The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-09-07
The Taking Down
Society
%, 1919. Western Newspaper uniOn.)

By CLARA DELAFIELD
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xZOU don't need to talk about the
i crusaders to me. We've got
better means than that for disciplinlng
the refractory spirits Of our town.
And that's tie Taking Down society,
for the humiliation OF the proud.
The membership is secret-has to
be. But it's efficient, our society, ana
the best part Of 1t is, even the mem
beers OF the society can get taken down
If they're too proud. You see, nobody
is exempt. Oh. itworks well!
Necessary, too, In small place Ike
ours where some people think they're
too good for their neighbors. You've
no idea what lot Of snobs there can
be In place like Willowhampton.
Now there's Mrs. Brinscombe, the
dressmaker. She makes my things.
She's got q sort Of knack, you know.
Likewise Miss Jay, the milliner. She
makes my hats. All / have to dol
trained both those women, by the
way-all / do Is to order two or three
Paris model gowns and hats from the
city, charged. take them to those two
women, and they can sketch and copy
them In few days. Then send back
the originals and say I've changed my
mind about purchasing. And the copies
are just as good as the originals.
That's how I come TO be the best
dressed woman In the town, and all
the rest are green with envy. Well,
one owes something TO ones social po-
4 10 NO tnrolIU sllnHri0r
to ones neighbors one has right TO
let them know 1t.
Yes, this gown / have on was made
by Mrs. Brinscombe, and Miss Jay
made this hat You won't see another
woman In town dressed like me. Look
at that Mrs. Clay next door, watching
me like cat! She'd give her eyes
to have this gown on for ten minutes.
Laughing, the cat! That's just her
way Of showing fer inferiority.
Well, now, about this society you
were asking me about. Why, the idea
is, If anyone's too proud, you try to
show him or her his or her conduct in
fits proper light as sort Of object
lesson. For instance, there's old Mr..
Mears, the bank president Always
pulling and struttng about the streets,
patting small boys on the head, and
giving them dimes and nickels. Well,
when the touring company was In
town the society engaged Bert Lavery
the comedian, and showed him Mr
Mears In the street one day.
Next morning. when Mr.. Near.
ShA WIG
Bert Lavery standing outside, dressed
exactly the same as him, with a pal
of white whiskers and a silk hat will
a dent In It, surrounded by gang o
nrchins.
Here's a nickel for you, my lttl
man." he was saying. "And here's
dime for you. Always be a good bo
and go to Sunday school, and by tn
time you're ninety you'll be preslden
OF bank. maybe, like me-"
They say Mr.. Mears nearly droppe
dead of apoplexy when he saw thai
He never patted any urchins on tn
head after that, and for a week h
skunk into the bank by the side er
trance. Oh. yes, cur society know
now 10 hht uOWh Tic pfOuu aii ilSh
Mr., Mears has hardly held up his hea
since that day.
I must be going now-heavens,
there Isn't Louisa, my colored lauI
dress, coming down the street Loo
at that crowd following herl Whi
in the name Of creation Is that she
rot on? I'm a little short-sighted
Veil. did you ever see such q ridic1
ps-looking creaturei
70 that's what Mrs. Clay next do'
laughing at thought for IN
she was laughing at me. que
the good woman an injustc
all, she couldn't have been laug
me, unless she was out of b
Necause whatever ! may be n
q say I'm q subject for laug
they!
pmes Louisa Why, all h
own seem to be followil
look at the silly. mincll
7 Well, all ] can say Is,
N. L better sense Of b
~ 1 to dress up like that
Ehat7 Why. look at he
he creaturei She's-sh'
.ne hat and gown like. min
~ Ier see such impu-i WI
|opyl It's exactly the sam
tshe's initiating mel Sh,
like mel Oh-what shall
this Is terrlblei I'm sham
I'll have the law on the