The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1909-04-24
A Widow
Wordalogue
BY Helen Rowland.


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"
Put | don't want to be shocked"
complained the Bachelor, squirming
IN his side OF the hanson "Ane I'm
not interested in inqulsitions, nor in
struments OF torture. nor human suf-
fering. nor monomania, nor"
In what. Mr. Travers?"
In the ridiculous fashions Of wom-
en-" explained the Bachelor. bluntly
It's the ridiculous taste Of men that
inspires them" retorted the Widow,
tartly.
"Nonsensei" protested the Bachelor.
mo man admires a human work Of
art. nor forest OF false hair, nor a
figure that works on springs. nor"
"Of course you don't" put the Wild.
ow. alphabetically "on principle.
theoretically. you don't approve Of
rouge. nor dyed hair. nor peek-a-boo
waists. nor sheath gowns, nor-nor Sa-
lone: but when It comes to practice
It's always the girl with the pink chin
and the butter-colored hair and the
openwork stockings and the hand.
made figure that you turn around In
the street 10 stare after"
- don't" declared the Bachelor.
And the woman who rustles like a
windstorm and leaves a path Of patch.
our behind her 10 whom you are pin.
ing for an introduction"
IT'S falsel" cried the Bachelor, in.
dlgnantly.
"Of course it's false" acquiesced the
Widow. quite unrufled. but it's femi-
nine. Ruffles and curls and lace and
perfumes are the insignia OF feminini-
ty, and it's a woman's femlninity. not
heE strength Of mind and breadth OF
character. that attracts a man. The.
oretically you admire fiat 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 TO Introduce her husband to: it's
the kind with high heels and a straight
front figure and Paquin gowns"
"And yet" sighed the Bachelor, =
don't know a $40 hat from a four dol
lar one, nor chiffon from calico print"
mo man does" agreed the Widow
soothingly. mo man knows what g
woman has on any more than be
knows what an artist has put into 3
painting, but he can tell 4 well-dressed
woman from a trump as quickly as be
can tell a real picture from daub. Dc
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
II, broke in the Bachelor. desperately
But II YOU make early Christian mar
tyrs Of yourselves in order to faseinate
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 be respected and ad
mired and left at homer" demanded
the Widow. scornfully who wants
TO be a modest violet. when all the
men are around the corner chasine
chrysanthemums and orchids? If WON
en- are frivolous and artificial and use
less, it's men who have made them so
No woman is going to spend her day:
in the pursuit of virtue and econom,
and the cook book while you are
spending yours in the pursuit of som,
foolish little thing who doesn't know
a broom from an egg-beater anC
wouldn't know what to do with
scruple If she had one, but who knows
how to wear her hats and"
"oh, vel" broke in the Bachelor
desperately: IF we men are that kind
why do you care"
You're the only kind there is.
sighed the Widow. "And-and her.
we are!"
Where are they?" demanded the
Bachelor, glancing eagerly around. al
the Widow led him into a room full O.
wire mannikins draped in imported
gowns
Where are what, Mr.. Travers?"
"The-the inyentions?"
Il don't know what you are talking
about"
'The triumphs in whalebone ant
STEEL"
The Widow wrinkled her brow.
Questioningly.
The models" explained the Bach
@oF. '@The live ones"
BILLY Trayers!" exclaimed tn.
Widow. ''Did you think l would brinl
you here when there was demonstra
tion going on? Did you think yot
were going to see live modeis?"
Il knew l was going to be shocked :
grumbled the Bachelor bitterly. "but
didn't know It would be such 8
shock"
"A shock?" inquired the Widow.
"Of disappointment" sighed the
Bachelor. as he disentangled himself
from the folds of mauve gown on q