" He pulled down his brows, considering the
proposition, then shook his head positively, with a little sigh. "You will
remember--was it not Darwin who said that women, in order to attract men,
borrow the plumage of male birds, which these have acquired to please the
females of their kind? Beauty must be the first law of life to the sex
that has not the privilege of choosing. Under the circumstances, it is
surprising how much of plainness women have preserved. Possibly because of
the extraordinary directions which beauty culture may take. Burton asserts
that the Somali choose wives by ranging the women in line for inspection;
she wins a husband of note who projects farthest _a tergo_. Yet among
famous Greek statues there is also a steatopygous Venus."
The office boy came to the door, and his knock woke Uncle out of his
revery. He excused himself to his caller, and, returning to me, went on:--
"I have been--ah--I admit, rather evading the personal question. I wish,
without seeking embarrassing confidences, to remind you that young people
are apt to think bad matters--other than business matters--worse than they
are.
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