River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-01-10
when she was as gay as a linnet.
And she was as fresh as a lark,


Never "a day but some minute
We met betwixt dawniug and dark"
Anon.
IT was her latest fad, perhaps the
most absurd--the wearing of
glasses. She had enjoyed the brief
pleasure of many voluntary and I'M
necessary experiences. She was
young, to be ure-preposterousiy
young to wear a gown that came TO
her ankles Her youth may be urged
in eNtenuation of her tendency to
indulge in caprices. That is if per-
functory explanation is desired. A
girl having an erect young form mold
ed in the president curves of gracious
womanhood, eyes the blue of ragged
robins and hair which. like that of
Miles Halpine's Jeanette, was
"A silken and beautiful snarer'
surely needs apology no more than the
wine of which Rosalind makes mention
in her delicious epilogue needs a bush.
She begged the family dentist to find
a place in one of her perfect front
teeth where he might insert gold, be-
cause it Cooked SO pretty" She had
taken up many new modes OF dress
perhaps because she looked well in
anything. She had gone through sue
cessiye stages of physical exertion So
cially considered -croquet. tennis and
other mild designations. She wore her
hair La Chionois, Ia Pompadour and
n Ia the Acknowledged damsel of the
land of the cherry blossom. When it
was just the thing 10 wear jaunty
glasses having a slender gold chain
attached 10 the bodice, or looped back
to merge itself securely in ones hair,
the chill Of exclusion possessed her.
She couldn't wear eyeglasses. Her
sight was too ridiculously good No
one would believe her-not even her
credulous mother for whom her daugh-
tcr's every whim was fresh delight.
But IL was too badl The glasses were
distinctly becoming. Mary McCrea
was 20 times better looking since size
had found il advisable to affect them.
They gave one a literary look-at all
events a look of aloofuess IAN air OF
distinction. Why wasn't she insight
ed. or near-sighted, or afflicted with
astigmatsm, or in any way so fash
Toned that a pair of rimless glasses adj
justed over her straight little nose
would add to her attraction? She
preached her difficulty TO her mother
I'VE put oil wearing glasses as long
as we could in our young days" re-
turned her coniidant we thought
doing so indicated age. My great
grandmother could thread needle
with hair from my head wien she
was TO"
The accomplishment of this veneer
able ancestor failed to interest Lorraine.
Apart from her fancy for fads she was
a very sensible girl, The remark OF a
famous wit and playwright TO GER
tain lovely lady might have referred
to her: For such a well-dressed WON
an you have really some sane ideas. "
She did the work of stcnographer In
law Office whore acumen and critical
Judgment were required Her pen-and-
ink and charcoal sketches found adj
mireI's and buyers The management
OF the household, while uominallv i'm
control Of her mother. lay in her own
slender, capable hands. And even the
neighbors admitted that the way She
kept her three small brothers on an
allowance remarkable chiefly for it's
diminutiye proportion. was extraor-
binary.
Il haven't been 10 the matinee once
since started saving to send Bobbie
to the Athletic club, She assured her
self. And as Cor gloves haven't
any! Sol thjnk-I'u buy cheap
pair
She meant glasses not gloves she
coiored guilty when the saleswoman
offered TO test her eyes,
Haven't Time" She explained, hasti.
~, She picked up a pair at random
They were rimless, iaunty, with slim
dangling golden chain She was quite
breathes> when She found herself on
the street with her treasure. When
she boarded the open car for home. she
adjusted the aids 70 vision She had puv.
chased, She fancjed everyone Uas
looking at her. As this impression
grew her air of studied noncbalauee ID.
came more profound. She bought an
evening paper. She stared hard at the
printed page, But the letters merged
in one purple blur. Even faces took OF