Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-12-31
BEAUTY CONTEST
BY MARY LOUISE BUzzELL.

ASSS<<sS<<<<<<SSSSS
20, 1870, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate ,
The ladies of the Parsonage Repair
Fund sat IN solemn conclave in Mrs.
AbiJah Skefiington's parlor. The fund
treasury being empty, they were
thoroughly discouraged, for the par
sonage was In a sad state of dsre-
pair.
The case was briefly and plainly
stated by Ellen Raymond's tersely
uttered:
We've had rummage sales-apron
sales-and cooked-food sales, till per-
sonalIy, should he actually ashamed
to look even a spawned horse sale In
the face. And meantime, the ceiling
in the parsonage living room threatens
to bury the whole family under plas-
tering at any minute; the kitchen Is
a sight. and as for the minister's study
well ="
Mrs. Skeffington nodded agreement
that the parsonage was In a disgrace
full condition, then added:
Mr.. and Mrs. Wright have been
simply angelic to put up with 1t as
long as they have-and something
must be donel I'll confess that I'm
ut Il standstIl! But anyone able TO
solve the problem for us would receive
the thanks of all Northumberland de-
serve halo!"
At this juncture there was a knock :;
the door opened, and Peace Arkwright
: To
Pardon me-but as mother couldn't
come, she sent me to"
Mrs. SkefEington sprang up, her face
beaming.
Peace Arkwright," she cried ~ be-
( Iieve you're the very one 70 help us out
/ of a bad predicament! Listen" And
/ Peace listened attentively to the tale of
/ woe unfOlded by the head of the re-
j pair fund; and at it's conclusion said
/ thOughtfully:
/ "Well, perhaps our girls club could
get up some kind of an entertainment
/ that would bring in some money. 1t
would have to be something entirely
! neW-SOmething you've never had--in
/ order to be a success ~ Then she add
ed hestatingly: "Over In Shelbyville
they had a beauty contest--all the
prettiest girls disguised, with just
their faces showing through one thick
ness of gauze, you know-with young
men for judges, who paid So apiece
for the privilege. And over there, the
Observation-Disclosures off kisses
at 50 each-and they made just stacks
Of money"
Shocked CONSERVATION was depicted
on every face, and Ellen Raymond
gasped:
But Peace-Peace This is
church affair-and anything like sell
ing kisses would bring discredit on
the church-and scandalize the whole
town, No-that wouldn't dol" de-
cidedly.
Peace smiled demurely.
But | haven't told you all, ladies,
and | can't-nOt quite ALL"
1t was the evening of the beauty
contest. One hundred young men had
cheerfully paid IS each for a Judges"
the purchase Of kiss. The town hall
was packed and as the clock struck
eight the divided stage curtain was
slowly drawn to each side by two lit
tie girls in white, disclosing such
galaxy Of beauty that the audience
Etared in wonder.
The judges filed slowly past the
stage, peering lntently at each face
as they went. and nodding wisely as
they jotted down names on pads Of pa
per. This ceremony over, the sale
of kisses waxed fast-each judge
eager to enjoy the privilege for which
he had paid toll-even though the
kisses must be implanted on yelled
lips. And 1t must be confessed that
while the salutes given were ardent
every pair of lips bore the ordeal with
remarkable fortitude. Then came the
signal for unmasking and the final de-
cislon.
And then-well, then, in full view
of the audience, the "beauties" wrig-
gled out of their draperies and wells
and disclosed to the Mortified judges
a group of perfectly good looking but
unmistakable male persons in cOnven-
tional evening attire
While the audience fairly howled
its appreciation of the clever camou-
hage, the ante-room door opened and a
bevy of smiling Meadowville girls
came out and made deep obeisance to
the disgruntled judges.
And meanwhile Peace Arkwright
was in the back parlor helping Mrs.
Skeffington count the pile of bills they
had taken in. She was also receiving
the almost fearful thanks OF that more
than grateful lady, who, as she packed
the money into her capacious hand
bag, gurgled:
But. Peace, how did you ever sue
coed in making boys look so much like
girls? My knees fairly shook when
that kissing started up-for I'd made
! up my mind that you we're going to
] coll candy kiScaS instead of tho real