El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-27
tn TELL
! WOMEN HOW To
DYE TOE NAILS
Nine. Mendes, Poetess With
Wonderful Hair, Will
Lecture in America.
CONES In BEHALF
OF FRENCH TROOPS


n ARTS. France, Feb. 27.-The poet
ess, novelist, ballet writer and lee
= turer. Nine Jane Caune Mendes,
viii arrive in New York early in March
for a lecture tour throughout the
United States on behalf of the French
wounded. This is her first visit TO
America. She will go to the San Fran
cisco exposition and speak on her war
experiences in every big city OF the
country.
A leader of the social and intellectual
world here and one of the finest brun-
cites in Paris. Nine. Catulle Mendes
viii be an hOnOred and much admired
guest in New York, C4.cagO and Cali
foreign society, judging bya dVance
invitations she has received from prom
inent American women
Has Fashion Surprise.
Friends of Nine. Mendes also say
that she has a fashion surprise TO
spring on American women, and one
that they viii not be able to resist. The
surprise" is a wOman's secret, and it
is therefore generally understood that
Mime. Mendes plans to set new craze
for dyeing the finger tips and tops Of
the toes a delicate rose shade.
This is a Turkish custom adopted by
the beautiful poetess, who made
special study Of feminine habits in the
orient The fingers and toes are dipped
in the rose dye as far as the first
Joint and the result is to impart an
exotic touch calculated to add to a
wOman's attractiveness.
Reverts to Old Superstition.
Since the war, Nine. Mendes has been
unable to surmount a very interesting
superstition which has existed in her
family since the earliest days. The
family of Brittany and has adopted
some of the II commandments which
saved one OF her ancestors from per-
ishing in the Crusades in the thirteenth
century. Her ancestor, young Brittany
chatelaine, full Of fear and despair be-
their wedding day to beard the prophet
asked that she be given a definite task
to perform each day until her husband
returned.
According to the old story, the bishop
laid down rules which she had TO
obey implicitly il she would have her
husband return unframed. Among
other things, she had to walk bare
footed up a rough road leading to the
Calvary Of the chateau every day: she
had to doff her fine undergarments and
wear only a chemise Of the cOaPest
linen. As a special modification she
had TO remain silent one day out OF
seven and to fast every thlrd day. But
hardest Of all to obey was the order
not TO look in mirror nor to array
herself in any festive garment, nor TO
wear fancy headdFess until her lord
Keeps All But One.
The Mendes family legend SAYS the
little bride kept all the commandments
except the last-fOr want of a mirror
she looked in a clear pool and as her
plain headdress could not satisfy her
desire for cOquetry, she adorned IL
with Brittany spices honeysucEe and
roses. But as, literally she did not
break the commandments her hus-
band returned to her after seven years.
Nine. Mendes Disenrds LuXuTies.
Like her ancestor, Madame Mendes
has this year adopted a coarse chemise
OF rough linen, she has vowed she
Will speak no, unnecessary word and
has given up Injuries. But she stin
piles up her wonderful coal black hair
in labrynthine coils. and has not dis
carded the Japanese pillow she has
to. prevent the tumbling Of her
hair at night.
Nine. Mendes's work on behalf of the
wounded soldiers has the support Of
Pierre Lott Anatole France, Rostand
and numerous other intellectuals, while
Rodin has given her a large bronze en-
titled La Defense" which is to be sold
at not less than $4,000.