Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1908-11-27

My friend, Mr. Owens-shake hands
with Miss Danforth," said Lou.
I'm mighty glad to know you. Miss
Danforth," said Dan. with outstretcbed
hand. 1--WE heard Lou speak of you
so often"
Thanks" said Nancy, touching his
fingers with the tips of her cool ones.
i've heard her mention you-a few
times"
Lou giggled.
Did you get that handshake from
Mrs. Van Aistyne Fisher. Nance?' she
asked
If did you can feel safe in copy
ing it." said Nancy.
'Oh. | couldn't use it at ALL It's too
stylish for me. It's intended to set off
diamond rings that high shake is.
Wait till | get few and then III try
it,"
Learn it first" said Nancy wisely.
and you'll be more likely to get the
rings"
NOW. to settle this argument" said
Dan. with his ready. cheerful smile.
'let me make proposition. AS | can't
| take both of you up to Tiffany's and
do the right thing. what do you say to
little vaudeville? I've got the tick
cts. How about looking at stage dia-
monds since we can't shake hands
with the real sparklers?"
The faithful squire took his place
close TO the curb. Lou next little
peacocky in her bright and pretty
clothes: Nancy on the inside. slender
and soberly clothed as the sparrow.
but with the true Van Alstyne Fisher
walk. Thus they set out for their even
ing's moderate diversion.
| do not suppose that many look
upon Il great department store as an
educational institution. but the one
in which Nancy worked was something
like that to her. She was surrounded
by beautiful things that breathed of
taste and refinement. If you live in
an atmosphere of luxury. luxury is
yours whether your money pays for
it or another's
The people she served were mostly
women whose dress. manners and posi-
ton in the social world were quoted
as criterions From them Nancy be-
gan to take toll. the best from each. ac-
cording to her view
From one she would copy and prac-
tice gesture, from another an eo-
quent lifting of an eyebrow from 9th
ers a manner of walking. of carrying
a purse. of smiling. of greeting a
friend, of addressing "inferiors in sta
ton" From her best beloved model. /
Mrs. Ven Alstyne Fisher, she made /
for that excellent thing. a .
soft. low voice as clear as silver and /
as perfect in articulation rs the notes
of a thrush. Suhused in the aura of
this high social refinement and good
it was impossible for her to
escape a deeper effect of it. As good
habits are said to be better than good
principles, so, perhaps, good manners
are better than good habits. The teach
ngs of your parents may not keep
live your New England conscience, but
f you sit on straight back chair and
'epeat the words "prisms and pill
yrims'' forty times the devil will fee
rom you. And when Nancy spoke in
he Van Alstyne Fisher tones she felt
he thrill of noblesse oblige to her very
zones.
There was another source of learn
ng in the great departmental school
Whenever you see three or four shop
iris gather in bunch and Jingle their
wire bracelets as an accompaniment to
frivolous conversation, do
ot think that they are there for the
urpose of criticising the way Ethel
oes her back hair. The meeting may
ick the dignity of the deliberative
odies of man, but it has all the i'm I
of the occasion on which Eve s
nd her first daughter first put their |
eads together to make Adam under c
tand his proper place in the house g
old 1t is woman's conference for r
1mmon defense and exchange of stra-
.gical theories of attack and repulse 4
pom and against the world. which is
stage, and man. its audience who q
ersists in throwing bouquets there c
pom. Woman. the most helpless of Y
lie young of any animal-with the a
WINS grace, but without its leetness; I
18th the birds beauty, but without its v
-