Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-19

Was 1t the managress of the girls club
who gave it? No fellow-boarder had a
mint In any case. Perhaps Naomi SIM
ply found her, keeping her eyes open
always Truly she came up to this girl.
all alone one day, and offered her a smart
little tailor gown that a millionaires
daughter had worn only half dozen
times.
l would call Naomi du Belief the sixth
of the American girls clubs of Paris.
Cnreconstructed Confederate, born after
the war; i'm Paris, never quitting Paris
she is, nevertheless. one of the best
Americans. OF a great old New Orleans
family that always dispensed patronage,
she has il in the blood. She collects half
worn, scarcely worn gowns, coats, hats
and shoes. from very rich girls and gives
would be very incomplete without her.
Are YOU never deceived in your pro-
tegees?' l asked her. do they ever ask
you for party gowns?"
Party gowns are my middle name"
she laughed. II never have enough OF
them for vocal, students and young ac-
tresses to show in!'
And earn money!"
Surely"
But do false students, lazy idIers
never abuse youo' / said
would not care, she laughed. Il
would give my smartest tailor gown to
any fdler working hard enough to mas
querade as a real student. She would
be well on the strait road. worthy Of en-
couragement.''
The nearest I ever met was Guinevere
l will tell of Guinevere. She came to
study medicine. At the Rue de Turin ehe
became heroine by whispering to girls.
Il am married; but no one must know
it
Back there. IN Philadelphia, he was
sending Guinevere monthly check
When it ceased. sympathy for the wife
swallowed distrust for the debtor. Nor
did Guinevere abuse. Owing two months,
she went to stay with friends" She
passed out of sight. regretted. because
she was useful, charming. What were
her resources? Did she make quiet Dor
rowings? Because she was next heard OF
in Berlin-where life Is hard and there
are no girls clubs-as a prominent medi-
cal student
1t surprised me, therefore. to recognize
her year later at the Rue de Chevrouse
Cub. How Is medfcine?" I asked
Please do not mention it," she said, ''I
have changed to literature" And il
literature be promising write-ups. Guine-
we're was strong. as it turned out. Mys-
terry followed her. II am married, but
no one must know it''-everybody knew
1t. When the check failed, she was a
heroine again. Six months later. she
was at Trinity lodge. How is iitera-
tureT' asked. Please do not mention
1t. she said. II have changed to vocal
music
saw no more of her for a full year.
to the Hostel, / heard Guinevere's voice.
declaiming the wrongs of American
medical students in the matter of Paris
diplomas. She's gone back to medicine"
i said, thoughtless. 1 did not care: but
had judged her. Guinevere was a fraud.
Which taught me not to Judge. She
was a lesson to me. One day, not so
very long ago. without the slightest
warning, I came on a very capable and
interesting article in one of our great
magazines by that same Guinevere! What
was it? Descriptions from the extreme
orient. And she had been there.
Was she a fraud? At worst. she used
the girls clubs to economize in Paris.
Many bona-fide students are doing the
same thing. I have heard the word adj
ventures applied to her. But what kind
of adventures is this who could con-
tent herself with the calm bread-and-
butter life Of girls club?
She must have been a student at heart
to stand it.
This is why the great lady patrons and
clear-sighted matrons Of the clubs are
easy on the score of adventuresses. Any
adventures under forty, who can stand
the life, is welcome!
STERLING HEILLG.