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Show I CRINOLINE IN THE PULPIT. English Rector Once Preached a Sermon Ser-mon In Its Favor. Apropos of the crinoline scare, I must relate a quaint story told me by a gentleman old enough lo remember tho "age of steel." and who aa Intimately Inti-mately acquainted with the country parson who preached the sermon he quoted from. Ills church was a ver small one, and his congregation a large and fashionable one. Tl rector was neither narrow-minded nor behind the tbnes, and his tasti as catholic enough to embrace even t:ie crluollno of tho oarly HOs. He did not find fault with their appearance, only with the undtio space they usurped. On one mcmornble Sunday morning he electrified hi congrogaflon by discoursing dis-coursing on the subject. He dealt tenderly ten-derly with the offending hoop and began by making a singularly unpractical unprac-tical suggestion, with all tho Ignorance Ignor-ance of his well-meaning masculine mind, to the effect that they mialit wear thivo appendages duilr.A 'he week with preat eclat, hut leave them off on Sundavs. Then, when the flutter his audacious suggestion had begun to subside, bo declared himself no enemy to. tut eminently the frlciu' of f.-il-ltm; changes of style In dress, he Intimated, Inti-mated, veto pleasing to the oye. and excellent for trade; tho cticouiageit Ingenuity In work and gave lessons jn taste. , "I have no Intention of disparaging your crinolines, my friend?." he ,n'd benevolent! "but would intiier draw a lessor fioni thei.i, and wJo't with all my heart that our virtues tr.jy h' as largo na your skirts, and your h s as small as .jour waists." v e.U.e voniao. |