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To The Lady Of The Stole

I Am impressed, amazed, astounded—I am, I freely admit It, shaken physically, mentally, morally. I had thought that women had exhausted the possibilities of new ways of self expression; I was mistaken. I had doubted their powers, and I humbly beg for pardon. Now at last I understand the phrase "her infinite variety."

For they have discovered another outlet for their emotions, a now safety valve, a fresh channel of making their presence and opinions known. And this experiment has been conducted at V.U.C.! it is a fact which should Interest all of us; only too seldom do we hear of original research done in this building, and it ought to be the concern of every student to learn what ho can of this phenomenal discovery.

But perhaps there are some who have not yet had the good fortune of being present at the regular public demonstrations given by the pioneer in this art; for them I shall attempt to explain the principles of It. The only equipment required is a strip of material approximately six feet by eighteen inches, known as a stole. By careful and imaginative handling this stole can be made to respond to every shade of feeling, to express in one moment an emotion it would take hours to describe; once I had believed that only a lecturer could express his opinions continuously during a lecture; I was wrong—I have seen the silent eloquence of the stole. To see it in the hands of a mistress for whom it is sensitive to every quiver of thought, to see its effortless, ever varied, ever flowing movements . . . like a twig in the hands of a water diviner it reacts to every thought. But I am assured it lakes long and assiduous practice; it requires exceptional qualities of character, initiative, sangfroid. Any beginners are warned to work in front of a mirror, then to watch the effect on their friends, before venturing to the general public.

But there may be some who have not yet seen this epoch breaking discovery, some who long to follow the great example, but are doubtful how to begin. Perhaps a simple analogy may help you. Have you ever watched a cat using her tall? How she gets it erect when she is afraid, waves it slowly when she is angry, frolics with it, curls it round her when she is weary and cold? Consider the enormous handicap women have suffered in the absence of similar equipment, and you will wonder ever more at the genius of this achievement.

Perhaps you too have seen the stole in action; perhaps you were amazed, floored, dazzled, flabber-gasted; perhaps you rushed off to the nearest mirror to try maneouvring your scarf into an expression of your emotion, of your individuality. If you are a man you probably failed; if you are a woman, persevere—remember: it took a man to climb Everest, it takes a woman to manipulate a stole.

Pussy cat, pussy cat, what does that mean?
She glanced from beneath her stole—haven't you seen?
Pussy cat, pussy cat, why wear it there?
It's my self expression—to pass time—don't stare.

—A.W.M.