Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-07-08
A VANITY BOOK.
Personal Record Keeping Whose Interest
Excuses Its Vanity.

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 fathers and mothers sides as
far as there was knowledge of it. Pho
tographs 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, a piece of her first colored
dress. Everything of whatever kind
that marked beginning found a per-
manept place in the Vanity Book, and
the story of the 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 in tie book.
There are so many tokens here that
are treasures, more valuable as they
grow older. The first invitation to a
party, the first theater programme, and
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 into
the hands of the girl herself, and she
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 now
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 or
daughter when some one writes "Finis"
to it for her? What would you not give
for such a book left you by your mother
or father? 1t would be worth more than
money.
There is great deal of pleasure to be
found in making such a book for oneself,
though if one begins it after childhood
he loses much that went into the little
ones book. 1t will become filled, how
ever. with the important things of life,
each making these for himself. 4 vani-
ty book is one of the best things in tho
world to show how ones ideas of values
change and how life's horizon expands.
1t records a life with some of those
which preceded it and gave il its bent
and those which accompanied and de
veloped it. Though it may be vanity,
it is yet vanity with lesson.-New
York Sun.