The Necklace-Cinderella in Reverse!

In many stories or movies, the Grand Ball oftentimes signifies the turning point for the female protagonist. In the classic Cinderella fairy tale, Cinderella went to the ball with the ‘magic wand’ assistance of Fairy Godmother and danced with the Prince. When she left prematurely at the stroke of midnight, the Prince searched for Cinderella and the befallen glass slipper finally found its owner. The rest is fabled history.

In My Fair Lady, Eliza was the belle of the ball when she danced with the prince. It was the turning point for her as it signified she no longer needed Professor Higgins and his English lessons and coaching.

On the other end, we have Mathilde. As the main character in the story The Necklace the ball was also the turning point of her life but it was in the other direction-by a cruel twist of fate, her life change for the worse all because of that one night of fun and frolic.

This short story by Guy De Maupassant remains as intriguing today as when it was published in the 19^th. Century. The story of this unfortunate Cinderella is so poignant that we root for her to get back to her original status in life but to no avail. The necklace changed all that.

The problem started because she did not want to confess to her friend that she lost the borrowed necklace. She could have told her that and accept the consequences. But no….

Mathilde was proud in her own way. Call it false pride, if you want. She could have thought that her friend would never forgive her. She could have feared that her friend would never trust her again with another piece of jewelry. For that foolishness of pride, she and her husband decided to tell a lie that the clasp of the necklace was damaged and they were getting it repaired. In truth, they wanted to buy a similar-looking necklace to replace the one that Mathilde lost.

For the next few days they feverishly took out all their savings, begged and borrowed to buy the replacement necklace. That was only the beginning of their misery.

For the next ten years, Mathilde and her husband slaved. Mathilde had to let the servant go, shift to poorer quarters to live in an attic and have to do all the domestic chores. The husband took two to three jobs to pay off the loans. The chores took the toll of Mathilde’s fair youth and beauty.

After ten long years, the loans were all paid back. Then came the shocker of shockers, Mathilde found that the diamond necklace was actually ‘paste’.

So what does the story tell us?

Always be truthful and humble. If you are wrong, confess. Never have false pride. Also, everything is negotiable and all you need is a positive attitude.

Quote of the Day:

“When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

Heartsong

Outback Living

What does a person do for 18 months on the Great Australian Outback? Life is quiet and monotonous. The surroundings are barren save for a few stunted trees. Water is lacking. You would have to pump it out from the ground. The winds are strong and chilly by night. Predators abound.

The outback community does get together once in a while to trade stories and to share supper over a boiling billy-can. Otherwise, its sheer loneliness and you are mostly left to your own devices.

Henry Lawson, a deaf writer did just that. He stayed in the bush for 18 months and wrote short stories about life there in the early 20^th Century; quietly admiring and championing the courage of the womenfolk, who oftentimes are left for long periods by their husbands when they go droving.

The Drover’s Wife is one of his famous short stories. A simple story, it tells about an unnamed wife of a drover who was confronted by a snake. She had four children and a snake dog, Alligator. The thoughts and concerns that went through her mind and the actions she subsequently took formed the main portion of the story. As expected, Henry Lawson gave this woman all the admirable qualities so that she can take on the adversity of nature. She is soft and yet had to be strong given the situational demands.

For a person who has been deaf since he was 14, I think Lawson has done quite a good job employing metaphors, similes, colour imagery and personification to add spice to his work which otherwise would be just another boring story no one will ever want to read, especially so today.

Quote of the Day:

“He who gives when he is asked has waited too long.’Sunshine Magazine

Heartsong

Real Bad Headlines!

Do you still think newspaper editors are masters of the English Language; that they are beyond reproach? Think again.

The following headlines are a laugh. These editors thought they were smart. However, the results proved otherwise for they now have both their feet in their mouths.

Have fun.

Crack found on Governor’s Daughter.

(What a naughty editor!)

Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says

(No, really? Plain stupid editor!)

Police begins Campaigns to Run down Jaywalkers

(Now that’s taking things too far, don’t you think?)

Is there a Ring of Debris around Uranus?

(Not if I wipe it thoroughly!)

Panda Mating fails; Veterinarian takes Over.

(What a guy!)

Miners Refuse to Work after Death

(Good-for-nothing deadbeats!)

Juvenile court to try Shooting Defendant

(Maybe this will work better than a normal trial.)

War Dims Hope for Peace

(Isn’t it obvious; unless you are a cuckoo!)

If the strike isn’t settled, it may last awhile.

(You think so?)

Cold wave linked to Temperatures

(Who would have thought?)

Enfield (London) Couple slain, Police suspects homicide

(Can there be any other possibility?)

Red tape holds up new bridges

(I didn’t know they were that strong!)

Man struck by lightning: Faces Battery Charge

(He must be one heavy duty battery then!)

New Study of Obesity looks for Larger Group Test

(Weren’t they fat enough?)

Astronaut takes blame for gas in space

(Beans should never be included in his lunch pack!)

Kids make nutritious snacks

(Must have tasted like Kentucky Fried Chicken!)

Local High School Dropouts cut in half

(Chain-saw massacre revisited?)

Hospitals are sued by seven foot doctors

(Boy, are they tall!)

Typhoons rip through cemetery; hundreds dead

(Isn’t it obvious!)

I hope the editors of local papers will take a leaf from these booboos and not put their feet in their mouth as well……unless they are foot fetish!

Quote of the Day:

“A laugh is a smile that bursts.” Mary Waldrip.

Heartsong

Celebrating Sweet Youth!

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 is the sonnet for all times. The finest!

The writer certainly got his wish come true. If he had wanted to immortalize the youth’s beauty, he has succeeded. When he declared that each time the sonnet is being read, the youth comes alive again and again, in a sense he is speaking of his own immortality as well.

Here is the sonnet.

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed,
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed:

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,

So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Enjoy!

Quote of the Day:

“Only in grammar can you be more than perfect.” William Safire

Heartsong

Moving Liabilities!

If you have the wherewithal, you can choose a beautiful imported sports car as a Mercedes SLK to your heart’s content. I am certainly deficient in the moolah department and have to be contented with two aging jalopies. Mind you, my patriotic nature won’t allow me to think of buying any foreign makes. It is the Proton for me-first and last. (Tongue in cheek).

The government New Automobile Policy last year rung a death knell for many an old car owner. Overnight, we were deprived of thousands of dollars when the second-hand market went bust! Finance is no longer available for aging cars and not everyone has ready cash in hand to take your car. To compound my concerns, the two cars are starting to show metal and machine fatigue.

The power in both cars is fading with each passing year. The various operating systems and the bodywork have been under constant strain. I had to send them to the mechanics ever so often. First, the power windows won’t work; now it’s the driver door’s car lock which won’t open to me. The roof panel of one car is like the surface of the moon and I won’t be surprised if water seeps right through into the upholstery some day soon.

My old lady has complained to me that it is best to get rid of both cars and buy a new one - a Kancil that is economical and easier to drive and park. Moreover my daughter can drive it when she starts college.

Anyway, it is always easier to say then to do. I will wait for an opportune time to sell these 2 cars. Maybe I will consult a few car-knowledgeable friends before I act. Pray for me.

Quote of the Day:

“I'm retired - goodbye tension, hello pension! “ Author Unknown

Heartsong