The Florida agriculturist., 1879-03-19
Mrs. Caudle's Lecture on Free
Masonry.

Mrs. Caudle's husband has just been
made a Free Mason, and, indignant
and curious, she thus " interviews"
Mr.. Caudle:
snow, Mr.. Caudle--Mr. Caudle, l
say, oh you can't be asleep, hardly, [
know-now what l mean to say is
this there's no use, none at ali, in
our having any disturbance about the
matter; but, at least my minds made
up, Mr.. Caudle, l shall leave you.
Either know all you've been doing
tonight, or tomorrow morning l quit
the house No, no; there's an end
of the marriage state-I think an end
of all confidence between man and
wife-it 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 good soul,
tell me, what's it all about? A pack
of nonsense dare say, still-not that
l care much about-still l should like
to know. There's dear. Eh ? Oh,
don't tell me there's nothing in it; l
know better. Pm no fool, Mr.. Caudle;
1 know there's a good deal in it.
Now, Caudle, just tell me little bit
of it. Pm sure I'd tell you anything.
You know / would. Well?
"Caudle, you're enough to vex a
saint Now, don't you think you're
going to sleep; because you are not.
Do you suppose I'd ever suffered you
to be a mason, if I didn't suppose l
was to know the secret? Not that
it's anything to know, I dare say; and
that's why Pm determined to know 1t.
"But l know what it is; oh, yes
there can be no doubt.
"The secret is to Ill use poor women !;
to tyranize over 'em; to make 'em
your slaves; especially your wives.
It must be something of the sort, or
you wouldn't be ashamed to have IL
known. What's right and proper,
never need be done in secret. Its
an insult to woman for man to be
free mason, and not let his wife
know nothing of 1t. But, poor soul,
she's sure to know it somehow-for
nice husbands they all make. Yes,
yes; a part of the secret is to think
better Of all the world than their own
,, wives and families. I'm sure men
p lsaua qnite- enough ito cdEe Il Sf--=thSs
is, if they act properly-to take care
of them they have at home. They
can't have much care to spare for the
world besides.
"And suppose they call you Broth
er Caudle! A pretty brother indeed
f going and dressing yourself up in
an apron like turnpike man-for
that's what you look like. And l
should like to know what's the apron
, for? There must be something i'll it
, not very respectable, Pm sure. Well
l only wish was queen for day
or two. I'd put an end to free ma
sonry, and all such trumpery, l
know.
"Now, come, Caudle; don't lets
, quarrel. Eh You are not in pain,
dear? What's it all about What
, are you laying laughing there at ?
But I'm a fool to trouble my head
about you.
| "And you're not going to let me
know the secret, ehl You mean to
d say-you're not? Now Caudle you
y know it's q hard matter to put me in
;. a passion-not that | care about the
= secret ITSELF no, l wouldn't give a
! button to know it, for it's all nonsense
a Pm sure. 1t isn't the secret care
about; it's the slight, MIR. Caudle; it's
the studied insult that man pays to
, his wife, when he thinks OF going
;. through the world, keeping something
. to himself which he won't let her
! know. Man and wife one, indeed
i [ should like to know how that could
! be, when mans a mason-when he
keeps a secret that sets him and his
, wife apart Ha, you mean make the
laws, and so you take good care to
;. have all the best Of 'em to yourselves !;
otherwise woman ought to be at
: lowed a divource when man be-
comes a mason. When he's got sort
of corner cupboard in his heart-a
secret place in his heart-that his
poor wife isn't allowed to rummage +!
"Caudle, you shan't close your eyes
for week-no, you shan't-unless
YOU tell me some OF it. Come, there's
a good creature; there's love- Pm
sure, Caudle, l wouldn't refuse
, you anything-and you know 1t,
or ought to know it, by this