The Winning of Barbara Worth Audiobook

Episode 12 of the

Quills and Cliffhangers podcast

is now available on 

Castbox

iTunes

and Stitcher.

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We are delighted to announce that we have acquired a lovely old copy of The Winning of Barbara Worth, by Harold Bell Wright, published in 1911.  This bestselling novel became a classic silent movie in 1926, starring Gary Cooper, Ronald Colman, and Vilma Banky.

The story is set in California in the Old West, and the plot is a dramatic love triangle: a local cowboy and an East Coast engineer compete for the hand of a wealthy rancher’s adopted daughter.

Here is a scene from The Winning of Barbara Worth, compressed for time, describing the engineer’s arrival in the rustic Western town and his first impressions of the heroine of this timeless tale:

 The Winning of Barbara Worth

After his noon-day meal, Willard Holmes, following the example of others, sought the shade of the arcade in front of the hotel. Helping himself to a chair and moving a little away from the general company, he sat enjoying his cigar, musing on the novelty of his surroundings.

As he watched the passing citizens in the street he recalled the scene from the windows of his club at home—a famous club on a famous avenue.


That young woman, for instance, with her khaki divided skirt, wide sombrero, fringed gauntlets and the big western saddle coming there on a horse whose feet seemed scarcely to touch the ground as he plunged and pranced impatiently along, springing side-wise, with arched neck and pointed ears. 

What a sensation she would create at home! By Jove! but she could ride, though. He watched with admiring eyes the strong, graceful figure that sat the high-strung, uncertain horse as easily and unconsciously as any one of his women friends at home would rest in a comfortable chair.


As the horsewoman drew nearer he fell to wondering what she was like. 

The girl turned her horse toward the hotel entrance. As she drew still nearer, he saw that her mouth was too large, her face too strong, her skin too tanned by the sun and wind.


At the sidewalk the girl swung from the saddle lightly, and throwing the bridle reins over the horse's head with a movement that brought out the beautiful lines of her figure, she turned her back upon the pawing, restless animal with as little concern as though she had delivered him to a correctly uniformed groom. No, she was not pretty; she was—magnificent. 


All along the arcade people were smiling in greeting, the men lifting their hats. Two cowboys in boots and chaps paused in passing. "That new hawss of yours is sure some hawss, Miss Barbara," said one admiringly, sombrero in hand.


The girl smiled and Holmes saw the flash of her perfect teeth. "Oh, he'll do, Bob, when I've worked him down a little."


She passed into the hotel, followed by the eyes of every man in sight including the engineer, who had noted with surprise the purity and richness of her voice.


She said: "I beg your pardon. Is this Mr. Holmes?"


He turned quickly, rising to his feet.


She smiled at his astonished look. "The clerk pointed you out to me. I am Barbara Worth. You met father at the bank this morning. Texas Joe and Pat told me about your being here and I could scarcely wait to see you. I'm afraid you must have thought them a little rough last night but really it's only their fun. They're as good as gold."


As she stood now close to him—the red blood glowing under the soft brown of her cheeks—Willard Holmes felt her rich personality as distinctly as one senses the presence of the ocean, the atmosphere of the woods or the air of meadows and fields. 

But this was the unconventional limit! that this girl, the daughter of a banker, should openly seek out a total stranger to introduce herself to him on the public street before a crowd of hotel loungers! And the way she spoke of those rough men in the saloon, one would think they were her intimate friends.


He managed to say: "Really, I am delighted, Miss Worth. May I escort you to the hotel parlor?"


She looked at him curiously. "Oh, no indeed! It is much nicer out here in the arcade, don't you think? But you may bring another chair." 

Dumbly he obeyed, feeling that every eye was on him.


"When Texas and Pat told me that you were one of the engineers going out with The King's Basin party I could scarcely wait to see you. It makes it all seem so real, you know—your coming all the way out here from New York. I have dreamed so much about the reclamation of The King's Basin Desert; and you see I consider all civil engineers my personal friends."


"Indeed," he said. It is always safely correct to say "indeed" as he said it, particularly when you have nothing else to say.


She regarded him with an open, straight-forward look which was somewhat disconcerting. She was so unconscious of the strength of her splendid womanhood and he felt her presence so vividly.


"I suppose you must find everything out here very strange," she said. "Father says this is your first visit to the West and of course it can't be like your part of the country."


"It is all very interesting," he murmured. This also was sane and safe.  "It is very kind of you, I am sure," he said with a little more warmth.  "To tell the truth I was feeling a bit strange, you know."


"I'm sure you must be nearly dead with lonesomeness. Wouldn't you like to go for a ride? I would so like to show you my Desert."


"Her Desert!" he mentally observed. He answered heartily: "I should be delighted, I'm sure. You are more than kind. When could we go?"


"Right now," she said. 


"But I don't ride, you know."


"You don't ride?" The girl looked at him in blank amazement. "I don't think I ever saw a man before who didn't ride."


"I'm very sorry. I know I ought to." 


"Oh, well; we can drive. I'll summon a rig." 


When the employee returned a little later with a span of restless, half-wild broncos hitched to a light buggy, the girl stepped into the vehicle and took the reins as a matter of course. The engineer took his place at her left. 


Shying and plunging the team demanded all of Barbara's attention but she managed to steal a look at her companion now and then, as if expecting him to show signs of nervousness. 

Willard Holmes, on his part, was wrapped in silent admiration of her strength and skill.

Episode 10 of the

Quills and Cliffhangers podcast

is now available on 

Castbox

iTunes

and Stitcher.

Etiquette for Equestriennes

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One of our greatest challenges at Steve’s Book Decor has been stocking a sufficient supply of vintage etiquette books.  Collectors clamor for mid-20^th century books written by Emily Post and Amy Vanderbilt.  While these books were published several decades ago, their advice about formal dinners, holiday parties, and wedding invitations remains helpful and timeless.

In 1860, author Florence Hartley published a ground-breaking work entitled, The Ladies' Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness.  I was delighted to discover that the author included a chapter for equestriennes.  Her guidance gives insight into the world women navigated a century and a half ago.  I have often wondered how our great-great-great grandmothers managed to ride a horse with a side saddle. I discovered that there is not only a correct way to do so, but also an easy way.

As you listen to Ms. Hartley’s words, it will be helpful to envision the ladies of the 19^th century, wearing restrictive corsets and long, cumbersome skirts, in the style of Scarlett O’Hara, leaping gracefully into their side saddles, while bestowing charming, dignified smiles on their gentlemanly escorts.

And so, here is an excerpt from…

The Ladies' Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness

By Florence Hartley

There is no accomplishment more graceful, pleasing, healthy, and lady-like, than that of riding well. Avoiding, at the same time, timidity and the "fast" style, keeping within the bounds of elegant propriety, gracefully yielding to the guidance of your escort, and keeping your seat easily, yet steadily, are all points to be acquired.

To ride well is undoubtedly an admirable qualification for a lady, as she may be as feminine in the saddle as in the ball room. 

A lady, unless she lives in the most retired parts of the country, should never ride alone, without an escort. In the cities, not only is it unfeminine, but positively dangerous, for a lady to ride unaccompanied by a gentleman, or a man servant.

Although it is impossible, within the limits of this little volume, to give many hints upon riding, a few may not be amiss. Like many other accomplishments, a teacher is necessary, if you wish to attain perfection, and no written directions can make you a finished horse-woman, unless you have had tuition and practice.

1. In mounting you are desired, gentle Amazon, to spring gracefully into your saddle, with the slight assistance of a hand placed beneath the sole of the shoe, instead of scrambling uncouthly to your "wandering throne," from a high chair, as is frequently done by those who have not been properly instructed. You should stand nearly close to the horse, level with the front of the saddle, and taking the reins slackly in your right hand, you should place that hand on the nearest pommel, to secure your balance in rising, and with your left hand gather up the front of the habit, so as to leave the feet clear. 

The gentleman should place himself firmly, near, but not so near to you as to impede your rising, and with the same view must hold his head well back, as should he lose his hat from a whisk of your habit the effect produced is not good. You should then present your left foot, and the gentleman placing one hand beneath its sole, and the other above, so as to possess a safe hold, should, with nice judgment, give just such assistance as will enable you easily, with a spring, to vault gracefully into the saddle. You will then arrange your right leg comfortably over the pommel, your cavalier will then place your left foot in the stirrup and arrange the flow of the habit-skirt, and all is complete. All this, though so seemingly simple and easy, requires some little practice to effect neatly and gracefully.

2. Secondly, when riding with a gentleman, remember that you are best placed on the left side; because in that position the graceful flow of your habit is seen to the greatest advantage, while it does not inconvenience the gentleman by getting entangled with his stirrup, nor does it receive the splashes of his horse.

3. But when you have a double attendance of cavaliers, (that is, if you have two gentlemen escorts) if you be at all a timid rider, it may become discreet to "pack" you (forgive the homely phrase) between the two, since, in this position, you are the most thoroughly protected from your own horse's shying, or from other horses or vehicles approaching you too closely. If you be an accomplished equestrian, you will prefer being outside, and (as has been said) to the left.

Sit erect in the middle of your saddle, turning your face full towards the head of your horse. Cling as closely as possible to the saddle, but avoid stooping forward, or using your hands to keep you in your seat. Nervous motions on horseback are not only ungraceful, but dangerous, as your horse will not make any allowance for the delicacy of your nerves, and may prove his objections to a jerking hand, or a twitching rein, in a most decided and disagreeable manner.

The riding-dress, or habit, is best made to fit the figure tightly, with tight sleeves. It may be open in the front, over a neatly fitting chemisette, or buttoned close to the throat, with a neat linen collar and cuffs. Gauntlet gloves, of leather, are the most suitable, and must be loose enough to give your hand perfect freedom, yet not so loose as to interfere with its motions. Do not wear the skirt too long; it will be dangerous in case of accident, and it may prove annoying to your horse. Your habit must be made of a material sufficiently heavy to hang gracefully, and not move too much with the wind. For a winter habit, a warmly-lined basque, trimmed at the throat and hands with fur, is an elegant and appropriate dress, and a round cap of the same cloth as the habit, with a band, and pieces to cover the ears, of fur to match the dress trimmings, makes a handsome and appropriate dress.

In summer, your hat should be of fine straw, and slouched to shade the face; in winter, of felt. The hat may be trimmed with feathers or ribbon, and the shape should be one to protect the complexion, at the same time graceful and becoming.

Avoid any display in a riding dress. Choose a material of some dark or neutral tint, and never use showy trimmings.

Curls, or any flowing loose style of wearing the hair, will be found exceedingly troublesome on horseback. Arrange it neatly and compactly under your hat, for if a stray curl or lock annoys you, or is blown across your eyes by the wind, your hands will be too fully occupied to remedy the difficulty.