Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-10


tone Of the long Raglan or automobile
coat, and the soprano voice Of the
dainty little Elton. | believe Beth, Of
course; ] never doubted her save when
she tells me, when she is blue and
restless these long winter afternoons,
that Jacks absence from town has
nothing to do with it, ah then, |
doubt; but then every woman is privi-
Legged to use a little subterfuge where
the beatings OF her heart are concerned.
Every word of this Is true, Portia,"
she tells me. 1.-THE heavy, light cloth,
m-stitched, silk-lined Raglan coat,
turned to the little black cloth, fur
trimmed Elton from Paris and said I:
| am glad did not have to go out
yesterday afternoon. Do you know,
dear, | am beginning to actually blush
when j walk down the street--blush
for my own family. Alas to what we
have fallen. Do you know when first
came over from England, for 1t was
there | was born, never knew what IT
was to walk save from the field to a
Club House or from the train to a
suburban station, or mayhap with my
field glasses strung over my shoulder
aaunter about the field on racing days.
My place was on a coach, or on the
box seat OF drag, or sometimes hung
over the arm of swagger maiden; my
hgure was beyond reproaoh; was
well built and we'll scanned; no tailor
ever put me out for less than e12. % ut
alas now hide my face In grief.
am made to walk down the street on
clear bright days; | am made TO dis
figure my well-seamed front with
punches OF chiffon and lace or other
female fripperies, and alack ! alas one
day grew faint, / staggered, | nut
my hand to my eyes to brush away
what must have been a misty mirage.
Shades OF my early ancestors! Beau
Brummel forgive mel there before NV
eyes, standing In the full gaze of the
public in the vulgar glare Of a corner
shop window, were lunches OF INV
sisters, cousins and aunts, distant
relatives to be sure, nut still bearing
a family resemblance. There they stood
IN a row, ill-shapen, but brazsn and
bold, and each iicketed 81. 90, oh
The shame Of it. Such degeneraoy.
And the aristocratic automobile coat
sunk his face into his collar and wept
tears OF bitter modification.
THE little Elton sighed, 1T is sad,
sympathize with you, but bear up.
Your right position will be assured
soon. Go back to your native heath;
go back whsre you breathe the air OF
Victoria and Prince Albert, and drink
IN the fog OF aristocratic Trafalgar
Square. iEaa I'll
1.-THE Raglan heayed sigh and
smiled gratefully at the little cloth
Elton. 1t first began with the buttons,
he went on. las those huge, white
pearl buttons, eight Of them in
measured distances down the front,
Their resemblance to peppermint drops,
made me all the dearer TO the matinee
girls. Then they made me walk, and
was trotted out on all sorts Of days,
cold days, warm days, wet days and
snowy days. All | WINS even taken to
church and to the theatre. Then my
figure began to fail; they cut me badly
and my resemblance TO the Chinamen's
historic ahirt became more noticeable
as the days went by. From upper Fifth
avenue fell to Broadway, and from
Broadway TO Sixth avenue, and alas.
now even Second avenue boasts OF nv
presence. From athletic horsey girls
Of the haut monde l fell to the actress.
The actress who Haunted mo In the
lightest cream colors and the biggest
pearl buttons and always wore French
heals and ipsulted me with the presence
OF fluffy chiffon rufies. Then the shop
girl fell under my spell, and the maid
servant with q policeman beau hanging
about her, and the matines girl who
wore me with pockets stuffed with
candies and huge punches OF yiolets on
my left lapel, and ugh whits kid
gloves, |, who have never known but
the. touch OF the heavy Dent. All, i
little one, it is awful, and do you not
think that the blood curdles in my |
veins when i see my cousins walking |
about the street, my cousins built of |
fiimsy black brondcloth or cream |
oolored fiannell All! 1t is a disgrace |
to the family and my upper Fifth
avenue friends, and my coaching girl, |
to. whom | swore allegiance is slowly |
relocating me to the oblivion of the
third floor clothes closet.
The little Elton looked obeerfulIy
sympathetic. You suffer, i know.
but 1, too, have my woes. / was once
chic and iaunty and difficult, and Only
knew the air OF the Frenchiest and |
most exquisite establishments, and |
clasped only the lithesoire body Of an
aristocratic devotee OF Dame Fashion, |
My back was my pride, my smooth,
well-htting seamless hack; my revers,
daintily out and exquisitely trimmed,
were the boast of many a society
maiden. Now, alas My back is
wrinkled and shrunken looking, oftener
scanned than SEAMLESS. am baggy in
front and am cut OF any old piece Of
cloth that is too small to evolve any.
thing else. Egad why l have at times
been along coat out off. And oh! my
associates who have loved and
Rugged the slipping shoulders OF a
slender graceful maiden, now oftimes
wrap perilously tight about the 49,
bust measurement OF dame who tins
the scales at $50, and when shs takes
me to the mirror i blush for myself
and then for her, You have your
grievances. dearest automobile, but
this you can never sink toto be cut
from q remnant Ugh! Bargain
remnantsl oh, those Monday morn
ings when Sixth avenue is thronged
and q bare hand with badly manicured
nails and many brilliants picks up
skimpy remnant OF yard aud half
y gray broadcloth, marked down to
81. 10, and says to her fat peroxide
friend. what can one do with this; it
. beautiful cloth, but SO little of it''
a nd the nasal voice OF the blonde
friend answers, 1T Is just the right
quantity for an Elton and you can
make IT up yourself; II Is very easy
rue, the revers won't be- very large but
you can wear your lace boa. Alack
alas! your blood curdles, You SILVER
and blush and hope your COUSINS on
he other side OF the water will never
know Of your degeneraoy.' h
90 rd the Rual.s - kLn I.t4la Ek... |