A
[Illustration: A], the first letter, placed by Cupid at the head of his
Alphabet, because it stands for Amour, Ardor, Art, Affinity, Affection,
Adoration, Affability, Angel, etc.; also A is the easiest word to spell,
with the exception of I.
The origin of the form of our capital letter A is supposed to have
been an Egyptian symbol (see illustration) representing two people
engaged in the ancient pastime called Kyssin, which survives even at the
present day. A, by many supposed to be the oldest of the alphabet and
constituting, as it does, the initial of Adam’s name, was doubtless the
only letter in existence at the time Adam learned to write.
[Illustration]
The words Ark, Antediluvian, Ancestry, Archæology, and Antiquity all
support the above theory.
Girls like Adelaide, Agatha, Agnes, Alice, Althea, Amanda, Amy, Angelina,
and Arabella, whose initials fall in this letter will be Attractive,
Amiable, Artless, and in the opposite sex most attracted by those of
Ardent, Ambitious, and Affable disposition.
ABSENCE. The sixth sense, arrived at by the exclusion of the
other five. A powerful stimulant to love. See _longing_. When
combined with _distance_ lends enchantment to the other five
senses.
ADAMANT, _m._ A very hard word. See _father_.
ADMIRATION. From _admi_, the Persian word meaning _love_, and
_ration_, food; _love-food_ or _food of love_.
AFFINITY, _f._ Ad, at; finis, boundary; at the boundary. The
one one meets around the corner.
ALIMONY. The fine for speeding in the joy-ride of Matrimony.
ALTAR. The forge where hearts are fused. From the word
_halter_, to hitch.
AMOUNT. A foreign measure of Love.
ANCHOR. The symbol of Hope. See English word _hanker_, to long
for.
ANGEL. See HER.
APPENDIX. See last page.
ARM. The arm is a muscular string connecting the hand with
the shoulder. A man can give his arm without giving his hand.
Coat-of-Arms (Cupid’s), Heart-shaped shield—Gules, pierced by
an Arrow—Argent. Crest, on an olive branch, a Dove _Proper_
ringed d’or, flappant.
[Illustration]
ASHES. Fashionable Lenten head-dress. Especially effective when
combined with sackcloth.
AVOWAL. A show-down in the Game of Love.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: THE BATHING GIRL
FOUND ALONG THE SEASHORE IN GREAT NUMBERS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THEY
CAN HARDLY BE CALLED AQUATIC, AS THEY RARELY GO INTO THE WATER MORE THAN
ENOUGH TO WET THE FEET. WITH THEIR BEAUTIFULLY TANNED ARMS AND NECKS AND
THEIR SHAPELY, GRACEFUL LEGS THEY PRESENT A REFRESHING PICTURE TO THE
TIRED-EYED, OFFICE-FAGGED WEEK-ENDER]
B
[Illustration: B] is supposed to take its shape from the popular and
industrious insect known as the Bee (see illustration). Others claim
that its form is copied from the curves of Cupid’s Bow. In either case
its chief characteristic is Busy-ness.
B is a letter beloved of all. Bashful, Bouncing, Beautiful, and Bonny,
all of which pleasing attributes are the natural inheritance of the girls
to whose lot the initial B shall fall. See Betty, Bella, Bertha, Bridget,
and Belinda.
The most congenial qualities of the opposite sex will be Bravery, Brawn,
Briskness, and Brains.
[Illustration]
BABY. A small thing somewhat resembling a cupid without wings.
BACHELOR, _n._ An immune.
BALCONY. Cupid’s fire escape.
BEAUTY, _f._ An affection of the skin; taking but not
contagious. Most popular American export.
BEST. Best girl—see Her.
BILL. See coo.
BIRD. See hat.
BLUSH. A weakness of youth and an accomplishment of experience.
The pink of impropriety.
BOND. There are two kinds. The United States bonds and Cupid’s
bonds of the united state.
BRAVERY. A quality looked for in man, found in woman. The
personal adornment of a woman and the mental adornment of a
man.
BREACH, Breach of promise suit. A suit made to fit the devil,
but sometimes worn by Cupid.
BREAK, to break hearts. Popular pastime of the American girl.
BRUTE, _n._ A husband.
C
[Illustration: C] is the curliest of all the letters. It takes its shape
from the first golden curl, given as a Love Token by Cupid to Psyche,
when he found her again, after their first quarrel, thus originating the
Society of Psychical Research and the Engagement Ring.
C, being the initial of Cupid, has many of his charming graces, being
Careless, Coquettish, Capricious, Clandestine, Clinging, and Curious.
These charms will also be found in the maids who follow the curly initial
C.
Among the C girls are the following: Chloe, Clorinda, Clarice, Clara,
Clementine, Catherine, Constance, Cynthia, and Carol.
[Illustration]
The attractive qualities of their affinities are Candor, Coolness,
Cynicism, Cleverness, and Cash.
CAKE, Wedding Cake. A saccharine monument to the memory of Love.
CARE. The Mother of Thrift and the Child of Extravagance. If
you do not take it before marriage it will overtake you after.
CARESS. A sort of dope; very enjoyable.
CASH. A sort of window fastener to keep Love from flying out.
CAD, _m._ The other man.
CAT, _f._ The other woman.
CHAIR. A small ingeniously constructed seat for two people.
Called after Cheops, the inventor. The first chair was
presented to Cassiopeia and now appears in the constellation of
that name.
CHEESE. Part of Cupid’s Menu (Bread and Cheese and Kisses).
CLOCK. A paradoxical chaperon who is least in the way when it
doesn’t go.