Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-12-09
VENUS OF MILO.
BY stanilaus hersea.

lIlcy udO married from love. 0uA
was a beautiful woman and h knew
it. Her mirror told her many times
every day, and men had told her al
long as she could remember. Her hus-
band loved her still more because she
was beautiful. though they had really
loved each other since they We're barely
out of school. when she was still 2
lanky, bony girl, who ave no promise
OF her later beauty.
AS 1T was, her husband dotted or her
beauty. and could sit for hours watch-
V get tired OF praising her, ever
at the risk of making himself appear
ridiculous.
They went on their wedding trip and
everywhere they went he noticed nov
people admired her, and their silent adj
miration n jealous looks made the
young wife more conceited every day,
but her husband did not seem to notice
this at all.
Together they raveled through Prov
ence, and finally, before returning
home. they decided to spend a couple
of weeks In Paris. He knew the city
thoroughly. and a always loved tC
imagine the day when he was to show
Its charms to a beloved companion.
The very first day they went ITO the
Louvre. and he first of all showed to
his wife the famous tatue of the We
nus of Medici.
The remained standing before it in
silent admiration, and he who had al
ways loved beauty before everything.
was in an ecstacy of bliss. which even
made him forget the living woman at
his side. His heart beat faster and his
eyes dilated at the sight Of the mar
Vicious statue. Its beauty made him as
one Intoxicated.
His wife noticed the change which
had came over him, and h eyed the
classic rather coldly. so that is the
thought. and she'd she did NOT Mas see ar n be .1s.
ty in it. which she did not think she
possessed to a far greater perfection.
She looked at her husband. who seemed
to have forgotten her very existence.
How was 1T possible that he could adj
mire this cold stone more than he adj
came over her, but h said nothing.
simply waited for him to speak.
Finally he tore himself loose. rs not
she divine?" he asked, h expression
of a great happiness still in his eyes.
"Oh, yes, the statue is very we'll done,
and the woman is quite stately in her
bearing, but still l think that you men
make too much fuss about it,
"Too much fuss!' he exclaimed in
establishment. Why that statue is the
ideal woman! Look at the dreaming
eyes. the intellectual forehead. the
classic nose. the small mouth, the
chin"-
He stopped. struck by the strange
expression in her face.
Il admit all that she said. rather
e~Xcitedly, but how do you think this
much admired beauty would look in
a dress like mine? Rather like a
coarse dairy maid, I am afraid. And
think Of her in evening dress. with
short sleeves!" she added with a smile.
thinking of the classic statues missing
! arms.
ooh, i know very we'll that she could
not wear the foolish toilettes of today.
because you women have strayed far
away from the ideal beauty n dis
torted your bodies to conform with the
bids of stupid fashions. I love the We
nus as she is, and think that she far
SurpaSSeS by far any living woman
She could hardly believe her own
ears. Was really her husband speaking
i'm this way?
You seem to forget the reputation
she had she said bitterly, .or you
would moderate your admiration some
what. But | suppose you will say that
all those wicked stcrie.; We're only in
vention. of othe! women, who were
jealous
oh. l know that she was rather UNI
conventional. but who can think of
that, whom. looking at the snowy mar
| ble--hut b! see that you are rather pref
udiced against her. so / propose hat we
drop the subject he said and looked
once more 1T the ata.ue, before he could
tear himself !cosc.
Ali the w&y To lilcil hotel. not enc
reached thai,. ,oeln, The w.fc rushed
10 TIC ,air"cr 10 ml,.e sare that shc
had lost nonc Of Dor charms.
Her hnshaad nnti,"l il win II sr..'s.
and. taking pity ca he. !. ven, ever
to her.
.,r},.ay. ~