El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-27
A Virtue OF Conceit
By MRS. HUMPHREY t..MADGE9.

" = ERE vanity to cease suddenly
w from among US, society would
fall to pieces and half the
commercial world might shut up shop.
The object of dinners, dances, lunch
con parties and receptions is to afford
opDortunfty of seeing each other and
being seen. And who would wish to be
seen if vanity had not promoted the
careful toilet that sets forth good
looks to the best advantage and goes
far to hide the lack Of them2 =
without vanity. in the sense of
wish to please: none Of US would pay
the smallest attention to our appear
anceA Eloven1iness would Rake the
who are neat by nature, loving tidi-
ness for its own sake. The care OF
ourselves would have to be diligently
taught in schools as mere matter or
hygiene.
without Tanity some Of US would not
even be clean. Our houses would lack
the care that is now bestowed upon
them, chiefly from motives of emula-
ton and self-respect; In other words,
a form of vanity. For cleanliness is
acquired excellence, encourag ed by
vanity. and the poets. who write of
"ouarelets of pearl and shining hair.
white arms and hands and snowy
How intolerable we should be to
each other IL vanity did not inspire US
with the wish TO make the best of our
appearance. We share with our dumb
friends the birds and beasts, perhaps
the fishes, the natural vanity that
makes US wish to look as pleasing as
possible in the time of courtship.
Though 1t may lead US astray in the
direction of tight gloves, tight boots,
tight waists, deep collars and un-
comfortably frequent shaves, it is an
instinct implanted in US for our bene-
fit. If vanity needed any apology 1t
would find it in this.
Between Virtue and Vice.
AS things are, this useful quality.
which may be described as midway
all quite. naturally. to girls at an ear
lier age than to boys. 1t is the mo-
tive power which sets running the
looms of the world, has sent fleets
across the seas since the days Of
Tyre and Tarhish, employs thousands
of men in the diamond mines, in pearl
fishing, in coral reefs. in hunting and
killing the seal and the sable, the chin
chilla and the beaver, and scores OF
other fur clad animals.
Vanity sets millions of men and wo.
men at work in spinning and weaving
ornamental fabrics, in making beads
and threading them, in setting pre-
cious and semi-precious stones IN
many forms, in embroidering and
braiding and in hundreds OF other
forms of decorative art.
Were this propelling force to be
withdrawn. at least nine-tenths Of the
great drapery houses all over the
country might dismiss three-fourths
of their employees, and tailors would
find the greater part of their occupa-
ton gone. Mankind would merely
clothe itself instead of dressing. The
cult Of the waistcoat, the tie and the
sock would disappear, and choice
would limit itself to considerations of
comfort only or warmth or GOODNESS.
according to climate conditions.
And so with the hat. The silk vari-
ETY. would disappear at once, and
would be accompanied into Oblivion
by the starched shirt and collar With
out a wish to please, if not to dazzle
why should the sock be gay of tint
the boot be bright with varnish, the
cold discomfort Of starch be toler-
ated?
The Spendfhrfft Girl.
The girl who now buys Is hats a
year and gowns in due proportion