Semi-weekly herald., 1913-12-15
The Secret Of the
Skimpy Skirt.

The Secret Of the
Skimpy Skirt.
When King Solomon in all his bore
dom exclaimed, There is no new
thing under the sum- he was only ex.
pressing sentiment as old as the sun
itself.
Eve said the very same thing many
years before in the ennui of Para
disc. "Tell me something new!" she
walled, and the Serpent-he had new
er seen lady cry before-was deep
ly moved (the Serpent has always
been misjudged) and--there being no
national board of censors-told her
everything he knew.
When he had finished, Eve looked
bored-er than ever SIS that all?
she said
Our Alan Dale asks the same hope
less question on the first night Of
every new play. will there never
be an end Of these crook plays" he
means, poDdering darkly the while
how he may butcher the title to make
Roman headline.
Father Time has nothing to say on
the matter. If you ask him to show
you new thing, he shrugs his wings
and says, "You can search me-"
Thing old and things new are all alike
to Father Time.
Peradventure, in the uttermost re-
cess of the Sphinx lies hair of an
unknown color, or blueprint of the
fourth dimension, or better still the
Ms. of new play, or joke that
has never been cracked.
When a Roman bath is unearthed
in Kent or milliner's shop in Pom
peii we wait breathless to hear of the
discovery of a new story, or new
dress pattern, but always it is the
same old skull, the same old amphora.
Even the newness of fashion is a
jest of antiquity.
In an Italian book printed in the
sixteenth century is a story (says
The Lounger" in the London
swetch) of fool who went about
the streets naked, carrying piece
of cloth upon his shoulders. He was
asked by some one why he did not
dress himself, since he had the mat
erals Because replied he, 4 wait
to see in what manner the fashions
Will end. do not like to use my
cloth for dress which in little time
will be of no use to me, on account
of some new fashion,"
There may be newer version of
this story in the ashes of the Alex
sndrian library or beneath the ruins
of Babylon, but this has at least the
freshness and luster of its 400 years.
Also it throws light, a very search
light, on the translucent demoiselles
Of today (see them shyly run to cover
at the mere mention of a searchlipht)
Now we know their guilty secret
Each of them has, boarded away in
secret drawer (as money in pan.
icky times) roll of fine silk or voile
or panne velvet, or crepe de chine
which she is sparing from the scis.
sors till the wheel of fashion shall
oscillate with less fury. Then she
wiil put away the skimpy, films,
makeshift garments of TRANSFORMED
window curtains and bath towels, con
verted robes de mutt and remnants o.
net or chiffon she has been vainl,
trying to hide behind-and then
then alas, we shall see her no more
--Harper's Weekly.
Presbyterian Mission Circle.
The Presbyterian Mission circl,
held its regular monthly meetin,
with Mrs. F. C. Perkins yesterday af
ternoon. Mrs. Henry Berri, who ha,
charge of the program, gave an ami
mated review of the progress O
Christian work in Northern Persia
An interesting discussion, which be
came lively at times, ON the develop
ment of the Chinese Christian church
was led by Mrs. Harry Ware. TIL
January meeting, which is also tn
annual meeting of the circle, will b
held at the home of Mrs. C. c. Per
kins.
Informal Evening.
Mr.. and Mrs. Chester Black O
Firth avenue, entertained few
friends Wednesday evening compli
mentary to a friend visiting for few
days in the city.
Monday Bridge.
Mrs. C. E. Mcconnell was the host