The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-10-19
Apples of Eden.
A PRETTY COMEDY OF LOVERS.
Spring Time in Rome-Scene, an Artist.
Studio.

IiSuO OIauu HuntleV Is painting Lad
koedae'S portrait, talking as he works.
Claud. Then why did you offer 10 sit Il
me?
Lady Roedae. WhyP Why? It's too no
to give reasons. Perhaps because your stu
do is the coolest place in Rome. Or shall
merely say that sit to you because choose
y. That is better. You always did wha
you wished. And now you are free. You
delight in your liberty.
Lady r. "Delight'' is strong word. I
is suggestive of violent emotion. 1 detes
violence. 0'
G. You say with Hamlet, "Man delight.
Lady R. l say nothing with Hamlet
Heaven defend me from such presum otion
and besides Hamlet was bore and though,
too much of himself.
=. Heaven defend you from presumption
But any way you agree. You don't lik
man, and you do like liberty?
Lady r. l prefer liberty of the two. a
widow can DO what she pleases, and this il
iar better, she need not do anything which
bores her. "-'0-
c.. All, there you are wrong. Your lib
erty is a sham. You are bound by a tbon.
sand silk threads of society. Your copduc,
Is modified by the criticism of a dozen tea.
tables. Irlppet takes your cup, and sees
that your eyes are red. BY the way, they
are red '' 'A0'
Lady R. Thank you. If I am looking
frlghtful, l had better finish this sitting.
Y. Your eyes are red; off runs Trippet
with the news, Lady Roedae has been crv.
ing. Why? Why! of course because the
marcnese mas left Rome-says Trippet.
Lady R. Does he? Trippet is odious. and
so is the marchese, a narcissus stuffed and
dyed, who has been in love with himself for
seventy years. You are all ms ufferable, all
you men. "'
y G. beg your pardon.
Lady Il, Oh, don't. If you were not SO
delightfully."- rude, should 60 to sleep. !
USED TO have snappish little dog, such 8
DEAR tnat parked when I dozed He was
very good for me, but he died.
Y. And when 1 die, should recommend
parrot. ~
Lady R. A parrot! A very good ideal A
parrot to say, "Wake up, nv ladv.T vii
you get him for me?
You know. -'pi"00 n''
Lady R. No; shouldn't like that,
like you best, after all.
u. That is very kind tof YOU. believe
you 90 like me when you remember nv ok.
Lady R. You wouldn't have me think Of
you all day. A man always about is insuffer.
Q. Everything is insuferable or odious to.
Lady R. Do you think so?
Y. L mean that you think so.
Lazy Il. How can you know what I
think? l am sure don't know what I think
1t is SO hot. I ought not to have sat today.
but after all, as I said, your studio is tbes
coolest place in Rome.
Z. Ny room is better than my COMPANY.
M, Lady Il: !! hate jokes in hot weather.
They remind me of daughter holding both
his sides" and stables in a roar" and ali
sorts of violent things.
=. Its no good. l can't get on. You
look SO lazy and Indifferent. I bate that
expression. 'nA'
Lady R. I am sorry that my appearance
is repulsive. rr"'"nSo
G. wish it were. But no matter. We
were saying-what were we sayingP Oh. I
remember. You were saying that YOU could
not pear TO nave man always about the
house. 'A0
Lady R. have been married.
z. How can you bear to talk of that
Lady X. don't know. (She yawns and
stretches out her arms lazily.j I am free now.
Z. Are you so in love with freedom?
Lady R. In Lowell 1 don't like the ex-
preston. SIN love" is vile phrase,
r. G. And you think yourself free, Did not
tell you that you can't move hand or foot
without being talked about; that you can't
buy bonnet without being married to some
fool; that you cannot pass club window
Without setting hlppant tongues wagging, nor
stay at home without tea-drinking doWagers
finding the reason? Didn't tell you
Lady R. Yes, you did.
G. l wish 1 had the right to stop their
tongues.
Lady R. You are very old friend.
G. That's not enough.
Lady R. How hot it is!
G. Very. Will you be so kind as to turn
your head little more to the left?
Lady H. Oh dear, how cross Won are
and you ought to be so happy. You are not
ike me. You nave something to do. You
can stand all day and smudge on color.
G.. A nice occupation-smudging on color
Lady R. One can't select ones words in
hot weather. wish could smudge,
G. You can sit for pictures,
= Lady H. A line occupation To be perched
on platform, with stiff neck and cross
painter, Heine without poetry. 1 believe
you are only painting my gown. shall stay
at home tomorrow and send my gown,
Z. Your gown will be less cruel. HE
puts down his painting tools.) Why do Won
play with me like this? 'ON
Lady r. 1 was not aware 1 was doing
anything so amusing.
G. 1t must end some day,
Lady r. Everything ends-even the hot
weather.
c. Clara!
Lady R. Now, please don't quarrel. We
have always been good friends, you and L.
c. Friends! Yes.
Lady r. Do let we'll alone,
G. Very well. As you please. The head q
little more up. Thanks. HE takes nm his
painting tools.) You don't look well. A''
Lady R. am sorry that I look noIv
Y. You don't look ugly. How Irritating
you arel ''.e
Lady R. I am sorry that am so disagree
able. N''"s'e0
c. Oil I shall spoil this picture. PERHAPS
it will be more like the original.
Lady r. Spoiled Oh, Claud, I do wish
you wouldn't be funny till the weather is
cooler. It's almost vulgar. Besides 1 am
lY sighted. No woman was ever SO neglected
am not fast enough to be success, But to
be fast in this heat! Oh, dear me! IT'S tire
some enough to be slow.
Z. am glad that you are no faster-not
that it is any business of mine, as YOU were
Thank you. '-A0 "p'
Lady R. How kind of you TO talk for me.
It saves me so much trouble. 90 On. ssv
what else am about to saw. You smnse me-
2. am glad to do what can for Won.
will talk for you, walk for YOU. fetch and
carry for you, live for you, die for you, and
So
Lady r. MockerI Heine!
9. without the poetry" AS you please.
Take it as mockery.
Lady r. All romance is mockery. Romance
Is as much out of date as good manners
Q. Was l rude again? l beg YOUR pardon.
Lady r. Only fashionably unciyil. It's
quite the thing. The best men talk of women
as If they were horses.
q: And women treat men as if thew were
donkeys. "'A0
Lady R. Oh dear me, how quick Won are,
wish l was jolly, good fellow with the last
clown-gag, you'll get yourself disiked. nv nv
boy,"' or "Sportsman.' How nonniar - 7
should be. But 1 can't do it natnralv
am not to the manner born. am bournsc;0o
Good heavens! Perhaps am genteel
C. thought was to do your TALKING for
you. AS if any woman could be silent for for
ten minutes. AVA
Lady R. Do you think I wish to talkq I
am not equal to the exertion. Time me
then. won't speak word for ten-no, for
five minutes.
q. Keep your head up, please. Thanks