CHAPTER I


THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT

No. 2 Union Square, December 14.

I am the most beautiful woman in the world!

I feel like a daughter of the gods. Bewildered, amazed, at times
incredulous of my good fortune--but happy, happy, happy!

There is no joy in heaven or earth like the joy of being beautiful--
incomparably beautiful! It's such a never-ending surprise and delight that
I come out of my musings with a start, a dozen times a day, and shudder to
think: "What if it were only a dream!"

Happy? I have no faith in the old wives' fables that we are most miserable
when we get what we want. It isn't true that the weak and poor are to be
envied beyond the powerful. Ask the fortunate if they would change! I
wouldn't; not for the Klondike?

I'm so happy! I want to take into my confidence the whole world of women.
I want them to know how the gift was gained that they are some day to
share. I want them to know that there are still good fairies in the world;
and how I was fated to meet one, how he waved his wand over me and how my
imperfections fled. Every woman will read the story of my life with rapt