The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-07-06
Contrary to Precedent.

GeIs2 a tap at the kitchen door anC
G1S in peeeped the bright eyes o
my neighbor, Mrs. Fink.
I'D like to borrow you," she sale
with a smile, "are you busy?"
'Not now," l said, "Fm jus
through with my ironing"
Where's your girl?" queried Mrs
FINK.
"GOne on three weeks visit"
replied.
''May 1 ask II you did the wash
ing, tooY'
"Yes," 1 said proudly, "it's the
first time l ever did any, and DOM
the clothes look nicer. And / held
up a shirt and baby dress for in
spection.
Instead of the praise l felt ]
merited, my friend looked wrath
fully at me and gave ntterance tC
this remarkable sentiment:
you're gooset'
1 sank Imply into a chair and in
quired feebly, ''WhyY
Instead of reply my friend brisk
ly rolled up the ironing sheet and
sprang to the top ofithe. table, ex-
claiming: Il have long afelt within
me that genius of oratOry, now its
cry.is toojloud to be silenced, and
1 Shall proceed to deliver a speech
which, though contrary to all prece-
dent, will be full of common sense" !"
Pushing her hat TO the back OF
her head and extending her right
arm, my friend began her discourse
thus:
SLadies and Gentlemen: L will
take for the basis of my remarks
this morning a little anecdote which
made the rounds of the papers some
time since. Smith was discovered
looking out of the back kitchen
window at his wife's hanging out
the clothes. Smith soliloquizes =
Can it be that that red-faced,
woman with the faded
calico dress and mouth full of
clothes-pins is the divine Marietta
Jones whom l used to feed with ice
cream and feel that peanuts weren't t
good enough for? How mad 1 was
when l read thatr'-here the fair
orator stamped her foot angrily.
"There was his wife doing her best
to save his money and be help in
stead of hindrance to him, and he
was just fool enough, or rather man
enough (the terms are sometimes
synonymous my love) not to ap-
preciate her efforts. l was pro
voked at the sketch, but it gave me
insight into a mans
nature. If he had come home and
found her becomingly dressed,
procticing on the piano, he would
have gazed upon her with unfailing
pride and blessed the day when the
fair Marietta cut Brown and married
Smith. Does the audience perceive
the drift of my remarks?"
1 nodded thoughtfully. A light
was beginning to break in upon me.
II will adduce another instance
for the benefit of the ladies present, .
the speaker gazing i'm
partially at the kitchen sink. "At
the X. p. party the other evening |
had the honor of dancing with the
millionaire lumberman, Scott Manor.
Opposite stood his young wife,
lovely in black velvet and diamonds.
His glance followed her every grace
full motion with tenderness and
pride. With the egotism of self
made men, he talked principally OF
his own affairs. Said he, when
married my first wife, l was $40C
worse off than nothing, for l was
that much in debt. You never
knew my first wife? All! she was q
good soul! Careful, economical
and a master hand to work. But
very different from the present Mrs
Manor And he fairly swelled
with pride as he looked across the
set. L don't know why, but all that
night the image of that good soul,
his first wife haunted me. How she
washed, and ironed, and scrubbed
and baked, and sewed; and wher
the fortune was made, and the use
full could give way to the ornamental
how kindly she winged her way tc
a brighter sphere and left her lore
free to marry a young, beautiful
accomplished woman whom he loves
as he never dreamed of loving the
weary, careworn woman whose eye:
grew dim and whose hands became
red and knotted in his service
There!-" exclaimed the lecture
dashing away a tear, 'Fve made
myself cry over the sorrows of
woman L never knew. Has no per
son in the audience'-this witt
great severity-"enough sense o
what is customary and proper, tC
offer the speaker some refresh
ments?" l arose meekly ant
brought glass of water. ''Do yo'
call that refreshments" queriet
Mrs. Fink, disdainfully.
This is not a similar occasion
There's too much sound sense il
this discourse for it ever to com
under the head of similar occas
ion. You may bring me a dough
nut, and roll it in pulverized sugar
be surer' she called after me.
Taking the plate from my hand
she rested herself in what 1 call
very undignified position for pub
lie lecturer, on the edge of the table
and remarked parenthetically:
Taken by itself, a doughnut is
mere vulgar combination of sugar
flour and lard; but roll it in white
fine sugar, with the rich brown G
the cake showing daintily through
and you have an article which salts
fies our aesthetic taste as well as ou
stomach. Mary" she turned t
me so suddenly that / started-''TI I
not going to inquire into the stat
Of your husbands finances.
simply infer that if you're able t
keep a servant, you're able to pay
washerwoman while she's gon,
You gave your black bunting t
Mrs. Magraw last week; why didn
YOU make her do your washing
pay for it?"
20, she's poor" said excusingll
"and / didn't want to be paid fc
! it. | think it's kind of mean to e.
pect to get your work done, and pa
| for it in old clothes" !"
"And so YOU placed Mrs. Magra