The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-06-26
e IA "A VISION OF 1898.

/ was sitting by the fire one evening
thinking of everything in general and
nothing in particular, when hearing a
noise and stamping at the door, me-
thought rose to open it, when it flew
back with q crash, waking the cat,
who was sleeping by the FIRE, and
causing her to retreat under my chair
in alright. ~. re- - ! =. - = l4'1
Before I lad time to wink, there
walked iii a young person dressed so
qneer1y that could not tell whether
it was a man or woman till it spoke.
Ii wore loose trowsers,. reaching
inst below the knees, and plaid stock
fngs and high boots completing the
lower portion of It's attire. A loose
sack coat, open. enoughin front to dis
close q snowy shirt covering the np-
per portion of its body, while two
story hat was, set iauntily on the side
of its head, the black hair being cut
short and parted on one side, as j
could perceive after the hat had been
Knocked of by the ceiling.
"Well, what are you looking at {? /
hope you'll know, me the next time
you see me. i suppose yon would
like to know who 1 am. Well, l am
the Coming Woman-not coming any
more, because l am here and here /
intend. to stay. 1t is the year 1893,
and things are entirely changed now
from the time when you were born.
You look as old-fashioned as if you
had just stepped out of Noah's ark
How old are you p said this person.
i stammered. forth / was twenty
years old in 1873; but of co, rse, if it
was 1898, I must be good deai older.
But where had been all those years ?
Had like Rip Van Wrinkle, been
A'sSIp apsieepf why, Of course, you
goosei or else you would not be so
Come out with me
tonight, and see how it is YOURSELF ~
she saia in falsetto voice. ta.fo
But how can leave my little
girl ?" said /, meekly.
Is it possible you have child ?"
she said, in such tone that felt as if
/ had been doing something awful to
have q child to tend to.
Turning to my husband, who had
been sitting as far in the corner as he
could get, open-eyed with astonish-
ment; she said:
Here You man, you; go and tend
to your youngster. Pm going to show
yonrl wife the elephant Hurry up,
and make tracks ~ yfi j.
He quickly rose, and she assisted
him out of the door by q shove, at
which looked aghast to see her take
such liberty. ss azi
Fhere is nothing like making men
know their places !" she said cooIiy.-
IS Don't be all night getting ready, or
the fun will be all over" she said inn
patiently as l hastily puta tight-ftting
velvet basque over my new poplin
house dress and a jaunty velvet hat
on my head. You are not going to
wear those things, are yOu2 Why,
you look like a grandmother. But
never mind come along" slaa aak~
felt nettled at her speech, for my
basqpe and hat were of the latest
style when bought them but just
then l thought it was not 1873, but
1898, and subsided. .rTt.
We walked down the street, and l
rubbed my eyes to see if I was awake.
Where were the neat cottages that
used to line the street? They were
gone, and large fiVe-story mansions
met my sight. -s
Where are allthe2cottages gons?"
[ gasped.. S = g ''1 a. =
"yPshawI Don't you know that
families do not live by themselves
any longer "A dozen families rent. a
house and conduct it on the co-opera-
tive plan. It is one large family in
stead of q dozen. There is a large
court in the center, and all the chill
1ren in the house, which are not many
for it is not fashionable to have many
children now-a-days), are collected
there, and men are hired to tend them,
while the parents are free to go any
place and every place."
She then said: "Let us go into this
saloon and take smile"
ga smilel" gaspedI.
Yes. you goose la drink, them"
she said, as she dragged me into the
saloon, which was carpeted, and fur
nished with sofas, and arm-chairs and
tables. Behind the bar
stood a handsomely-attired woman,
who was mixing drinks. The room
was crowded with bold-looking Wo.
men and forlorn-looking men.
My conductor nodded here and
there, and said to the woman at the
bar, " Raw whisky for two I"-then, to
me, Come and sit down." q
Walking up to where luckless man
was sitting, she took him by the neck