Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-01-31
GIRLS HELPING HAND
BY AMELIA GRANT.

DO you really want TO help
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 VanderskipperY
asked the steaographer.
President of the Humanity Uplltt
ers' society? Yes, why?'
She is a friend of cousin of mine
Il never did like that cousin, either
One hot evening Mrs. Vanderskipper'
automobile stopped in front of our
boarding house. and I had visions OF
a ride in the park Mrs Vanderskip-
per didn't carry the same thought ]
learned that a prize Of 800 had been
offered 70 the member of the Upiift-
I 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
Il 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 had
written Then we rearranged them
for me to copy after office hours. Mrs.
Vanderskipper accepted some Of my
suggestions, but refused to cut out
some sentimental ideas
And your suggestions won her the
prizel" The artist spoke as If she
knew all about winning prizes.
Exactly. But that is only the first
chapter
"On the strength of the 800 check,
went on the stenographer, Mrs Van
derskipper wished to give me what
she called a real treat. II she had
paid me at space rates for copying
her essay would have been satisfied
but she could not think of money in
connection with services rendered.
She invited me to a concert to which
she had free tickets I apologetically
refused, as I do not care for music.
Anyway, l wanted the treat to be on
her, not on the management Of the
concert. had seen all the good plays
in town and refused to waste an
evening on a poor one
"You are rather particular"
''Oh. am I? Well. anyway. Mrs.
VanderskipDer invited me to a table
d'hote dinner at the Hotel Caroline.
She had once lived cheTe and she
recommended the dinners as really
better than any SIS banquet she ever
attended I have never been to a s.
feed. and anyway I was willing to ex-
pertinent She had invited several
other selt-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 it |
would be q source of great mortifica- |
ton to her if her guests were not |
properly alfred"
The artist grinned
q caught the idea. so that night
told the boarders that I'd have to buy /
new dress, just because I mad been |
indiscreet enough to lend a helping !
hand to a poor society woman. One |
man suggested that I go at once to /
Mrs. Vanderskipper and say Madam,
that dinner will cost you Sl-give me
IS cents and III stay at home An
other man advised me to make 1t 80
cents-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
o'clock | had a cream wool skirt, two
chiffon wells, a pair of Turkish slip
pers and a linen dress. BY that time
| was so desperate that I didn't care
I made good impression on
the servants at the Hotel Caroline or
not, SO / rushed into a store and
bought a blouse.
That isn't the worst of it. At the
dinner Mrs. Vanderskipper told every
one that it took her less than an hour
to write the essay which won the 800
prize l thought of the hot summer
nights work in my room and the long
after hours that I devoted to tipping
he essay. to say nothing of the time
passed in shopping"
Just to eat a 81 dinner with
finished the artist.
Precisely. It made me so angry
hat now I haven't the slightest de
sire ever again to give a helping hand
o any one. That is why I refuse to
lelp you Oh, I'm now the least oblig-