vWSS?* 
 :?3M5 
 
 to 
 
 fe$: 
 
 *T^i>-
 
 Copyrighted, 1899, by A. E. Little & Co., Lynn. 
 
 THE SPARREU, PRINT. BOSTON.
 
 H College Story. 
 
 Harvard College Gate.
 
 H College Story. 
 
 ATE one bright Winter afternoon, three college boys 
 were loitering in front of Weld, talking over the de- 
 bate of the night before, the approach of the mid-year 
 exams., and other things equally important to them. 
 They were about to separate, when a party of young girls, 
 accompanied by an elderly lady, came through the gate, pass- 
 ing by them and taking the path towards the Chapel. 
 
 It was Thursday, and they were going to vespers, of course, 
 and afterwards to some college man's room to look at his 
 pictures and trophies, and be entertained with a chafing dish 
 and accessories, in the usual, delightful way. 
 
 "By Jove, I'm booked for vespers, too." exclaimed Dick 
 Thurstcn; "I'd forgotten all about it. My sister sent me word, ages 
 
 Library, Harvard College,
 
 ago, that she was coming out today to bring a girl with her, a 
 New Jersey girl, her chum. This girl has never been to Boston 
 before, or Cambridge, and Kate is in her glory, showing her 
 around. Don't you want to lend a hand, Jack? She's young 
 and good looking, and, well, all right, you know." 
 
 "Which, your sister, or the girl from New Jersey? " asked 
 Jack, laughing, 
 
 "Why, of course, I wasn't going on about my sister like 
 that. Kate is a fine girl, sure, and I'd like you to meet her ; 
 but my chief anxiety to-day is to have the stranger from New 
 Jersey get such an idea of the College, its particular points of 
 beauty, etc., etc., you know, that, well, we can't do very 
 much after all, but take her to vespers and over to Memorial 
 to see the boys eat, and then it will be time to go." 
 
 " I'd like to meet your sister, Dick, and her friend, too; but 
 I'm afraid it's out of the question. I'm expecting my mother 
 this afternoon, and I haven't seen her for months, and some- 
 how can't think of anything else, I am so happy about it. I 
 went to Boston to meet her and in some fool carelessness 
 missed the train. Of course she's all right, and she'll come 
 over by herself, but you can bet I was disappointed. I'm sorry, 
 though, to be disobliging." 
 
 " Never you mind about me ; I'll get on, but you are to be 
 envied, man ; I wish I was expecting my mother," and Dick 
 
 gciciaa<3acfaciaac3<^^
 
 sgttcKiaacfcfcfc* 
 
 looked sober, as he thought of his own mother far away 
 from all her dear ones, seeking in vain for the health that would 
 never be hers again. 
 
 Just then a tall, graceful girl in a brown tailor-made suit, 
 passed by the boys, and as they raised their hats in response to 
 her quiet bow, Jack burst out, " That Butler girl is a stunner, 
 isn't she ? I never see her but I think she has caught the 
 secret of knowing just what to wear and how to wear it. She is 
 certainly master, no, mistress, I mean, of the art of 
 dress. Don't you think so ? " 
 
 " I think she's positively great, Jack; I do indeed. I only 
 wish I knew her. She's just the style of girl I dote on." 
 
 " You two are easily impressed," said the third fellow, pat- 
 ronizingly ; "but then you're freshmen, and supposed to be 
 green. I '11 forgive you, and hope as years roll on you'll get wiser. 
 Why, the girl isn't even pretty. I call her common-place, in fact." 
 
 Vassar College.
 
 " Commonplace ! " indignantly broke out Jack, "why, where 
 are your eyes, man? Why, there isn't a girl that walks the 
 streets that compares with this Miss Butler. I don't mean that 
 her complexion is faultless, or that her features and form are 
 like Venus, but who cares for all that ? I'm talking of her style, 
 and carriage ; why, she is grace itself. And then she dresses 
 in such good form, too. Her skirt has the proper cut and swing, 
 her hat betrays the artist, her gloves are immaculate, and she 
 walks with the ease of " 
 
 " Yes, yes, I admit it all, I agree with you perfectly," inter- 
 rupted the upper-class man, laughing, " it is plain that you are 
 under a spell, and the only safe thing for me is to acquiesce 
 in your judgment. She walks with the ease of a duchess, did 
 you say? Well, all girls walk now-a-days; it is a part of their 
 education. The day has gone by when it was a novelty for a 
 girl to be able to wa'.k, and walk well, too. Why, the up-to- 
 date girl thinks no more of walking five or six miles than a 
 man does. There wouldn't be so many girls playing golf if they 
 couldn't walk. You see the fact is that girls have learned, 
 now-a-days, to pay as much attention to their shoes as they pay 
 to their gloves ; and shoes are a deal more important, let me 
 tell you. My sister talks almost as much about her shoes, their 
 style, their cut, the best place to buy them and all that as she 
 does about the Symphony Concerts. Last summer it was all
 
 about their being cut on a man's last, I mean the shoes, not 
 the concerts, and the nearer they looked like mine, why, the 
 better they were. If girls hadn't given up the flimsy, thin-soled, 
 high-heeled shoes that they used to wear, golf and cross-country 
 walking would be an impossibility. But, I tell you girls' shoes 
 are gotten up to-day on a scientific plan." 
 
 " Well thought out, old man," said Jack, " you might get 
 out quite an oration on this subject, if you took time, but don't 
 deliver it to us here, Because Dick and 1 think Miss Butler is 
 a " thing of beauty and a joy forever," it doesn't follow that we 
 want a lecture on shoes, scientific or otherwise ; but I don't see 
 why mother doesn't appear, I must be looking sharp for her 
 now." 
 
 And he started towards the square, where the cars were 
 being emptied cf their fair occupants, in groups and singly, 
 while Dick and Roger sauntered the other way.
 
 
 " I guess you're about right on the shoe question, Roger. I 
 haven't had much chance to know about such things. The only 
 thing I do know about is what they cost. After father died, we 
 had to economize in every possible way. Mother and I used 
 to talk over all sorts of things. For years she had ordered her 
 footwear at an expensive store, just as she had ordered her 
 dresses and bonnets, and thought no more about it. She had 
 always found it impossible to get a comfortable and well-fitting 
 shoe for less than five or seven dollars. It grieved her to death 
 to think of expending so much on her feet. Last year, how- 
 ever, she saw a shoe advertised that promised so much for 
 $3.50 that she gave it a try. Well, it proved all right, and 
 mother was so pleased that she has never ceased to praise its 
 virtues. A dollar or two isn't much to save, I know, but every 
 little helps; and were it not for my mother's economies Har- 
 vard College would be only a dream to me." 
 
 Roger Franklin took the boy's hand and shook it warmly. 
 
 " I like you for your stuff, man; I'm glad to know you. 
 Your speaking of a shoe, though, that your mother liked so 
 much, reminds me that my sister May has been raving over a 
 shoe lately that she struck somewhere. I have chaffed her a 
 good deal about it but she doesn't mind. The up-to-date girl, 
 who walks and makes a business of being graceful on foot, is 
 devoted to her shoes; and I'll bet you ten to one that the girl
 
 we have been discussing has a fad in the same direction, and 
 that her fascination and attractiveness are due partially lir if not 
 entirely, to the fact that she wears some particular shoe." 
 
 " I'll take your bet," said Dick, " although I don't believe 
 shoes have anything to do with it. You are simply trying to 
 jolly me, old boy. How are you going to find out, anyway? 
 You can't walk up to a girl like that and ask her if she is de- 
 voted to shoes. But I must get up to my room ; its time for my 
 sister to be here if she's coming at all to-day I'm off." 
 
 Roger, left alone, wondered what he would do next, and had 
 about decided to hang around and run the chance of seeing 
 Dick again, with his sister and the New Jersey girl, when, to 
 his great delight, he saw Miss Butler coming towards him. 
 He went to meet her and, lifting his hat, said, " Are you not 
 going to vespers, or don't you care for such things? " 
 
 " Mr. Franklin, how can you ask me such a question. I 
 
 Wellesley Collago. 
 
 ^ooaaaaaaaaac^
 
 always go when I am lucky enough to get an invitation. I am 
 just as unhappy as possible, coming through the yard, and 
 meeting everybody going there. I was strongly tempted to go 
 all by myself, only I just didn't quite dare, you know." 
 
 "I presume you never go without a chaperon?" queried 
 Roger ; " wouldn't think of such a thing, I suppose." 
 
 "0, that don't make any difference with me. I often go 
 with college men whom I have known a long time. My mother 
 is awfully nice and sensible about that. She says she can't see 
 why it isn't just as proper to go to vesper service without a 
 chaperon, as it is to go canoeing, or skating, or to a matinee. 
 Of course, I can't go to any of the boys' teas in their rooms, 
 and don't want to, but I think it isn't much different from any 
 church service, after all, in the idea, I mean." 
 
 " Won't you go with me, then, to-day," said Roger eagerly ; 
 " you haven't known me such an awful long time, I know, but I 
 wish you would go." 
 
 The girl hesitated and Roger went on : 
 
 " Besides, I want to talk to you about something else. I 
 have a bet on ; and you can help me out of it if you will. I 
 want to tell you about it." 
 
 " Then let's not go to vespers, Mr. Franklin. I never talk 
 there, of all places. We mustn't stand here in the yard either. 
 I'm all interest in your bet, though, and will help you if I can.
 
 I was going up North Avenue to make a call. If you will walk 
 that way, you can tell me all about it." 
 
 They turned and passed through the gate, away from the 
 hustle and bustle of the Square. Roger began talking about 
 the College boys, their athletics and amusements, wondering 
 to himself how he could best introduce the subject in which he 
 was so much interested. 
 
 " I don't know very much about college boys, but I fancy 
 their amusements and occupations are very much the same as 
 those of college girls. If they are grinds, and are ambitious 
 for honors, they pursue the same methods; if they are social, 
 they seek congenial society and find ways of amusing them- 
 selves ; if they are lazy and indifferent, they will flunk and get 
 out of it the best way they can. It's much the same. But we 
 are wandering away from the bet ; I'm interested in that." 
 
 " Well," said Roger, realizing that he couldn't tell her just 
 
 University of Pennsylvania. 
 I 
 
 sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooc^g
 
 u 
 
 what the bet was, " it began in a foolish sort of talk, as all such 
 things do, and ended in a dispute about shoes, girls' shoes." 
 
 "Girls' shoes," she repeated, "how very queer; how did 
 you manage to get on such an uninteresting subject, I'd like to 
 know? " 
 
 " You think it uninteresting ? " he asked. 
 
 " Oh no, I think it a most fascinating subject ; but I meant 
 uninteresting for boys. I can't see how they could possibly get 
 up any interest whatever on that question." 
 
 " Strange to say, three of us fellows got into quite a heated 
 discussion this afternoon about girls' shoes." 
 
 "What about them, pray? Tell me what you want to 
 know. I am curiosity itself." 
 
 " You are more than kind," said Roger, hesitatingly, as he 
 was trying to word his question so as not to give offense. " I 
 have a sort of an idea that girls now-a-days, I mean college 
 girls that play golf and are in society and all that, have got 
 some sort of a fad about their shoes; that they wear a special 
 make or something. You ought to know about it if they do, 
 its right in your line." 
 
 " Why, of course," said Miss Butler, "I'm just the girl to 
 enlighten you. We are interested in a special shoe, and it is 
 called the ' Sorosis,' named after that swell woman's club in 
 New York. Why, I haven't worn anything else for two years. 
 
 ioaac2ciaaaaaa<^^
 
 It is simply the most perfect shoe ever made for women. And 
 then it's so wonderfully cheap. You can buy a pair for $3.50. 
 I guess I'll have to tell you a tale that bears on this subject. 
 It's a mighty good story, and it's true, too, although very likely 
 you'll call it a college yarn. 
 
 " It was in my junior year that a new club was formed ; and 
 this is the way it started. One day I had a strong desire to go 
 down to the city and have a treat ; so I tore up stairs to Beth 
 Robbin's room to get her to go too. She was my best beloved, 
 you know. To my surprise and grief, I found her in great dis- 
 tress of mind. Beth was Secretary of the College Settlement 
 Association, and the Treasurer had just been up to see her to 
 tell her that, of the promised $500 they had voted to give 
 towards the Madison House work, $100 was wanting. The 
 time was almost up for sending the remittance, and something 
 had to be done at once. Beth went over her list and said that 
 
 Mule Hall, Smith College.
 
 =aaaaa<^aa<^aaaaa<^ 
 
 the wealthy girls had subscribed as liberally as usual ; but the 
 not-so-well-to-do girls had not responded so generously as for- 
 merly. Their interest was as great as ever, but one and another 
 had found it necessary to give a smaller amount or nothing at 
 all. So the upshot of it was we were in a hole. Beth could 
 have got a summa cum laude at any college in the world for 
 slang." 
 
 ' What did you do about it ? " asked Roger, all interest. 
 
 "Well, we called a meeting of the directors; stated the 
 case plainly, and waited for suggestions. Had there been more 
 time, we could have given a play, that always goes, -but 
 that was out of the question. Then Lillian Johnson rose to the 
 occasion, in the one way that was practicable for her. She 
 offered to trim any and all hats that might be brought to her for 
 one dollar a hat. Lillian was an artist in that line, and we all 
 admitted it. We simply adored the hats and toques she de- 
 signed for herself. She always had a fresh creation for every 
 gown she wore ; and everything just suited her piquante little 
 face. Her picture hats were dreams of beauty; but, alas, 
 hardly anyone was then in need of a hat. It wasn't time to be 
 thinking of Easter, and her generous offer got so few responses 
 that we knew that wasn't a go." 
 
 " Another girl, learned in Greek and philosophy, offered to 
 take pupils in dancing. Nell could dance like an angel ; and
 
 many a girl who didn't care a rap for her proficiency in Greek 
 fell in love with her dancing. Nell was all enthusiasm, and 
 she soon had a list of seventeen pupils who wanted to be taught 
 to waltz at five dollars a head. I suppose it would be more 
 correct to say, two dollars and a half a foot. We were simply 
 wild and thought our problem was solved, when, in some 
 mysterious way, the faculty heard of the plan, and we were in- 
 formed it could not be allowed." 
 
 " Finally, one of the most popular girls in the class said she 
 had a plan, that she would explain, under promise of strict se- 
 crecy, which she thought could be made a success. We 
 promised, of course ; and she said that for some time she had 
 been saving towards a special fund, and as it had worked well 
 for her, why shouldn't we all try it once, anyway?" 
 
 1 By that time we were ready to try anything ; so she 
 stepped in front of us, raising her dress gracefully, and exposed 
 
 Library, College Hall and President's Residence, Amhent. 
 
 8gc$cfc3<3<3<3a<3cK*3c^
 
 the prettiest foot you ever saw, neatly clad in a perfect-fitting, 
 handsome, stylish shoe. But even then we didn't catch on. 
 ' Why, girls, don't you understand? ', she said. ' No, what do 
 you mean?' we exclaimed in a breath. ' We are stupid, of 
 course, but tell us,' 
 
 ' Don't you see my Sorosis shoes ? Are they not perfect ? 
 You can see how elegant they are ; and they are as comfortable 
 as they are beautiful, And they only cost $3.50.' 
 
 " We all looked at each other. There wasn't a girl there 
 whose shoes did not cost all the way from $5, $6, or $7, to $10, 
 as the case might be ; and we didn't know what to say." 
 
 " ' I don't wonder you look scared,' said Fan, ' for the first 
 pair I bought I expected to have to give away; but I was de- 
 termined to give them a fair try. The simple fact is they are 
 superb, and I shall never wear any other kind. And then, think 
 of the money I'm accumulating on the dead quiet. Do you 
 see my idea, girls?' ' 
 
 " 'Yes, I do,' said I. 'We must find sixty or seventy girls 
 in the college who want shoes at once, and induce them to try 
 the Sorosis shoe and give the difference in cost towards our 
 subscription fund for Settlement work. I'll buy a pair, and be 
 one of a committee to canvass. How many girls can you in- 
 fluence, Jane,' I said to one of our swell girls who so far had not 
 committed herself."
 
 ' ' Must I buy and wear a pair, too, if I serve on the com- 
 mittee?' asked Jane." 
 
 " Sure, even if you put them in the box of clothing for the 
 poor after the thing is over,' said I." 
 
 " *Oh, you wont do that, I promise you,' said Fan." 
 
 " Well, to make a long story short, we got our committee 
 and went to work, and Friday we met with $175 to the good. 
 We were pretty proud of it, too. I had many misgivings about 
 my own purchase, I confess, but I'm pretty determined when I 
 set out, and I soon realized that these shoes were making a new 
 girl of me. And now, after a thorough trial, whether I walk, 
 ride, dance, skate, or play golf, I never wear anything but a 
 Sorosis shoe. I expect I have tired you to death, Mr. Frank- 
 lin, haven't I?" 
 
 " Oh no," said Roger, " It's a great story. I had no idea 
 
 CDapel, Williams College. 
 
 iaa^aaaaoaaciaaaaaaa^
 
 girls had so many resources at their command ; but how about 
 the club? You forgot about that." 
 
 " Oh yes, we formed a club, taking in all who wore Sorosis 
 shoes. We made it a Greek-letter society, and it was quite a 
 swell club after all. You see, of course, that only sensible girls 
 could join it. We wanted to call it Sorosis, but didn't dare to, 
 for fear that certain New York ladies would kick. The club is 
 almost as much of a success as the shoe is, and nets a tidy 
 little sum every year for settlement work. But here I am at 
 Mrs. Clarke's, so I must bid you good bye. I hope my story 
 hasn't bored you too much, but you seemed interested, you 
 know, and so I kept on. After all, you haven't told me what 
 your bet was, I hope you'll win it. Will you tell me if you do." 
 
 " May I come and tell you ?" 
 
 " I shall be very glad to have you come." 
 
 And with face slightly flushed, probably by reason of her 
 walk in the brisk, bracing air, she went up the path leading to 
 the door. 
 
 Roger waited until she disappeared, then turned and retraced 
 his steps towards Memorial. 
 
 " What a lucky dog the fellow will be who has the chance of 
 keeping her forever in Sorosis Shoes. I wonder ." 
 
 size sl\e -Wears? Tl]ey ^ill surely Xr\ov^ at 
 
 Woodnqari's 279 Essex Street, Laurence. I 
 go iri arid buy a pair at orice. 
 
 ^c^aaaaaaaaciac^^
 
 ^ooaciaaaaciaciac^^ 
 a
 
 U ' U 
 
 Trinity College, Cambridge, Eng,
 
 UC SOUT 
 
 HERN REGIONAL LIBRARY 
 
 
 Otf LY 
 
 &EO. H. WOODMAN 
 
 are ESSEX exit*, l ^Vy 
 
 ESSEX SHOE STORE, 
 
 1 ESSEX ST.,