Took the Advice.

Otago Witness, Issue 2721, 9 May 1906, Page 80

Took the Advice.

She \\a=s a fabhion writer. She ako had a column in the magazine which was devoted io answering all the questions a-sked by damsels whose complexions were !.ot ju«t what they desired, who-e sweethearts did not behave as they wished, and thoso who wanted cures foe freckles. She wa=v used to bcinj askod th-o exact, length f>f Cleopatra's nc6e, the colour of Eve's hair, and the family names of half the peercs-cs Shp to-vo her opinion as to the propiiety of lchsing games; gave advico 2.3 to the dressing of a bride or a baby; but. she did get desperately tired when a girl would write 16 pages about the "gentleman "ho \vae keeping company with h-er."

To her most intimate friend, the miser* able fashion writer told the following story:

"A letter came to me, written in the usual fashion, and in which a girl said that she had been keeping company with a young man for two years, that ho didn't have much money, and would I advise her to marry him and go into apartments, oi* h? wait a few months and collect enough furniture to make a little home for themselves? I got immensely interested. I wrote to that gir! and advised her to waifc three months and have a home to Btarfc with, and I gave her a lot of advice and a few suggestions that I thought might help her a'ong. 1 never heard of her any more, but last \vfrek when I was shopping, a young woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked, modestly :

" 'Are you Mis Dash?' "'She wore a hat trimmed witli roses, end very, very 'ong and very wide palo blue streamers down her back. Hor coat v-as a Jight one, with enormous pearl buttcne upon it, and her gloves wore white. Upon her face was the moss delighted expression possible. She looked so happy that it absolutely rested me to look at her Then she explained herself. "'" ' I s'pose I ought to be ashamed o£ myself — one lady speaking to another in this way — but I'm Mrs Frilkins. Of course, you don't know me by that name now, but I always read your magazine, and last year I wrote you a letter asking whether I had better marry a young man who was lunninq 1 after me then, or whether I had better wait until we had enough to set up housekeeping. You wrote me a beautiful letter ; you told me how to be noblo and honourable with my husband, and to b-» affectionate and always glad to ssre him, and then you told mo to wait for : home. It was a very lucky thing you said that, because I had made up my mind to do exactly as you told me. I've got a beautiful home, and you can see how I am dressed. You have done more for me than any woman in the whole world.' "I can't tell 3011 ho\y 'his affected me. I felt the tears come into my eyes, and I said to myself: " • Well, after all, the letters do some good.' "J took Mis Frilkins's hand in mine, and eaifl. earnestly: "' r can't tell you how glad I am ! And how hapDy that young man must be !* " 'Goodness gracious !' she said ; ' why I didn't marry him ! During the waiting <:mo I did a heap better — I married h:a boss ' ' "