The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-08
THE SMASHED ~,
MIRROR OF VANITY
A Test Of the Comparative Weakness
of Men and Women Before
the Looking Glass.

OnCOnSClOuSly bCTaUCnlnB mhtCheS vi Iio
frame Of the mo Smoking sign in tho
subway station the two men resumed their
discussion with fresh cigarettes. Half a
block away from the entrance to the tunnel
they had begun a debate as to the COM
p~arative vanity Of men and INT or
course they disagreed; otherwise, there
could have been no dispute.
The ono with the cork tip smoke was
sure that men were just as vain as women,
II not a little more 30. All Tobacco took
the other end Of it, but the matter didn't
become tangible enough to bet real money
on until All Tobacco had an inspiration. +
"You see that piece Of looking glass in
the door Of that subway chewing gum slot
machine, y he said. "Ill bet you a dollar that
more women than men stop to look In 1t
within the next fifteen minutes
an take you" said his companion, look
ing at his watch.
The count began right away when a
young man with one Of those corset effect
overcoats and a silk hat tripped down the
stairway and went straight to the slot ma
chine His outfit was brand new and he
was evidently wearing his first tall hat.
He fumbled at the punching rods OF the
machine like an expert piano player who
never looks at the keys, and SO got a good
quarter-minute look at himself while he
was securing the gum. Then be walked
down the platform, tipped the hat a little
further back, reached around his back to
pull the undercoat down a hitch away from
the velvet collar that had bulged out too
much and then walked back to the mirror,
This time he didn't even 60 through the
Formally OF investing a cent. 1t won first
blood for Cork Tip, who declared that the
silk hated boy should count for two men
because he had taken two looks; but the
maligner Of women wouldn't have it.
The next face reflected by that mirror
was that Of a man too, but just a plain
appearing Observation-Disclosures
sort of dresser who took a hurried glimpse
and whose only apparent interest in the
matter was to make sure that none Of his
breakfast was lingering in his mustache.
He was frank enough not to buy gum.
THAT wasn't a case of vanity. declared
All Tobacco.
But his friend unbent the second finger
from the fist he had selected for the
man side Of the tally and kept the other
hand doubled up without condescending
to argue the point.
Then came a woman. She was such a
sure case Of Exhibit A for All Tobacco
that she let a train with a lot of vacant
seats in il get away while she went to the
glass. Perhaps she really wanted gum,
for she fumbled in a near-gold netted purse
for a cent without finding one.
Then she took a good long front look,
stepped back for a full length, twisted her
head and got assurance as TO the hang of
the skirt on the right side, twisted the
other way about and got the left side and
then stepped aboard the next train, APP
parently satisfied with all the world.
she ought to count for three" grunted
All Tobacco, but only one finger sprouted
on Cork Tips other fist.
1t seemed to be his lucky day, for a man
came next, or at least a half-man, whose
interest was fairly divided between getting
chewing gun and the gentle spring time
of a new mustache.
That's not vanity said All Tobacco.
-It's only honest. boyish pride"
Three for me, p said Cork Tip, who gen.
erously offerei to call the bet of. mas
much as he had a sure thing.
The appearance of q woman, who had
chopper in a ribbon covered basket. sent
All Tobacco stock up a point. She looked
through a peep hole in the basket first and
spoke endearing words to the occupant.
Then she stood boldly in front Of the mirror
readjusted a necklace, took a tiny piece
of powdered chamois out of her hand bag
and touched the end of her nose and both
cheeks with It.
Il ought to win on that, II there isn't
another female face in front of that mirror
fora week" said All Tobacco.
You suggested this test yourself. Two
for you, three for me-
The next conner made it a tie. It was
a schoolgirl with a load of books, who really
wanted gum and got it. but she had one
quick look, too, n dashed across the plat
form for a train, Strengthening her hat,
1t was an even break. Cork Tip had his
two thumbs curled around his two fore
fingers to keep them down, waving three
fingers on each hand, and there was only a
minute left of the quarter hour
A dila pidated looking IN cam
the sta rs unsteadily. She had moth
ing on straight. The skirt was unlocked
behind, the hat was hanging by a strip Of
torn brim. a strand of dark hair was flying
loose, a broad strip of fresh mud extending
from one shoulder to the hem of the
showed that she had recently fallen
on the street above. The woman's
were red and she was muttering.
She saw the mirror and staggered
over in front of it. Both men lost interest
In the wager, wondering what would happen
next.
The woman looked for several seconds,
herself with a hand on the gum
box. Then the limpness seemed to 60 out
of her for an instant. She raised her arm
and with one blow sma shed that mirror
into a hundred fra gments.
That didn't count; the bets were declared
of.