Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-06-23

0eTpooi was that she had an lntem-
perate appetite for happiness. She
took TO dancing slippers as naturally
as other folk take to goloshes or walk
ing boots. She sank a. readily as
other folk sigh. She discovered a
chance for frolic with the same en-
thusiasm that others found an oppor-
tnnity for work
No one ever claimed that she was
of any use. and she certainly never
made any such claim herself II
never occurred to her that she could
be useful. aud she often reflected that
in a world so swarming with useful
persons as this appeared TO be--if one
judged by the self-piaced estimate OF
these persons-there was plenty OF
room for ons blIssful creature OF
non-utilitarian sort.
All of the other members of her
family were industrious. and several
of them were wise. They won distine-
ton along commercial and inteliec-
tual lines, were noted for their phil
anthropies, and were solicited to lend
their names To causes They were
associated with nearly all OF the lead
Ing benevolent enterprises OF the city.
Now, IL is impossible for any seeing
and hearing person TO go about Chi
cago without becoming aware OF the
fact that large number of the citi-
zens OF this busy town are not having
good time. Even Marie observed 1t.
She saw children with old faces. and
men with despair looking out OF their
eyes. and women nervous and crushed
under a burden OF toll She saw homes
coats that hung In rags from the
shoulders that supported them. And.
what was equally pathetic. she noticed
that many persons worked so hard TO
silence ''the VOLTS long howl that
they had no heart for pleasure.
III ~ as likely as not" said Marie.
TO herself. that they have never dis
covered how 10 be happy" And she
felt vast commisseratlon for them
No, TO be happy, /, was fearful-or
II was stupid,
IL CHANGED that on one occasion there
was certain festivity at settlement
house in one OF the most crowded and
I poverty -strlcken parts of the city, and
that Marie was Invited 10 90. 1t was
not. perhaps. just the sort OF thing she
would have selected. but as there was
nothing else doing that evening. for a
: wonder. and as she had no mind to
SIT down with a book. she concluded to
( go. She was = good deal puzzled to
know what TO wear for she was partie-
/ ular about the proprieties. but she hit
upon costume at length that seemed
TO be neither too plain nor too fine.
She surveyed herself with pleasure. 1t
was pleasant 10 have large and brill
liant brown eyes. mass Of Maynard
Roiden hair, snow white neck and
I shoulders. nodded with tender and
abundant grace. and mouth that
smiled with more merriment than the
common run Of mouths
Z But what Marie saw at the settle
/ ment was calculated 10 make her for
/ get. for once. tho appearance of which
/ abe WAS SO proud. She even forgot TO
( be resentful because some of the peo-
+ pie she met were serious. For the first
I time she found herself face TO face
I with the serious problem of life--for
/ the first time dim notion that life
I was given TO be used. struggled up
/ through her consciousness. She found
women as well born as herself. and
much better educated and trained. de-
/ voting their lives to others-and there
/ fore to themselves. since In the ex-
! penditure of life In service comes the
I best development. This type OF
/ womanhood was new to her. She hal
/ been acquainted with many who pa
/ tronized charities and benevolences.
| but here were women who found 1t a
/ privilege to express life in terms OF
/ love. Moreover. she found the neigh
bors" who came to the settlemen.s
/ interesting in the extreme. Here was
+ a whole library of human documents.
/ so to speak. awaiting her perusal She
( looked In the faces OF the girls. seri-
/ GUS before they should be so. showing
/ the signs of close confinement in stores
/ and sweating shops, and binderies and
| tobacco factories. and Il seemed to her
as If she must pour sunlight into their
/ lives from the abundant source of II
within her own heart.
But ] could do nothing" she said
/ dejectedly. to one of the residents. Il
/ should ONLY he in the way
81 don't think you could be in the
way anywhere. Miss vanderpool." the
lady had replied. gently ''if you
would Just come here and laugh for us
occasionally. as you know how. II
eeems TO me 1t might be an Invaluable
! service"
Marie laughed then involuntarily
and at the blrd-lke, joyful note doz-
! en- persons turned around with sym
| pathetic smile upon their faces.
The next night there was dancing
party at the house of a friend OF Marie.
She went to II as eagerly as II 1t had
been her first ball and she was love-
ly sight in her white gown with Its
silver lilies of the valley woven In the
| mesh and her necklace OF turquoises.
Il