Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-19

NfE\ \ sensation W II e n
" M the mercury 10
~ two s t y p n 8
81 around the zero
mark and all ma
ture. and great deal ,lat is not ma
ture. is covered with Is inches OF the
Icy ruld. but every bitter has it's sweet.
and | cant making any kick. | guess
tts fun for the small boy to fling their
Icy miSs!ies,- and We old rooStGrS ought
not TO forget that we We're youngsters
once; but to be knocked off your bal
ancc by a snow ball in your back is an
exhibition Of playfulncss. and an Illus
tratiOn of patience that S a triile hard
to manifest: but. as ] said above. It's
an ill-Wind that blows no good. and
shaut register any exhibition Of the
foOtDallcr'S ,prcrOg tive. OF course this
SNOW has its disadvantages and incOn-
Ncnenccs and We are forced to wade
about in our rubber boots, but then
there is the JOY of seeing the girls in
their boptces, and some without
bootccs. but clad in their bicycle foot
gear. Whilc others are protected with
leather leggins ana golf hosiery. and
there may be other kinds with which |
am not familiar ana Stili others in the
ordinary everyday black stockings.
but every last one of them in short
skirts. Now, | would like to observe
that this short skirt business; is u most
sensible action on the part OF my fair
feminine admirers ana | herewith at
tach my name ana seal as endorsing
the idea. | also wish to say that un-
I'll the snow Is all cleared away all mail
matter can be addressed me at the
corner OF CRANKY ana Main streets. ana
any one Wishing 10 see me personally
VIII lnd me at that place from 10 a. m
until dark Of each day was "A 1T
tie frightened at first when my atten-
ton was called to these short skirts.
al Inns .
rooms In the rear of the Atlantic Hotel
nnd nondcrcd ovcr ;h" matter VERY Sc
f!ously. Finally it dawned upon me
that the idea was very sensible. and
bracinS up Win four fingers of Wills.
key ana honey shyly vcnturcd out
on ne corner again. came near
iaintinG once or twice but at last I
got used 10 Il, ana | don't expect TO
do any more work until this snow is
gone.
had my picture taken the other day.
suppose every one who has given this
Inatter any thought judged as much
from the paragraph in last Sundays
letter and the accompanying cut, show
ing my likeness. 1t wasn't The first
time had been Photographed. but it
was the last. don't know that it will
be the last, However. ! would not care
much. for it is no picnic To have ones
photo made ana the results arc moi al
ways pleasing particularly If il is IA
good likeness and YOU don't happen TO
be pretty. rs funny. this thing of be-
ing Photographed. and embarrassing
too. to a bashful old man like myself.
and then some mean minded person is
certain 10 say Connected old thing"
on walk into the phOtoGra piers Of
nee or waiting room, on Vcstibulc. or
whatever ii lis called. and find IL fun OF
female FOLK. II takes about SIX women
- L.,
Tor the camera. and as there are gcner-
ally about half dozen ahead of YOU.
You become the Cyuusure OF some forty
pairs OF feminine peppers as you amblc
UP 10 the clerks desk and. with sick
~ grin. whisper. Yes. want my pic
ture taken" You turn red ana feel
mean ana rs YOU sneak = glance around
the apartment YOU think 10 yourself
what are these Siggling women laugh
ing at anyway! You don't see any
thing So amusing. but perhaps il you
could get :; look in the mirror a little
appreciation OF the ludicrous situation
would dawn upon Your disturbed
mental faculties. There are usually Il
pair of chairs in eVcy we'll regulated
gallery, so you shuttle off to some wall
space ana with hands in your pockets
and eyes focused on the ceiling. wish
you We're at home with Mama. Pres
emily the clerk, with the same old
smile he has used Il hundred years,
VIII want TO know II You want to ar
range your bald head and ut the same
time, ana With the same old grin, will
inform yon that your time is nearly ut
hand And you really imagine your
time had come to pass over the river
S;yN. You 70 TO the toilet-room and
walk in on a dozen -cheWers try
ing to arrange the patent bangs of
some yellow haired beauty You back
out ana decide that your hair don't
need any brushing ana swear to your
self that never again will you have
your photo made. not even to please
your own Wife. AT last you so back
into the shaded. screened lumber-room.
where fellow with dirty hands and
grin analogous 10 that of the clerk. will
fondlc your face with his great grimy
paws. The room is a perfect Noah's
ark and as you glance around You see
everything from IL miniature forest to
stuffed squirrel. Then YOU are
placed in a chair and the apparition be-
gins to talk. Hold up your chin "A lit
tie. look at tina; bird on the string. at
there. sun now. one second. there you
are. good And it is all over and