The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-23
ADAPTING ONES SELF
 TO CIRCUMSTANCES
Miss Lavnia Tells Story With Mora-Lots of Us Wouldn't Exchange Our Difficult Lot in Life With Others Merely Because We are Used to tits All What We
 Make it, Anyway-A Pansy for Heartsease
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE

was more than 40 years ago. At that time Nancy was the toast of the town. Sho was bright, she was pretty, she was witty; the men were all at her feet; but 1t seemed she couldn't make up her mind to love any one of them. Her father just at this time was in the diplomatic service and went to Berlin. They had the entree into the very best and most exclusive so- ciety, and Nancy was the belle of the place. Before the season was over she was engaged to a Lieutenant in one of the Kaiser's Prize Regiments. The we'd ding was only a month off when the young man YVES killed in duel. Nancy was perfectly heart broken. She had been humored and petted and spoiled since her bahyhood, and when trouble came to her-the first in her whole life she was unequal to facing it bravely."
 What did she do, come back homer" asked Anne.
 Yes. but only for a brief length of time' answered The Spinster. "She would not see any of her old friends, and pres ently she and her father went away nobody knows where She ruined his life and her own. and as I said little while ago. only thls morning I read of her death. The article in the newspaper gave a brief account of her life and the sor- row that had come into 1t earlier, and how she had nursed 1t and worried over 1t all these years until death had come to relieve her pain and sufferings."
 She might have made so much of her life," Miss Lavinia sighed. She was so clever and capable and bright and att l tractive."
 Which is very much like the life story of our mutual friend Alice Martin" Anne interrupted.
 "Yes and no,' Miss Lavinia continued. T cannot believe that Alice would have ever abandoned herself to a sorrow no matter how poignant. You see she has been trained since early youth to con trol her feelings. There isn't a girl in this town who has had more checkered career She's had everything to contend with Her father died when she was a mere baby, then the loss of her fortune, and then her mothers death, and yet there Is no sweeter, happier, or more charming girl in the world than she. Why? Because in spite of the fact that she might have been peevish and, disappointed and miserable and unhappy, she has overcome all those obstacles and risen to heights of glorious young womanhood which is an example to be emulated by every girl. Compare her with the girls who have been petted and spoiled and humored until you can scarcely live with them and see the difference. And if you were to ask that sweet girl if she'd exchange places with
 
 do it?"
 'Of course she wouldn't" Miss Lavinia went on, taking Anne's silence for con- sent. Tt is mighty good thing for some of us to have to renounce things some times, my child, even if we don't under stand the WHY'S and the WHEREFORES at the time. But you have to go about 1t in the right way. Not every person who is called upon to adapt themselves to cir cumstances as you put 1t, has learned lust exactly what that word ADAPT means. My girlhood friend Nancy Randolph. hadn't, for instance. After all it doesn't so much matter WHAT happens to us, but as some clever person has said, HOW WE TAKE IT. that makes our lives happy or unhappy"
 Tn other words some other wise person has said, life Is what we make it. Give me Pansy, Miss Lavinia, for heart ease," Anne said as she arose and held out her hand for one of the pretty flowers, ! Tt vii help me to REMEMBER"