The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-12
MRS. CAUDLE'S CURTAIN LECTURES.
Continued from our last Issue.
THE EIGHTH LECTURE.


oAUDLE HAS BEEN MADE MAsoN--MRs. CAUDLE
INDIGNANT AND CURIOUS.
Nov, Mr.. Caudle, e,--Mr Caudle say; oh
you can't be asleep already, | know-now,
what mean to say is this there's no use
none at all, in our having any disturbance
about the matter; but at last my minds made
up, Mr. Caudle; | shall leave you. Either |
know all you've being doing tonight, or to-
morrow morning | quit the house No, no:
there's an end of the marriage state, think
an end of all confidence between man and wife
If husbands to have secrets and keep 'em
all to himself. Pretty secrets they must be,
when his own wife can't know 'em Not fit
for any decent person to know, Pm sure if
that's the case. Now, Caudle don't let us
quarrel, there's a good soul, tell me what's il
all aboutY A pack of nonsense dare say;
still, mot that | care much about it,-still
should like to know. There's dear. Eh
Oh, don't tell me there's nothing in it: know
better. Pm not a fool, Mr. Caudle; l know
there's good deal in it. Now, Mr.. Caudle,
just tell me little bit of it. Pm sure I'd tell
you anything. You know would. Well2
"Caudle, you're enough to vex a saint
Now, don't you think you are going to sleep;
because you're not. Do you suppose I'd ever
suffered you to go and be made Mason if
didn't suppose was to know the secret too
Not that it's anything to know, I dare say:
and that's why Pm determined to know it.
"But know what it is; oh, yes, there can
be no doubt. The secret is, to ill-use poor
women; to tyrannize over 'em; to make 'em
your slaves; especially your wives. 1t must
be something of the sort, or you wouldn't be
ashamed to have it known. What's right and
proper never need be done in secret It's an
insult to a woman for a man to be a Free
Mason, and let his wife know nothing about
1t. But, poor soul she's sure to know it
some how-for nice husbands they all make.
Yes, yes, part of the secret is to think better
OF all the world than their own wives and
families. Pm sure men have quite enough to
care fOr-that is, if they act prOperly-to care
for them they have at home. They can't have
much care to spare for the world besides.
"And suppose they call you Brother Caudle?
A pretty brother indeed Going and dressing
yourself up in an apron like a turnpike man,
for that's what you look like. And l should
like to know what the aprons for? There
must be something in it not very respectable,
Pm sure. Well, only wish was Queen for
day Ort two. I'd put an end to free-masOnry
and all such trumpery, l know.
"Now, come Caudle; don't let us quarrel.
Eh! you're not in pain, dear! What is it all
about? What are you lying laughing there at!
But Pm fool to trouble my head about you.
''And you're not going to let me know the
secret, eh You mean to say-you're not ?
Now, Caudle, you know it's a hard matter to
put me in passion-not that care about the
secret itself: no, | wouldn't give a button to
know it, for it's all nonsense, I'm sure. 1t
isn't the secret | care about; it's the slight
Mr.. Caudle; it's the studied insult that a man
pays to his wife, when he thinks of going
through the world keeping something to him
self which he won't let her know. Man and
wife one, indeed | should like to know how
that can be when a mans a MasOn-when he
keeps q secret that sets him and his wife
apart Ha, you men make the laws, and so
you take good care to have all the best of 'em
to yourselves otherwise woman ought to be
allowed a divorce when man becomes a
MasOn-when he's got sort of cOrner-cup-
board in his heart-a secret place i'll his mind
that his poor wife is not allowed to rum
mage
''Caudle, you sha'n't close your eyes for a
week-nO, you sha'n't-unless you tell me
some of it. Come there's a good creature;
there's love. I'm sure, Caudle wouldn't
refuse you anything-and you know it, or
ought to know it by this time. / only wish
had a secret To whom should think of con-
fding it, but to my dear husband? l should
be miserable to keep it to myself, and you
know it. Now, Caudle?
''Was there ever such man. man. in
deed brute yes, Mr.. Caudle, an unteel
ing, brutal creature when you might obligC
me: and you won't. I'm sure | don't object t.
your being mason; not at all, Mr.. Caudle;
dare say it's very good thing; dare say l
is-it's only your making a secret OF 1t tina
vexes me. But you'll tell me-yOu' Il tell lyou
own Margaret You won't You're wretch
Mr.. Caudle.
'But know why: oh, yes, can tell. TIL
fact is, you're ashamed to let me know what
fool they've been making of you. That's ii
You, at your time of life-the father of
family l should be ashamed OF mysel
Caudle.
And | suppose you'll be going to what yo
call your Lodge every night, now Lodge
indeed Pretty place it must be, where the
don't admit women Nice gOings on, dar
say Then you call one another brethren
Brethren Pm sure you'd relations enough
you didn't want any more.
"But | know what all this masonry about
It's only an excuse to get away from you
wives and families, that you may feast an
drink together: that's all. That's the secre
And to abuse women-as if they were inten(
animals, and not to be trusted. That's II
secret; and nothing else.
"Now, Caudle, don't let us quarrel 1e
know you're in pain. Still, Caudle, my low
Caudle Dearest, say, Caudle ~ -,
81 recollect nothing more, says Caudl
"for had eaten hearty supper, and som
how became obliyious."