The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-12-03
"My friend, Mr. Owens-shake hands
with Ntiss nanforth F" Said Ion

Danforth." said Dan, with outstretched
hand I'ye heard Lou speak of you
SO often"
''Thanks," said Nancy. touching his
fingers with the tips Of her cool ones
"I'ye heard her mention you-a few
times"
Lou glggled.
did you get that handshake from
Mrs. Van Alstyne Fisher. NanceT' she
asked.
'If / did you can feel safe In copy
ing it." said Nancy.
"Oh, couldn't use 1t at all. It's too
stylish for me- It's intended to set or
diamond rings that high shake is.
Wait till l get few and then I'll try
it."
LEARN 1t first" said Nancy wisely,
land youth 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 Tinany's and
do the right thing, what do you say to
a 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.
l do not suppose that many look
upon 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 foz
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. &C
cording to her view.
From one she would copy and prac
tice gesture, from another an elo
quent lifting Of an eyebrow. from 9th
ers manner of walking, Of carrying
purse. of smiling. of greeting Q
friend. Of addressing ''inferiors In sta
tion." From her best beloved model
Mrs. Vsn Alstyne Fisher, she made
reQuisition for that excellent thing, I
soft. low voice as clear as silver and
as perfect in articulation as the notes
Of thrush. SuHHsed IN the aura oi
this high social refinement and goot
breeding, 1t was impossible for her t.
escape deeper effect of 1t. As good
habits are said to be better than gool
principles, so, perhaps, good manners
are better than good habits. The teach
ings of your parents may not keel
alive your New England conscience, bu
If you sit on straight back chair ant
repeat the words 'prisms and pill
grims'' forty times the devil will f1e,
from you. And when Nancy spoke IL
the Van Alstyne Fisher tones she fel
the thrill of noblesse oblige to her yer.
bones.
There was another source of learn
ing in the great departmental school
Whenever you see three or four shol
girls gather in a bunch and jingle thei
wire bracelets as an accompaniment t
apparently frivolous conversation, d.
not think that they are there for tn,
purpose of criticising the way Ethe
does her back hair. The meeting ma,
lack the dignity of the deliberativ
bodies of man, but 1t has all the i'm
portance of the occasion on which Ev
and her first daughter first put thei
heads together to make Adam under
stand his proper place In the house
hold. 1t Is woman's conference 70
common defense and exchange of stra
tegical theories of attack and repuls
upon and against the world. which
stage, and man, Its audience VIII
persists i'll throwing bouquets there
upon. Woman, the most helpless O
; the young of any animal-with tn
fawn's grace, but without it's feetness
with the birds beauty, but without it