Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-04-24
A Widow
Wordalogue
By | ielen Rowland.

age"
What is it," demanded the Bache-
lor hating suspciously.
The latest triumph Of whalebone
and steel" responded the Widow. wa
wing her violet parasol dramatically
as she gently pushed him toward the
hanson. THE newest things In figures
and fashions. I'm going to the dress,
makers convention"
But | don't want to be shocked.
complained the Bachelor. squirming
in his side of the hanson. And I'm
not interested in inQuisitions. nor in
struments OF torture, nor human SUI
fering. nor moncmania. nor
In what. Mr.. TRAVERSE
In the ridiculous fashions OF wom-
eu," explained the Bachelor, blunily. =
'.l:'s the ridiculous taste of men that
inspires them" retorted the Widow.
tartiy. :
q Nonsense" protested The Bachelor.
No man admires human work OF
art, nor a forest Of false hair, nor
figure that works on springs. nor :
OF course you don't Tut the Wild
ow, alphabetically. on principle,
Theoretically, yon don't approve o.
rouge, nor dyed hair nor reck,a-hoo
waists, nor sheath gowns, nor-nor Sa-
lone; but when il comes 10 practice
lis always the girl with the pink chin
and the bntt"r-colored hair and the
opcnwork stockings and tn" hand
made figure that you turn around in
III ";raet 70 stare after
Il don't" declared the Bachelor. \
And the woman who rustic Nc
windsto:m and leaves path oi patch
ouii behind her TO whom Won arc pin
ing for an introduction"
It's false" cried the Bachelor. in
Gignartly
of course it's false" acqu!esced the
Widow, quite uEruflied, bat it's eaml-
nine Rules and curls and lace ami
perfumes are the insignia OF f"nrinlnr
~, and it's a woman's fem!ninit-. not
her strength OF mind and bread h Of
character, that attracts man. Tho
oreticaliy you admire fat heels and
physical culture and sweet simplicity
and beauties Of the soul and dote on
a girl with high ideals and principles,
but that isn't the kind a woman hesi-
tates 70 introduce her husband to: It's
the kind with high heels and straight
front figure and Paquin gowns"
And yet" sighed the Bachelor. y
don't know a $40 hat from four dol.
lar one, nor chiffon from calico print"
NO man does" agreed the Widow.
soothingly. NO man knows what a
woman has on any more than he
knows what an artist has put into .
painting. but he can tell well-dressed
woman from trump as quickly as he
can tell a real picture from daub. Do
you fancy women powder their noses
and peroxide their hair merely for the
pleasure of dabbling In chemicals? Do
YOU imagine they wear tight corsets
and French heels merely becaue they
are pining for indigestion and a pain
in the side? Do You suppose"
Il hadn't supposed anything about
it, broke in the Bachelor. desperately.
But if you make early Christian mar.
tyrs of yourselves in order to fascinate
us. you are wasting your time. A
man doesn't respect nor admire a
woman that is gotten up like the third
act of comic opera chorus"
Who wants to By respected and ad-
mired and left at home?" demanded
the Widow, scornfuliy. Who wants
to be a modest violet, when all the
men arc around the corner chasing
chry and orchids? II wom-
en- are frivolous and artificial aad use
less. it's men who have made themsso
No woman is going to spend her days
in the pursuit of virtue and economy
and the cook book while you are
spending yours in the pursuit Of some
foolish little thing who doesn't know
broom from an egg heater and
wouldn't know what to do with a
scruple II she had one but who knows
how 70 wear her hats and"
oh, wev." broke IN the Bachelor.
desperately: ~ We men arc that kind,
why do you care"
You're tn. only k,rd there Is"
sighed the Widow. "And-and here
We are!
Where are they demanded tic
Bachelor. gIancing eagerly around. as
the Widow led him into room fuI, of
wire mannikins draped in imported
gowns.
Where are what. Mr.. Travers?-
"The-tbe Inventions
y don't know wha: you are talking
atoUt--
The tr;urIpts II whaIebone and
steel"
The Widow wrinklei hc- oro~s
cuestioninsly.
The models" explained the Bach
elor. The i've oncs-
Billy Travers,- exclaimed the
Widow Did you think so1ld bring