Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-08-24
Tsoa The Dstsoit Tribune.
Lovo and Polltics.


on the lounge anu UQIOl0e0 Uee0
Newspaper.
ssAnd pray, Why 20 exclaimed Mrs.
Smith, looking up from her embroid-
cry, with look Of misohievous inquiry
in her merry black eyes. @@
81 believe, my gallant cousin, that
Eve partook Of the fruit Of the tree Of
knowledge even before her iege lord
and master, and what ID to hinder her
daughters from studying politics or
aught else they may choose 20
"Oh, if ysu are to commence an ar
gument, Jennie, T yield in advance, for
you will be sure to have the last word.
You know that when tho angels threw
down twelve baskets full Of talk in the
days when the world was young, trsdi-
ton says that the women took immedi-
ate possession of eleven"
"Ah, yes, and did you know that
whenever . man is outwitted in IN ar
gument BY some sensible woman, you
needn't laugh, such things haze hap.
pened, there is sure to come out that
vile Islander about our talking. No
evasions cir ;! Question
"Well, then, if you viii persist in
taking the matter seriously, there are
sevsral reasons why . woman should
not be . politician. A woman's sphere
is home, and it is hers to make that
home . Paradise, if she viii, while it is
incompatible with that dslicaey which
is her greatest charm to mingle with the
noisy crowd that fill tho dusty political
arena. Imagine an election day with
female voters How disgusting!"
t'The very ground ! expected you to
take. Let women say anything about
politics, ard immediately you men i'm
agine We are possessed with an insane
IDEA of rushing to the ballot box forth
with. No true woman desires that, and
you know it, or ought to, but she may
keep herself informed concerning the
state Of affairs, or even appreciate q
good political speech, without that"
''My dear cousin, what good will it
do her when she has done all that 2"
"What good If her mind will not
be as much improved by such course
Of reading as by silly romances and
sentimental poetry, am Mistaken
But how much such knowledge would
your Highness allow us ?"
ooh, I have no objection to your
knowing who is President or Governor
of your State, if you wish it!''
''Thank you! How generous!"
t'Ssriously, Jennie, you know as well
as I, that woman's sphere is not po-
litical one, and she had best let such
things alone"
Eyes, sir, ! think you made . similar
remark not long since. Woman's
sphere! That means she is to stay at
home and administer to the wants of
some incarnation Of masculine Undo.
lence, and self complacency, like
yourself, for instance" and Jenny has
tened from the room in answer to q
call from the nursery, while the Judge
turned for consolation to his cigar.
Why Judge Compton was an old
bachelor, was question often asked
without satisfactory answer being re-
ceived, but that he was in confirmed
state Of single blessedness, was beyond
q doubt. Nevertheless, forty summers
had rested lightly on his head, for not
thread of silver cleaned in his long
brown hair, and his keen eyes had .
ray Of mischief lurking in them, that
betokened an unfailing fount Of good
nature somewhere in his capscious
heart.
A gallant man was the Judge, yet
withal somewhat fastidious in his no.
lions Of female propriety, and dreading
strong minded woman as if she were
the Arch Enemy in disguise. At pres
ent he was rusticating for q few weeks
at the pleasant country home of one Of
his relatives, where he was gladly well
coined as he was everywhere.
The quiet Of Maple Glen was broken
shortly after the above conversation, by
the advent Of Miss Maude Latimer, .
ward Of Mr.. Smith, and who had just
"6nished" at q fashionable boarding
school. Though Cousin Jennie had
much to say to our gallant hero con-
corning her darling Maude, yet he paid
very little attention to it, not having,
in fact, much opinion Of the intellectu-
al abilities Of ''boarding school miss
es," as he was pleased to term them.
Still, as his cousins guest, he was pre-
pared to receive her with Difference,
though it must be confessed his antici-
pations were not Of the most pleasant
nature. 1t was late one evening when
Maude arrived, and he only caught
a glimpse Ct slight figure in sober
gray travelling dress, which was raptu-
rously seized and embraced by Jennie.
The next morning at the breakfast
table they were tremendously intro
duced, and even the Judges critical
eye was at fault as he scanned the 1.-the,
slender form before him, the clear, dark,
gray eyes and the brown hair lying
smoothly above the high, width brow.
No sickly sentimentalism was there,
but an earnest, true soul had stamped
its impress on every feature. It would
be needless to state all the incidents
that marked the progress Of the friend
ship that sprang up between the Judge
and Maude. Had they met in society,
the result would have been very differ
ent, but being under the same roof,
thrown into constant companionship
and with minds that perfectly accorded,
they could not but be friends.