The San Francisco call., 1910-02-27
KY


came forward 10 meet me. He was not
very tail. rather heavily built. with
smooth face and keen. merry blue eyes.
was surprised to see so young man;
oe didn't seem over so and he had "a
way With him." Did yot ever yet see
man successful with women who did
not have IL? il was a very charming
way, too. and boyish. but for ali that
convincing. There was no pretense Of
professionalism" about him. and yet
I felt instantly that he knew his busi-
ness and that could trust him.
DO you fix faces-this sort of thing?'
said I placing my finger tips just below
my temples In front OF my ears and
pulling the skin up and back-techni-
oally known lifting" the face-and
Just between you and me the operation
that is supposed TO have kept our own
famous Lillian Russell bereniaIly young.
His eyes twinkled and he gave me
comprehensive little smile as he nod
ded yes
Come in." said he. 4 have Just fin
ished an operation and can give you
little time now" And he ushered me
tnto his private Office and seated me
IN & big chair by the window, where he
proceeded TO look me over carefully.
Have you ever stood before your mir
ror and pulled your face up as you
would like TO have II and longed with
all your heart that IT might stay that
way? A course Of too enthusiastic
massaging and the hot water treatment
had done their fatal work and my skin
was getting fabby There was a little
droop around my mouth that would not
away and 1t bothered ne. was simply
obsessed with the idea OF getting rid
OF -. In plain words I wanted him 10
take a reef in my face. Would he do it?
Could he do it?
He promptly said that he could and
would.
Your face is not bad at ALL" said
he How ola are you?" looking at
me keenly.
OF course told him. We women
always co tell our ages truthfuIy to
every man that asks u. you know.
You are wise 10 take It in hand,
now" said the doctor.
"why?" I inquired.
Because too many women wait until
they are old and then expect US to per-
form miracles. Here" said he. as ne
handed me a looking glass. look at
yourself"
With his fingers at my temples he
pulled the skin back and UP as I had
myself done many times at home, only.
Of course, he did IL much more cleverly
than could. As I looked. my face
took on the contour of Is again.
But can you do ito I asked
amazed.
Certainly; do 1t every day" and
then he proceeded TO explain how. Il
make short incfsion above the ear.
just inside the hair line. so that the
scar won't show. cut out small piece
Of skin. stretch the skin up and back
and sew it,"
Doesn't it hurt dreadfuuy?"
gasped. thinking Of the cutting and
stitching. DO YOU use an anesthetic?"
Cocaine inject cocaine" said he.
1T is absolutely painless"
Well. that last statement cnnched
the matter for me; that was Saturday
afternoon. Monday morning at II
o'clock I was in his operating chair.
with my courage screwed up to the
sticking point.
The first thing I had TO do was to
take my stif collar of. turn in my
neck band and be swathed in towels
down to my waist. The doctor had on
q big white apron. his sleeves were
rolled up and he was looking extreme
ly businesslike
A young fellow OF q or %, whom he
introduced as his brother, was TO as
sist him.
He first scrubbed the side Of my
face thoroughly. and shaved 2 little
place on the scalp straight up from
my ear and then. with his hypodermic
needle. injected the cocaine in front OF
and above the ear. The first two or
three jabs Of the needle were any
thing but pleasant. and 1 found my
self clinging TO the arms OF the chair.
much as I do when an unkind fate
obliges me TO go TO the dentist. How
ever. after the first few jabs the pain
began to deaden, and before he had
finished I felt none at all.
A sense Of relaxation and peace stole
over me- was not afraid any more
indeed 1 didn't care much what hap
pened. Ny hands and feet grew cold
and I became a little faint, but my
mind seemed unusually alert. I could
not see the doctor, as I was leaning
far back in the chair. but I was con
scious Of every move he made. and I
noticed that he worked fast and
seemed nervous. When I asked him
why he gave little laugh and said:
"Oh. this IS a fierce business. Youll T;
see before I get through"
After he had got the skin above {
my ear deadened by the cocaine he
made a cut in my scalp. straight up
from the ear, with scissors. it seemed ,
TO me. Cocaine has a curious effect.
] could feel him cutting, but there ,
was not particle OF sensation about !
t. and presently began TO feel some I
thing triclling down the side OF nv s