The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-11
[GROWN.UP CINDERELLA
Dy SOPHIE IRENE LOEB


 An incident in connection with . very large dinner where there were scevefal hundred people present reads like story out of . fairy tale. not unlike Cinderella.
 One of my women friends, Mrs. H., had table at this affair and had invited some guests. In the hers called. The caller was . cul- tured. fine woman who had been greatly reducel in circumstahces and she and her husband were prac- tically living the life of hermits, as far as any social element was con- cerned.
 During the course of the afternoon Q telephone message came to Mrs. H., announcing that two of her dinner as something had just hap pened to prevent it. Mrs. H. was disappointed because she expected her table to be filled.
 A sudden impulse struck her and she turned to the visitor. saying: "Oh. wouldn't you and your husband come to the dinner with me tonight and take their places?"
 The woman answered that she couldn't possibly go as she had no suitable clothes to wear. not havinH been able to buy an evening dress for 50 long or anything else that would have made her presentable at such , an occasion. The brilliant thought having come, however, Mrs. H. would not let 1t So asd refused to take no for an answer. / y"Oh! It would be such fun fixing you up in some of my own things. and look at the good time we will have" she urged. She seemed so enthusiaAtic and interested that the woman caught the spirit of it and immediately communicated with her husband. Somewhere, locked away in an old trunk, was his dress suit of many years ago. He hurried to his home to have it taken out, meet his wife and their friends. In the mean time there was much merrfment in trying on and sewing up and fitting, because everything had to be done in such a hurry. At last the dress, evening wrap and everything was ready. But alas! , slippers of Mrs. H. did not fit the woman. They were a full size too small. But never mind, she would wear them anyway-and she did.
 This is the way Mrs. H. tod 1t to me: "If you had seen the ook of joy on my friends face as we entered the great banquet hall, with its beautiful lights and flowers and handsome gowns! She squeezed my arms and said. Isn't 1t just like Fairyland?'
 And then when we sat down to the table and were introduced all around. and the merry laughter. could not keep my eyes from the sparkling face of the woman I had brought with me, the grown-up Gin derella.
 Between us sat an artist friend of ours, a man who had painted por- traits of important people, and whose business 1t Is to study faces and what they express.
 Several times during the evening he jokingly held my hand. Once he turned to my friend and said, I would hold your hand. too. only am afraid. I kno wit has been so long since you have played that would probably frighten you and make you uncomfortable. You doubtless will have to learn all over again how to play he told her.
 The next morning she called me on the telephone. still enraptured. It was a dream. that's all can say for 1t. We both are so much in- debted to you, and have been bath ing my feet in hot water to take out the soreness. but I would bear it many times to live 1t all over again And for many days this woman suffered with aching feet. the result of the small slippers. but with glad heart"
 What a beautiful occurrence! There are so many people starved for littls social attention. And what a turly wonderful, thing 1t Is to go out of your way a bit and create cinderella" and a."Fairy Tale" for some ont who needs it! And most ofsthe time 1t costs so