The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-05

Mary and Sue were discussing in their own interesting way the elaborate fare well dinner their charming friend Sarah had given the previous evening to say goodbye to her intimate circle of friends before going abroad. Mary remarked: "As you say, 1t was a swell affair, quite the most elaborate I ever attended. In fact, 1t was gorgeous in the extreme. It was what I call overdone. Nothing like that for me, if you please, before we fit away on our vacation" with a bewitch- ing smile in grandmothers direction and a merry, What say you, granny; what is your opinion on the subject?'
 To which granny replied: Right you are. my common-sense Mary. Always avoid overdoing the thing every time, whether it is giving a dinner, dressing, talking, studying or working, shun the overdoing act as you would that free dispensary-the adviser"
 Talking of overriding anything" con- tinued grandmother, reminds me of Polly Simple. pretty, clever girl. Polly had made up her mind to summer at swell resort and land the biggest catch of the season. The first step toward suc- l cess was her wardrobe-the bait. Ac- cordingly Polly, with her good mother, shopped and shopped, finding real bar gains galore in laces, ribbons and yards 1 and yards of dainty sheer fabrics for fetching summer gowns.
 With all their pretty purchases back home they went to the machine, and as they were the real live articles in apply ing the needle to their splendid bargains, they created a number of homemade confections real Frenchy affairs, you know, that fairly shrieked Paris from collar to hem.
 Now girls, right here was the first false alarm. Really Polly's big trunk of dainty. glad rags had only set father | boa 1.,rf fafrr lxtf fr,n Afp11 1.,1
 made more work for unselfsh mother, 1 but as Polly in her pride was careful
 never to mention the fact, she was neat seamstress and mighty shrewd
 shopper, but always talked about how
 satisfactory Madam was. she soon gained the reputation of being the most 1 extravagant young woman at the pleas-
 ant retreat, and the porch brigade, the
 rocking chair company at least, gave
 the direct double cut to her, forgetting. | no doubt, the many unpaid bills that
 were left behind; but you know 1t Is charitable to talk about other peoples
 bills and leave your own to some char
 itable tongue that will do them justice
 From the first Polly's glad togs were
 the envy of the female contingent and l the admiration of the male In fact, she 1 made a decided hit with the dapper 1 young man who rather liked the idea of parading around with a swell bundle of l dry gOO0S that SIrd1neO the eyes dlInOSI 1 to bursting of every woman present, so l crazy with envy were they. The hand
 some girl with the magnificent trappings | for me. I will pass up Miss Frazzle any
 time for the maid with the glad raiment,
 who knows Just the right way to put on all that finery-sure Polly Simple has 1 everything here distanced away wonder and gets under the wire first with safety,
 when 1t comes to that something we call | style.'
 Right then Mrs. Too-Stout of the rock 1 ing chair company displayed to fine ad-
 vantage the touch of feline in her na-
 ture as she whined Certainly Miss Sim
 pie dressed beautifully, but the puzzling
 question Is, not how she does dress, but | how does she dress? Her father is in
 poor circumstances, his home is mort
 gagged and he is on the verge of bank ruptcy, and how is it possible for him to provide her with these exquisite,
 costly, airy-fairy, Parisian creations and | expensive and-embroidered shirt-waists | we see her strutting around Tn Ia pea cock fashion?
 "Now said the before enthusiastic
 admirer, thank you very much for your information That little fact lets me
 down and out right now; and think,
 had all but proposed, but I will not lock
 hands with the grindstone ana grlnd my
 nose away while my wife Is dress
 makers model stalking abroad. Ugh
 what narrow escape, but an escape just
 the same
 .Bravoi' cried the next eligible on the
 list. She surely could have me and my
 worldly possessions for the picking up
 for she is clever, kind and thoughtful
 and considerate of one's comfort, but 1T
 the catechism my mother learned me by heart was, "Beware of the walking lash
 template. who ever keeps few steps 1T
 advance of her means" so l must say
 goodbye little girl. goodbye.
 '.Now, girls, Polly was not only thu smartest. most superbly gowned young woman in the place, but also the yer, gayest, her spirit according with her raj ment on every occasion. Hers was hap pv-go-lucky sort of way always ready for a lark. She laughed continually, sf afraid was she that she would not laugf enough and at the right time so 1t wal |1 perpetual This attracted to her sid' young swells whose attic was as ligh and downy as goose feather, whose In tentions were not serious, while the gar rying men stayed on the opposite sid' of the line holding stiff neck, passing without as much as refrigerator glance in her direction.
 "sWhy,' said they, that kind~ Of { freak is we'll enough for little harm less diversion, but when 1t comes to look l ing ct Polly three times day across thu | table-yes, when you have her for break fast. dinner and supper-watch out sh'