The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-04-18
HER LAUDABLE EFFORT
BY EFFIE SAUNDERS.

DO you notice any difference In
me?" inquired the little stenographer
Of the bookkeeper.
well, that depends" he replied
noh-commlttally. There is the wealth.
er and the daylight and so many 9TH
er things ones supposed to notice a
| change in"
On, tell me all about that some 9th,
'er time!" interrupted the little stenoe.
rapher Il had the floor. and I simnIy
| asked you question to be answered
| yes or no. l had reference to
change for the better. However, l know
IL would be hard for you to distin.
gulsh any added graces and beauties
IN me, SO | withdraw my question"
Ihank you," murmured the book.
keeper, meekly.
1oul be pleased to know that I'm
follower of one of the muses.. af.
feet gymnastics-and they. incidental.
~ AFFECT me! OF course, gymnastics
IN themselves are not my aim-rather.
they were not. once could see myself
spinning around on one toe. rushing
gracefully across the floor with ont.
stretched arms as though to catch a
streak of lightning, suddenly haltins
and spinning like top; then vigorous.
ly repeating the performance with yari.
atoms.
You know, / really saw a flesh and
blood girl do such things. And she
said it was easy!
1 talked with her about It and. oh
she was so graceful, it seemed to af.
fect even her tongue! While she talked
she moved around me like a fairy and
nearly fell over myself in awkward
attempts to get out of her way every
Time she came near me! But she
talked right on, and never noticed any,
tnlng. She was so well-possessed. as
d result of her dancing.
so | grew more and more interest.
ed. She told me what she had studied.
and how long she'd been at it-just
Two years and what it cost for a
course and, above all, how much fun
it wasi
1 Ielt the need of something of the
sort. When I'm out in company | sit
still and envy every one, most of the
time! 1t seems that I'm the only per.
son on earth who hasn't a single ac-
comphshment! And after talking with
the girl who knew gymnastic dancing
could see myself calmly smiling at
all my new hosts of friends while thew
begged me to dance for them. | could
see myself, after much coaxing, rising
languldly and, amid a breathless hush.
plrouettlng into wonderful dance!
Il could see club women begging
me, as favor, to help them entertain!
| could see myself doing innumerable
dances with wonderful men escorting
me, throughout all the rest of nv life,
We'll, of course, l couldn't start
right in pirouetting in graceful mazes.
l. had to begin with the groundwork
That girl had to, too, when she be-
gan. 1t sounded all right. / thought
l could hastily brush over the neces-
sary foundations, and hasten onward
to the heights.
I'm still Fastening, but the heights
nave gone up so high in the meantime
that I've given up even wanting to get
there! Do you know, in order to
dance, you have to be able to swing
indian clubs to music, Just as fast as
you can go-whether your head gets In
the way or not makes no difference
until it's just as simple to you as
swinging your arm over a boat.
Thus far l can manage to grasp
the club firmly and put it back of nv
head every other count without muir
dering my peighbor-and / consider
That this degree of dexterity is quite
an achievement.
Then you have to be able to bend
forward, with your knees straight. and
touch your hands to the floor. Now.
the tips Of my fingers come almost
within foot Of the floor when I'm
bent double that way, and I'm most ap-
preciative Of the early martyrs who
bad their muscles drawn out as far as
possible. Unless l crack, fear my
hands will never touch the floor!
Then you have to stand facing
front, and at signal turn SO that Just
the half of You from your waist up is
luSiA6 KNOW SOUNDS Inn
possible, but it's required and that's
all there is to it. You just have to!
1t isn't the only absolutely Impossible
thing that I'm forced to do!
But, anyway, I've paid my tuition,
and they say it's identifying, so I'm
making it my ambition now to grow
beautiful
"Oh, yes-I didn't tell you that The
reason I've relinquished the dream of
dancing is that l discovered that my
graceful adviser studied every day
Of her two years, ali day long! 1 have
been trying to learn in one hour a
week, at night! ] suppose now, If
fail to grow graceful. I'll find that it's
because should have begun trying as
an infant, before my bones hardened.
But as long as they keep the bitter
truth from me, shall continue to
bopel"
You asked me little while ago."
said the bookkeeper. IF noticed diff.
IL, 4