The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-10-17

GUY ~ the Two INDUSTRIOUS advocates
of beauty culture. His spare form had
never been troubled with adipose It's
sue.
"Cut it out mother" he protested
you look good enough to me. We
can't have to much of a good thing.
YOU know" and he patted her plump
shoulder consolingly.
"It's for Marion" sighed his wife
Il do feel rather silly, but she is tax
ing SO much trouble and works so hard
TO help me that / can't bear to let her
know how tired | am of it all. Deary
me, if it isn't time for that water
againi"
well, YOU two for it, but don't break
any bones" and Mr. Howard disap-
peared behind his paper with a frown
and muttered, College tomfoolery."
Marion Howard had always been
noted for her lasting enthusiasm.
Whatever she began was sure to be
finished and well finished too, her
mother regretfUlly recalled as she be-
gan to realize she would be no excep-
ton. Still, Marion had not inherited
her Observation-Disclosures from her faith
er alone. Mother Howard had never
been one to turn back after putting
hand to plOw, and it was rather morti-
flying to compare her carefully pre-
served bridal dress with the generous
proportions Of her best black silk.
SO the lessons continued.
Not a leisure moment but MariOn's
eager whisper came, Nov, mother,
here's a good chance to practice our
I stunts" and away they would go to
MariOn's room where with the unwill-
inc al Of tho hood Of tn
had arranged crude apparatus after
the most approve dmodels. Some Of
the cherished colleges trophies had
been removed to make room for
| large chart of gymnastic exercises,
planned step by step and carefully il
Illustrated. Marion crossed out the
various steps as her mother slowly
mastered them. Mrs. Howard ruefully
surveyed the small amount accom-
plished and anticipated the future with
fear and trembling
The daughter was an ardent follow
er of Fletcher, so the mother chewed
according to instructions till the food
swallowed itself. At first there was
many an apologize glance as bites Of
food gleefully escaped stomachward
without the prescribed munchng
Father oHward worried a little over
his wife's falling appetite, but she was
too afraid Of ridicule to confess she
did not have time to eat all she really
wanted.
Poor Mrs. Howard found little en-
couraSement in her weekly interviews
with the grain scales, but her grit did
not fail her. Since oxygen, according
to Professor Adamson, helped to de-
strOy fat cells, she breathed so long
and so deeply she was convinced that
the air escaped from her toes. She
became rather sensitive to ridicule
and carefully excluded all but Marion
from her devotiOns to the apparatus
Of beauty.
One day the climax came. The hired
man had put up stout hooks in the
heavy oaken joists, and on these Mar
ion hung ropes with rings attached.
Father Howard had emphatically re-
fused TO countenance this last eXer-
else, and even the victim had objected
II can't do that, daughter, and
WON'T" she protested vigorously.
Now, mother, don't back out, please
There's nothing will so stretch your
spinal column and remove the fat
from your shoulders. 1t makes the
waist so supple, too. Molly Evans re-
duced her waist two inches in just
two weeks, and she weighed over two
hundred. It's just fun to swing from
ring TO ring, and there are only three
here. You ought to see the girls so
down a line Of twenty rings"
But I'm afraid of those hooks"
oh, there's no danger. We tested
them. Now, mother don't be foolish
and gave up. We must follow the
chart"
She who hesitates is lost, and Mrs.
Howard found herself trying to bear
up her weight. It's pulling my arms
out of their sockets" she gasped.
Never mind. It'll be easier after
few minutes" encouraged her daught-
err.
Mrs. Howard held on with a death
! grip as Marion tugged to get her pupil
swaying to and fro.
''Be ready TO catch the next ring
when say now" painted the teacher.
Now"
Poor Mother Howard reached blind
ly for the swaying ring as she swung
TO the left, but her fingers, numbed
and tired, did not get a firm grasp. AS
she let go with the right hand, the left
| failed her, and she fell heavily to the
| floor.
A white-faced girl hung remorse-
| fully over the inert figure as Father
Howard rushed into the room. 81 al
ways knew you'd do some devilment,"
he said sternly. Il ought to have put
a stop to this nonsense long ago. All
these fool traps go into the stove to-
morrow. Are you bad hurt, Mary?"
he asked, tenderly rubbing the tremb-
ling hands.
His wife raised herself painfully for
the pile of home made comforters had
not entirely broken the fall. guess
my ankles sprained," she groaned. 81
tried to stop myself from falling.
Don't worry, daughter, mother isn't
killed yet"
The next morning, Marion appeared
| at her mothers bedside with a sub
stantial breakfast. The invalid's face
| frightened as She saw the hot biscuits,
! crisp potatoes, and smoking ham and
| eggs E,VQD fha IODO -bonicbo,5