El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-27
Married Lies Troubles
Helen Spends n Morning in the
Louvre and Meets an Inter-
estiug New Yorker.
FrrmRF
by Mabel Herbert Orner
= ELEN'S heal motive for going to

would probably not admit II 1hey
YEARLY DRAG themselves through the
endless galleries, then come home and
for years after gush over the great
masterpieces" they saw in the
Louvre"
Warren had promptly and emphat-
ically declared that he had no lhJeh-
ton of going, that it was too "bloom-
ing hot" to trail around and look at
pictures. But Helen felt she could not
face the amazed EXPLANATIONS OF the
folks at home: And you didn't go to
the Louvre. You were in Paris all that
time and didn't spend day there!
Better take a cab" Warren had ad-
Yised. You'll need all your energies
when you get there. There're miles OF
those galleries"
Because it was very warm, and pc
cause the two weeks of constant sight
teeing were beginning to tell on her,
Helen did take a cab.
The Louvre, the LOUVRE she IN
structed the driver.
''Oui, oui, madame and they were
off.
But when he drew up Helen found
that he had taken her, not TO the
Louvre Galleries, but to the Magasins
ment stores of Paris, Excitedly she
raped on the glass door.
"NO-NO! The art galleries! The
Louvrei The LOUVRET
His face lit up with understanding.
He jabbered something reassuringly
and quickly turned the car.
The Louvre at Last.
A few blocks further on he again
stopped, jumped down and opened the
door with an air of triumph.
1t was the Louvre hotel he had
brought her to this timel
Helen flushed and, excited, almost
screamed, 1.-The LOUVREi The
LOUVREw
The man looked blank. 1t was not
until she pointed to the name in her
guide book, that his expression
changed and he exclaimed joy1ully;
''Musee! AIussee du Louvre"
That any Paris cabman should not
know what you meant by the Louvre,
Helen thought, Indignantly, as they
Whirled off once morei She had been
anXiOusly watching the taXimeter,
which now registered over two francs
When they finally turned into a large
courtyard,Helen recognized the stately
buildings of the Louvre beyond But
the meter registered still another franc
before the car stopped at the entrance
She tried TO think of some particu-
larly famous pictures she ought to see
The Mona Lisa?"-but that had been
stolen. The Last Supper" was that
in the LOuYre2 THE Horse Fair" was
that here? And whose Madonna" was
it that was so famous?
The Venus.
By all this it will be seen that
Helen's knowledge of art was not ex-
tensive.
At the foot of a broad stone stir
way was a group of statuary. She
thought of the Venus de MilOl Surely
that would not be so hard to find as a
picture. But in the floor belOwf the
galleries of ancient sculpture seemed
endless. At length, in the distance, she
saw the famous armless statue against
its red velvet background.
It was in an aicOye alone, protected
by a brass railing, against which sew
eral tourists were leaning.
One is supposed to stand before this
statue in rapt admiration of its classic
lines. But Helen's thoughts were
somewhat different. She was wonder
ing how her own well formed little
body of which she was secretly very
proud, would compare with this statue.
She had heard of the large waist of
the Venus de Milo, and now she noted
the breadth of the hips. She smiled as
she thought of them in hObble skirt
And the feet-even for the size Of the
statue they seemed large. Instructive
" Helen glanced at her own small
russell shoes.
But she liked the way Venus wore
her hair, and promptly decided to try
arranging her own that way. Only her
hair was not wavy, possibly it would
not look so well.
These are not exactly the thoughts
that are supposed to thrill one when
they gaze at the Venus de Milo, but
this is precisely what Helen thought,
and what probably nine women out of
ten do think, although they would
strenuously deny it
Help Is Offered.
She had now given almost two hours
to pictures and statuary, and with
sense Of duty fulfilled, she was eager
to look up the one exhibition in which
she had a real and genuine interest
the antique furniture.
From the guide book she cleaned
that the furniture was in another wing
Of the building. But which wing? And
how could she reach it? Uncertainty
she approached a guide, but he could
not speak a word Of English, and his
French was both fast and unintelligible.
Perhaps I can help you2 I was just
going to look up that furniture"
Helen turned quickly. The voice was
American, and so was the tall we'll
groomed man, with the unmistakable
air of a New Yorker about him.
"Oh, thank you" flushing selfcon-
sciously. It's hopeless trying to find
things here if you don't speak French"
Eyes, it is a little awkward. There's
no excuse for their not having English
speaking guides. Now I think well
find this the shortest cut to the other
wing"
When they reached the furniture
Helen started to thank him and pass
on alone. But in the most natural and
matteroffact way he called her atten-
ton to a Louis XIV desk by the win
dow,
TITS slightly restored. but I think
that's one Of the best pieces in the
collection
He drew from his pocket the mu-
seum's catalog in French, found the
number of the desk. and translated
the notes about 1t.
Before Helen realized II, she was
viewing the collection with this stran-
ger, and enjoying every moment of it,
He seemed thoroughly familiar, and
they fingered there almost an hour.
There are some Gobelin tapestries
in the main wing that 1 should like
to show you" he suggested. when they
had exhausted this gallery.
Her Flutter.
From the tapestries he took her
through the ceramics, and from there
through the brOnzes-
Pm afraid you're tired" he turned
to her suddenly with note Of con-
Germ. These galleries are very ex-
hausting. I think there's a lunchroom
in one of the wings here-if may sug-
gest --
'Oh. no, no." hastily. Il must go
back to the hotel for luncheon L had
no idea it was so late. have en-