Middletown transcript., 1904-12-10
~HYRZAl Thyrza! ThyF-
"a The first two calls we1e
delivered in the rising inhed-
tion-the last with an emphatic

NE "a The first two calls were
delivered in the rising intied-
Ill tion-the last with an emphatic
~ accentuation OF the first syllable
and a lowering Of tone upon the second,
for the person hailed gave heed. 1t was'
rich motherly voice that sounded thus
full and clear upon the mid morning air,
and startled young girl who was hang
ing ''wash" upon line stretched athwart
the garden.
But Thyrza was not engaged at that
particular moment in hinging flags OF
exquisite whiteness to the breeze OF that
luscious summers day. Nor were her
thoughts upon the emerald South Noun
tain, at whose foot nestled cozilv the
little village of Robesonia, or the distant
Blue Mountain OH the North OF the
charming valley-ever thing Of beauty.
Her protracted stay in the garden, long
after the contents OF her basket had been
spread upon the sagging rope, was due
to the perusal OF stray leaf from ladies'
magazine that had leaped the fence at
the impulse Of the wind. The caption
of a certain contribution on the ample
page had attracted her attention, and she
involuntarily turned over the leaf 10
see if the sketch was entire, and was
gratifed to find that it was not fragmen-
tary. but that its yalue-little or large
was all before her. However, at the
urgent call OF her mother, who wanted
the clothes-basket, Thyrza thrust the
partially read scrap into her pocket, and
hastened to the prosy tubs, diligently to
resume her inevitable Monday labor
But that night, in her own room, before
retiring, she thoughtfully scanned the
gift of Eolus, which bore in bold type
the title"The Secret Of Feminine Charms
1t was long before her pilowed head
sank into repose, for her thoughts rum
bled on with an almost audible clatter.
If Reba Litzenberg, Rose Raby, Madge
Kircher and Martha Scharff had seen
their chum poring over an article Of such
presumptuous caliber they would have
been unanimously agreed as to its appos-
iteness, for each OF them had on more
than one occasion given vent to the
exclamation, "Poor Thyrza !" while
thinking Of her unattractive face. And
the expression was sincere, for average
maidenhood is sympathetic and COM
passionate especially when the placid
waters of personal reflection are undis-
turbed by the ripples Of jealousy.
1t was only too true that Thyrza Trainer
wa. "as plain as a pike-staff, or even,
to quote that older coiper Of pat and
enduring phrase, Thomas Middleton, as
"pack-staff, if that be any palmer.
At least that was the verdict Of Thyrza's
girl friends, and must be accepted as
accurate, for is not the feminine eye tile
true criterion of female beauty?
Verify, nature was not in all psthesic
mood when she nodded the form Of
our heroine. She was dumpy Of figure
and freckled Of face her nose was en-
dowed with resistless propensity to
fatten itself against its background her
red hair was shocky and apparently
uncomfortable while her hands and
feet, evidently designed upon the law
OF the contraries, we're out Of all pro-
portion to the under-sized body. Then,
too-and it was fatal lack in the eyes
Of certain connoisseurs Of beauty-Thyrza
had no dowry.
1t is in vain to disguise the fact that
the love that laughs at locksmiths was
a factor in the philosophic sighings Of
Thyrza's sympathizers. No matter what
the era, be it that of Eden, or the dawn
Of the Twentieth Century Of the Epoch
Of Grace, love is potential and even su-
preme in mundane affairs. Each of the
quartette Of Thyrza's intimates was sus-
ceptible to the tender passion not
"deeply, devotedly, madly"-for they
were eminently sensible girls, but Rose
and Reba, Madge and Martha, had their
romantic fancies, and even poor little
ugly-featured Thyrza was not unimpres-
sible. Reba, the regal in form and man.
ner, had mentally enumerated the few
eligibles in the village, dwelling upon
their various excellences, yet uncon-
sciously focalizing her thoughts upon
Frank Dundore, newly graduated yo-
tary Of Esculapius. Rose found much
to admire in Fred Gerhart, the harness.
maker, but her thoughts would strangely
revert to the young physician. Madge
accepted the courtesies Of Valentine Ref
snyder, and Martha those Of William
Vessels, both store-clerks, but, alack-
a-day, fear that Doctor Dundore might
have had either of them for the asking.
And what about innocent little Thyrza?
Her sensitive spirit had never known
a period when she was not conscious
of her homeliness, and she had never
INDUCED the hope Of friendship deeper
and richer than that OF the quartette.
But if you ask whether she found some
thing akin to love stirring in her nature
! must candidly answer, Yes.
And why not? A higher law than
convention ordained that affection should
spring spontaneously in the female breast.
Social custom may indeed inhibit its
expression, and stamp as unmaidenly its
slightest evincement to the opposite sex
but to extinguish it were impossible. 1t
may be expedient sometimes to deny its
yearnings, though lover plead ardently
for acceptance, yet love will not be
crushed.
In other centuries women uncontrolled
by conventionality, dreaming fondly OF
some manly form, fancied that they
could inspire affection by means of a
mogic potion, but in this scientific age
the poor hope of SO futile an experiment
is denied them.
But what wizard touch lay upon the
magazine contribution that our Thyrza
studied by the lamplight-was it the
work of the seventh son of the seventh