The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-09-28
NOTHING TO WEAR.
By William Allen Butler.

Of Mr.. Buffers young and romantic mind
she lived to pursue him until his death. and
no matter how bard he tr1sd to i've Gown
the fame Of having written this poem b
found It an absolute t~nposAhffty.
During Mr.. Buffers life he nevW eeama
uperictns himself Tor having psnnsd ths
lines Of Nothing to Wear" II . tina a.
In later years he became widely Houu q
account Of greater and far more SERIOUS
literary efforts. but y1ora kcHamsU efDg
70 MIN With q tenacity that vas painful -
Nj. Butlsr and amusing % hi fr1s1da
Sothing to Wear vas 21hszhad ansHy.
mousiy IN Harpers Magazine h ~, ana
the poem spranx into Immediate populsrfcy.
II vas not until several years AFTER h, M
neersnce That the author made known In
identity 10 dispute the claim Of an IN
sesfoE' 1t b here Given IN part:
Miss Flora McFimsey Of Madison suu.re
Has made three separate journeys to PARA
And her father assures me, each time 80
was there.
ma she and her fnend. Mra H.rrsa
mot the lady whose name 10 % famous
But plain Mrs b. without ruraanc, -
mystery,
Spent sx consecutive weeks, without stop-
ping.
In one continuous round Of shoppans-
shopping alone. and shopping together.
sNo 10y au1 N HI 3OII8
Of weather,
For all manner Of things that woman
can put
On The crown Of h1 head. or the sole Of
her foot.
Or wrap round her shoulders. or 1T round
her waist.
Or that can be sevsd %. or ptnned n, n,
laced.
Or tied on with q string. or stitched on
with a bow.
N front or behind. above or below:
for eonnets, mantilas. capes. collars. and
shawls;
Dresses for breakfasts and dinners. and
Dre'ss: to st IN, and stand In. and walk
Dresses to Dance IN. and nirt In. and talk
Dresses In which to DO nothing a. all.
dresses for winter. spring. summer aud
An Of them different In color and shane.
SIX. muslin. and lace. velvet satin ana
crepe.
Brocads. and broaacloth. and other ma
teral
Quite as expensive and much more ethereal.
In short for all things tina: could ever be
thought Of.
This same Miss McFlimsey OF Madison
Square.
The lase time we met was IN utter d.-p.fr.
eeoanse she had nothing whatever to
I should mention Just here that out Of
Miss F7ors's
Two hundred and nfty or SIXTY adorer.
I had Just been selected As he Who should
throw al
Tho rest In the shade by the Er.ciou. b.
On myself. after twenty Or thirty reIections, |
OF those fossil remains which she called her
affections"
And that rather decayed but wen-known
work OF art
Which Ms. Flor. persisted in styling her
heart"
So We were engaged Our troth had been
plLghted
Not by noonbeam or ssarbeam, By fcun- |
tain or grove
IN . front parior. most brilliantly
Beneath the gas nxtures. we whispered
Without any romance. O. raptrres. or sighs
Without any tears In Miss F7ora's blue
Or bushes or t~ransDorts. or such oily &C.
II was one Of the quietest business tr.nsao-
lions. |
With a very small sprtnki,ng Of sentiment |
any. i
And a very largo diamond imported By
Tiffany. |
~ ARs HaA4o a U = ~ Il
She exclaimed. a. a sort Of parenfhess.
And by way OF putting me quite at my ease: |
You know I'm TO polka as much rs I
please.
And nirt when I hk-no~. stop. don't you
SPEAK |
And you must not come here more han
twice IN the week.
Or talk to me either at party or bah.
But always be ready to come when I call; |
So don't prose to me about duty and stun.
II We don't break this on. there win b
time enough
For that sort Of thing; but the nnrx.in |
must be /
That; as long a. I choose I am perfectly
For this is q kind OF engagement, you sea
Which Is binding on you. but not binding
Well. having thus wooed Miss McFlfmey
N gained her. l
With the silks. crinolines and hoops that
contained her.
! had. as I thought, q contingent remainder
At least IN the property. and the best right
night:
And it being the week Of the s~.uckup's
grand ball
Their cards had been out a fortnight or
And set al the Avenue ON the tiptoe-
I considered IT only my duty to call.
And Sc II Miss Flora intended 70 70.
I found her-as ladies are apt TO be found.
When the time intervening between the
hrst sound
Than usuaiI found; I won't say-I caught
Intent on the pier siass. undoubtedly mean
ing
To see II perhaps II didn't need cleaning.
She turned a. ] entered-"why Harry. you