Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-11-20
GIRLS HELPING HAND
BY AMELIA GRANT.
do you really want to help
haaan the vounp woman artist.

began the young woman artist.
"Emphatically no." interrupted the
young woman stenographer. Il don't
care how worthy the object is, III
never again lend helping hand
only cold cash propositions appeal to
me-"
The artist dried her brushes, folded
her hands and waited. go ahead and
tell it," she commanded.
"You know of Mrs. Yanderskipper!
asked the stenographer.
President Of the Humanity Upllit-
ers' society? Yes, why?"
"She is a friend of cousin Of mine
i never did like that cousin, either
One hot evening Mrs. Vanderskipper's
automobile stopped in front of our
boarding house, and had visions or
a ride in the park. Mrs. Vandersk1p-
per didn't carry the same thought.
learned that prize Of $500 had been
offered to the member OF the Upllft-
ers' society who would write the best
essay on "A Helping Hand to Self
Supporting Women Mrs. Wander
skipper wanted to have me help her
write the essay"
The artist grinned.
81 wanted to laugh, too" said the
stenographer but I left the comfort
able porch and for three solid hours
we sweltered over the notes she mao
written. Then we rearranged tneA
for me to copy after office hours. Mrs
Vanderskipper accepted some OF II!
suggestions, but refused to cut Out
some sentimental IDEAS
land your suggestions won her the
prize!" The artist spoke as If she
knew all about winning prizes.
Exactly. But that is only the first
chapter.
son the strength of the 500 check,
/ went on the stenographer, Mrs. Van
/ dersllipper wished to give me what
she called real treat. If she nae
paid me ct space rates for copying
her essay would have been satisfied
but she could not think of money ii
connection with services rendered
| She invited me to concert to which
she had free tickets. / apoloSetical!y
refused. as I do not care for music
Anyway, ] wanted the treat to be On
her, not on tie management or the
concert. haa scen ali the good plays
IL town and 7 refused to waste an
c~s1'an Oh a roor ore
you arc rather particular
"C.. ala !? Well, anyway, Mrs.
Vanderskipper invited me to a table
dhote dinner at the Hotel Caroline
She had once lived there and she
recommended the dinners as really
better than any S. banquet she ever
attended. 7 have never been to a 50
feed, and anyway ] was willing to cX-
pertinent. She had invited several
other self.supporting women to din
ner also. She said that some of the
servants might still be at the hotel
who knew her when she lived there
and they might recognize her, so 1t
would be a source Of great mortifica-
ton to her if her guests were not
properly attired."
The artist grinned.
az caught the idea. so that night /
told the boarders that I'd have to buy
a new dress, just because I had been
indiscreet enough TO lend helping
hand to g poor society woman. One
1 man suggested that | go at once to
Mrs. Vanderskipper and say, Madam,
that dinner will cost you S1-give me
/ Is cents and III stay at home An
/ other man advised me to make 1t 80
/ ccnts-said even then she would be
Saving money. Miss Bosely said she
would be glad to lend me her evening
dress for the occasion. but the cousin
who gave it to her had once lived at
the Hotel Caroline and the servants
might recognize it.
every day that week during the
noon hour I bought a dress or took
one back. The last afternoon at i
o'clock l had a cream wool skirt, two
chiffon wells. pair Of Turkish slip
1 Ders and linen dress. BY that time
was so desperate that ! didn't care
whether I made good impression on
/ the servants at the Hotel Caroline or
not. SO ] rushed into store and
bought a blouse.
"That isn't the worst OF it. At the
dinner Mrs. Vanderslsipper told every
one that it took her less than an hour
to write the essay which won The s1G0
prize. I thought OF the hot summer
nights work in my room and the long
after hours that I devoted to typing
the essay. to say nothing Of the time
passed in shopping
Gust to cat 81 dinner with g
woman!' finished the artist.
Precisely. It made me so angry
that now I haven't the slightest de-
sire ever again TO give helping hand
to any one That is why I refuse TO
help YOU Oh, I'm now the least obliE-
ing creature you ever saw!"-Chicago
Daily News.
E,,t 81