The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-22
Just Girls

Bring me iutc," tho poet has said.
and truly nothing short of q stringod
instrument may pipe the lay Of lady
fair changing carriage shoes for slip
pers just before the dance. She is all
fresh and lovely as the spring flowers
blooming In the florists shop In Jan.
uary. aud her dear little mind holds
only two things ut time--thc newest
steps OF the tango and the partner
with whom she Is TO dance them. Bat
she is such a really wholesome little
person. with the weight or an entire
seHson on her shoulders. and Lent not
yet begun While she Is moving an
Invisible hairpin from one side OF her
pretty hair to the other, she can tell
you in breath who has been where"
oil winter and why" and she Is 80
Huny and so dear that you almost
change your minds about wishing sho
did know at least one thing accom-
plishcd by the Father of Her Coun-
try.
II Is strange how the very inside OF
a dressing room. just outside the ball.
changes the most serious minded girl
into babblirg, chattcring sort of per-
sonHiity. with no soul above the mere
mention OF the buckles on her slip.
pers. She smooths her tulle and chif-
Ton drnperics In front the mirror,
and at least two other girls trying TO
see, too. and she talks and talks
about nothing nj nil while tho poor
man that she has honored with her
presence for tho evening. pranccs up and
down outside the door The while his
lady love powders the end of her nose
her kniFht and squire sends n perfect
stream Of solicitous messages Into her
augustncss. He bega that che cease
from her adornncnt and ascend with
him 10 the dance: re assures her that
hA
minutes, and that partners langu!sh
about the ballroom, only awaiting her
appearance. but she moves not from
her place on the table beside pile o.
soft wraps and clonks She Is hold
Ing the hand OF the best friend"
whom she only left few minutes be.
fore dinner NJ her own front gate, and
she whispers OF nothing at all. and
glggles at much less and finally, at
ter the tenth and last message has
been borne In 10 the effect that her
swain la now dancing up and down at
the FISK OF more than one vest button
instead OF around the nicely waxed
ballroom moor. she passes out
not 80 the best friend: she Ia busy
with more buckles and Watching for
vis!tAg gill and n hos, OF other
small things that appear mountain
high In her estimation. The visitor
arrives. and they. In turn. sit upon the
table and whisper and laugh and con.
verse, with the impatient tread o,
mere man TO be heard quite plainly
outsidc In the passage. Finally. the
german does begin. and the very last
girl has pinned on the very last bou-
quet and gone from the room
The sweetes, little old coiored
nanny. In quaint old blue frock
ana high white cap. has pushed all
the shoes and slippers under the long
table and fold.d the cloaks and capes:
''Dey ain nothin' on dis earth bur baby
ch!!lun." she says, quite softly TO her
self And that's all that they are AZ
ter while they viii wake up and
grow up. and become the most won.
dertul women that you know The
hearts that are tuned 20 the latest
dance may listen only too readily 10
the wailing note OF sorrows own
violin. and the soft white arms tina,
reach out for the flowers OF to-doy. TO-
morrow may hold with the brightes,
spirit In the world the heaviest bur
den OF all.
IT is good TO dance and good to be
gay ana irresponsible, for IL sets
melody FOR the sonata OF n life that
VIII run with happy lit through the
dark places that come and 4, will
pipe lay that VIII mark a steady s,en
upon the steep places OF your desire
Bring me a lutte the poet has said.
and II Is TO the softest music of n
magic night that one would chant the
song OF the gay little hearts and tho
bright little hearts that gather so
happily upon the beginning OF things
iii the soft-hued dressing room. lust
outside the ball
BRENT WITT.