The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-08

~ WI AMA
iandl ! could wrlto a book on the
decline and fall OF the pettlcoat, be.
ginning with the billowy white mus.
lin variety, and working up to the
present sllnky messalina AFFAIR. When
! think OF those dear days OF the
glorioun-er-past when the hired girl
used 10 complain and threaten TO
leave because every woman In the
family had at least three ruled, EN-.
broidery.hounced white muslin petit
coats on the line on Mondays"
The lines about T. A. Bucks mouth
relaxed into a grim smile.
Remember that feature you got
them to run In the Sunday Sphere7
The n headed Are Skirts Growing
Fuller. and Where?'"
DO l remember i'll" walled Emma
McChesney. And can I ever forget
the money we put into that fringed
model we called the C~armencital We
made Il up 80 II could retail for a
dollar nlnety-hve, and ! could have
sworn that the women would main
each other to get TO it. But It didn't
81 AhNg WbnA NNtu wear lNlubt
around their ankles"
T. AS grim smile stretched into a
reminiscent grin. But nothing I'm our
whole hopeless campaign could touch
your Municipal Purity league agita.
ton for the abolition OF the form
hugging skirt, You talked public NOR
ais until you had A. Comstook and
Lucy Page CASTOR looking like Parl.
sian apaches."
A little laugh rippled up TO Emma
McChesney's lips only TO die way TO
a sigh. She shook her head in anrrow-
full remembrance
Yes. But what good did It do?
The newspapers End magazines did
take IL up. but what happened? The
dressmRkers and %tailors, who are
charging more than ever for their
work. and putting in half as much ma
terial, got together and knocked my
plans into a cooked hat"
They were both laughing now, like
q couple Of children And. oh, say!"
gasped Emma, remember Moe Sc
Zig OF the Fine-Form Skirt company,
trying TO get the doctors to state that
hobble skirts were making women
knock-kneedi Oh, mercy"
But their laugh ended in a little
rueful silence. II was no laughing
matter, this situation. T. A. Buck
shrugged his shoulders, and began a
restless pacing up and down. Yep,
There you are. Meanwhile"
Meanwhile, women are still wear
ing EN- tight, and going pettlcoat-
less"
Suddenly T. A. stopped short in his
pacing and fastened his surprised and
, interested gaze on the skirt OF the
trim and correct little business frock
that sat so well upon Emma McChes-
ney's pretty figure,
Why, look at that" he exclaimed,
and pointed with one eager finger.
: Mercy" screamed Emma McChes,
ney. What Is Il? Qulckl A mouse?'
T. A. Buck shook his head, impa,
tiently. 'Mousel Lord. mol Plaltsl'
"Plaits!"
She looked down, bewildered.
Yes. In your skirt. Three plaits
at the front left. and three in this
back. That's q isn't II? II outel
3 skirts are being made fuller, then q
follows"
. 1t ought to follow, interrupted Elm
J. ma McChesney, but It doesn't. !
lags way behind. These plaits ar
stitched down. See? That's tn,
hendishness OF IL. And the petticoa
r underneath--if there is one-must b
d just rs smooth, and u%nwrinkled, an
scant as ever. Don't let 'em fool you.
Buck spread his palms with a littl
d gesture Of utter futility.
Tn through. Out with you
scheme. We're ready for Il It's on
last card, whatever il To-"
e There was visible on Emma McChei
ney's face that little Tightening OF th
It muscles, that narrowing Of the eyelld
Il which betokens intense eRrnestnesi
n Not now. Just because its gu
last card / want 10 be sur that II
IT playing It well, I'll be ready for 20
ie tomorrow morning in my office. Com
prepared for the Jolt OF your youn
A. life"
10 For the first time since the bogil
ming OF the conversation a glow OF ne
T. courage and hope lighted up =. !
t. Bucks good-looking features. Il
fine eyes rested ~admiringly u4on Er
M ma McChesney standing there by n
We great show case. She seemed TO r
m diate energy, qlertnesa, confidence
10 when you begin 70 talk like that
he said, Il always feel as though
ID could take hold in a way to NAL
en- those famous Jobs that Heroul0
tackled look like little Whites Choir
We after school"
ID "Ffnei" beamed Emma MoChesne
sh lust store that up, viii you? Al
ht don't let IL filter out at your Fms
ZEE tips when ] begin to talk tomorrow
The little scarlet leather clock
Iat nmma McChesneya desk pointed
OF e:28 a m when there entered h
no ONCE an immediately CARRIED, mir
ulously shaven. healthily rosy your