The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-18

I served
 "Yes. the shampoo is done immediately this is overi and in the meantime my nails have been done." said the man, and l feel fit to stand before King when the whole thing is accomplished" "Sweetly pretty, no doubt" said The man launghed. Well, 1t gives a fellow a sort of washed -and-ironed effect, that pleases him immensely" he responded. And how much does all this renovating cost your" I inquired. "Oh-er- about two dollars" he replied I hastily made mental calculation and exclaimed: Just about what a woman has to pay, only she gets electricity and steaming and all sorts of lovely things besides, although she may not have such spick and span look as you do after she has emerged" I left the gentleman in few moments, and, sauntering down into the shopping district, I chanced to run across his wife, poking about over bargain counter' She looked worried and her complexion was dull and lifeless and I noticed her hand (she having removed one of her gloves), and it looked like piece of sole leather with nails that were so unkempt as to look positively uncanny! What masseuse do you patronize?" I asked as the conversation took up the sub ject of high collars and uncomforta ble stays"
 ''Masseuse! Masseuse!" she exclaimed grimly. Why ] have never even seen inside of beauty parlor"
 "The more fool you" thought.
 Do you suppose for moment I have any money to waste beautifying myself?" she interrogated. Why, the children's shoes cost $50 a quarter. My, dear the bills for their clothes and hair ribbons is simply astounding and I don't know what things are coming to! Masseuse, indeedl"
 Of course, I laid low and said nothing (being, I hope, a wise and discreet per son). about just having seen her Liege Lord emerge like "two-year-old' from the barber's.
 ''Why, I don't even have time to have my hair shampooed by professional" |" she continued. "I do 1t myself, and very oobis ot thul, Out nave HO tliIl6 DOT money for extravaganza. do manage to have time to have my teeth attended to properly, because. like Isabel Carnaby do not intend to outlive my Illusions and my front teeth! But that is all I spend on grooming"
 looked at her and thought:
 You look the part-every inch of it'
 q don't approve of such things in the first place. she went on to say. q don't believe God intended women to be plas- tered up and cosmetic-ed and powdered and painted! I just use plain water and plenty of soap on my hands and face and when I am dead and gone nobdy can ever say that owed my looks to anything ar tifcial."
 "I feel sure they wont"
 But instead I looked at her pityingly for she was indeed unadorned and I felt so sorry for her that I could only think of how like a piece of parchment she looked and in what strange contrast to her well groomed husband!
 Don't you think the dirty, dusty laden city air makes it almost necessary that we women use skin food and cleansers and things like that?" ventured.
 "No, indeed, do not said that aus tere person.
 Then, just because couldn't hold in any longer, l said:
 T bet your husband goes to a barber and is massaged and manicured and looks ten years younger than he really is."
 "Of course, he goes to his barber oc- casionally," said the faithful wife, but as for mancurlng and massaging-pooh! He thinks those things as absurd as do'
 And I just said "good-bye,' for felt like if talked with her any longer that would surely say something l ought not to, and I wouldn't for the world disturb her convictions on the subject.