Life — March 19, 1903 — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

* LIFE = IN MARCH. ALICE > S the 17th of March fell on a Tuesday, 2hs Alice decided to go for a walk. The YY blustering March wind (why are March winds always said to bluster?) was so - chill, that Alice wrapped her long fur boa more closely about her neck as she ran down the front steps. The boa was not a new one this year, so it was not a flat stole, but a long, snaky affair, with all the serpentine sinuousness of a live boa-constrictor. And in the afore- said blustering wind the ends of the boa writhed and curved through the air like real snakes round a snake-charmer. Indeed, so very blustering was the aforesaid wind that Alice scurried along with her head held down—in the mistaken notion which women have that this posture will keep them warmer—and so she wandered away from the road she meant to take, and soon found herself in an unfamiliar part of the city. She paused to inquire of a young girl who was _ passing, where she might be, and how she might return to her intended path. But the stranger paid no heed to Alice’s questions, for she was gazing with glittering eyes at the boa, which still twisted and writhed in the blustering wind. She seemed fascinated with it, and stroked its undulating curves as it wreathed toward her, and fairly clutched at it as it blew away from her grasp. “Who are you?" said Alice, “and why do you act like that ? > you want my boa?”” “Ts it a boa?”’ asked the girl. ‘A boa-constrictor? A snake?” “Who are you?’’ asked Alice again, almost frightened now by the snaky glitter in the girl's eye, and the soft sibilant hiss of her voice. “TI am Elsie Venner,” she replied, cordially enough, ‘Cand Iam going to a meeting of the Snake Club. Per- haps, as you seem fond of boas, you would like to go with me “Indeed I should,” cried Alice, who was always ready for an adventure of any kind, and who, moreover, was much interested in meeting Elsie Venner. “Itisn’t far,” said Elsie, as they walked along together in the blustering wind, ‘but I'd be glad if you'd let me wind one or two ends of your boa round my neck.”” Alice agreed, and after a walk of a few blocks they reached a small building that looked like the home of a J “ Mtisn't far,” said Elsie. 243 secret society, such as they have in col- leges. And so it proved, for on entering, Alice discovered there were no windows, and no mode of egress save the one -\, door at which they had come in, A number of people were moving fl about, and in the centre of the 7) room was a large copy in marble <=?’ of the Laccoon. “Great, isn’t it?’ said Elsie to Alice, writhing about as she spoke; “but come with me, I want to in- troduce you to our President.”” The President of the Snake Club proved to be none other than Eve. Although the oldest member of the Club, she was the most beauti- ful woman Alice had ever seen, and seemed the incarnation of youth \\ and grace. \\ “How do you do, my dear?” \\ said Eve, who was eating an apple while she talked. “* What a beauti- ( \\¢a1 boa! I never saw one like that | before, Indeed, it is most unusual { / | for a serpent to have such long | | hair. Look, Cleo, isn’t it wonder- (i )) tue” Alice was then presented to the Secretary of the Club, Miss Cleo. patra Ptolemy, and though not so rarely beautiful as Eve, Cleopatra had a wonderful charm, which en- thralled Alice at once, The Egyptian, too, had the advantage of Eve, in being mugnificently attired, and wore jewels enough for an opera night. “ By the shade of Marc Antony !" she exclaimed," what a boa! Here, child, take my tiara, and give me your tippet.” “Don't you do it,’ whispered Elsie Venner; ‘she'd put Eve out and be President if you did, and we'd have an awful row.” “Are there only women in the Club?'’ asked Alice, beginning to understand. “Yes, except that St. George and Perseus are on the advisory board. But they only know about Dragons, which are not really Serpents. There is only one man we fear." “Who is he?’ asked Alice, but Elsie shuddered so at the thought of him, that she couldn't pronounce his name. Medusa came up next to ask for an introduction, but though she was pleasant, the fact that she had thousands of writhing snakes instead of hair made Alice feel queer. To be sure the snakes were done up in a classic knot, and waved back from her brow in an immense pom- padour, but still they looked untidy. “How do you like my coiffure?” said Medusa, tossing her head. ‘I've just blondined my hair, and I think it’s comicbooks.com