses and card cases and belts and
satchels he could make. He would like
few samples to put in his window.
The trouble was to get skin. He did
not think it could be bought. All be
had handled had come to him from
Shreve or had been brought in by young
doctors who wanted purses or belts or
something made up to give to their girl
friends.
He said he could not tell offhand just
how many orders he had filled in the
last wear. but it had been a good many.