West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-09-17
n. Van Alstyne Fisher. Nancey'' she

Mrs. Van Alstyne Fisher. Nancer' she
asked.
"If did you can feel safe I'm copy.
ing IT," said Nancy.
Oh. i couldn't use Il at all. Its too
stylish for me. It's intended TO set on
diamond rings that high shake is
Wait till I get few and then III try
It,"
Learn IL irst." 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 I can't
Jake both OF you up TO TifYany's and
DO the right thing. what do you say to
little vaudeviiiel I've got the tick.
sts. How about looking ut stage dia-
monds since we can't shake hands
with the real sparklersf'
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 spsrrov.
but with the true Van .Aistyne Fisher
walk. Thus they set out for their even.
ing's moderate diversion.
i do not suppose that many look
upon great department store as an
educational Nstitution. 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. III you live In
an atmosphere OF luxury, luxury is
yours whether your money pays for
II or snother'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. nc,
cording to her view.
From one she would copy and prac.
tce a gesture. from another an elo-
quent lifting OF an eyebrow. from 9th.
ers manner OF walking. OF CARRYING
purse, OF smiling. OF greeting n
friend, OF addressing "inferiors IN sta.
tion.' From her best beloved model
Mrs. Van Aistyne Fisher, she made
requisition for that excellent thing. n
soft. low voice as clear rs silver and
as perfect In articulation as the notes
or a thrush. Suffused In the aura OF
this high social refinement aud good
breeding, II was impossible for her 10
escape deeper effect of H. As good
habits are said to be better than good
principles, so. perhaps. good manners
are better than good habits. The teach.
ings OF your parents may not keep
alive your New England conscience. but
TX you sit on straight back chair and
repeat the words ''prisms and pis
grims' forty times the devil VIII fee
from you. And when Nancy spoke I'm
the Van Alstyne Fisher tones she felt
the thrill Of noblcsse oblIge TO her very
bones.
There was another source or learn.
Ing In the great departmental school.
whenever you see three or four shop
girls gather I'm a bunch and Jingle their
wire bracelets as an accompaniment ia
apparently frivolous conversation. do
not think that they are there for the
purpose OF critlcisIng the way Ethel
does her back hair The meeting may
lack the dignity OF the delIbera. live
bodies OF man, but IL has all the Inn.
portance Of the occasion on which Eve
and her first daughter first put their
heads together to make Adam under.
stand his proper place In the house.
hold. IL Is woman's conference for
common defense and exchange OF stra-
tegical theories OF attack and repulse
upon and against the world. which is
stage, and man. It's audience who
persists I'm throwing bouquets there
upon. Woman, the most helpless OF
the young OF any anlmal-with the
lawns grace. but without its feetness;
with the birds beauty, but without its