The Baltimore County union., 1883-02-10
HOW THE CRAZE SPREADS.
nv uorE LEbYARb.

"why, how do you do, old fellow
! was speaking Of you to Maria only
last night. How's your wife /? And tha,
baby? | suppose she 5 quite big girl
by this time" !"
The speaker, one Of those genial,
pleasant men, who seem TO radiate good
nature, appeared to have the delight OF
;tlss unexpected meeting largely to him
self, for his friend, Paul Schait, though
trying to appear enthusiastic, was evi.
IDENTITY but little inclined to answer at
length the questions as to his doings,
his home, and his family, which John
Rodgers poured out with such engerness.
But this passed unno,iccd by John, who,
perhaps, understanding his friends TEN.
perament, continued his efforts to make
him unbend, and after while partially
succeeded.
"John," at length, began Mr.. Schait,
sis your wife aesthetic ?"
"Ascetic3 ? Ha ha No, indeed she
loves good time as well rs myself. To
be sure, being 4 square, old-fashioned
Presbyterian, she can't quite go to the
theater, but you should see her at the
minstrels Or, il she can make any
child an excuse for the circus, that her
delight. Ascetic ? No, no."
"You misunderstood me-" said hi:
friend, with slightly amused look, al
said aSkiehif. Has she taken to paint.
.,ts~on china, art needle-work, bric-a-
brac, and those things1"
Johns jovial face grew almost grave.
He had suspected things had gone wrong
with Paul, since he sold his snug farm,
and moved into the city ; but he wa,
not prepared for this, and answered
with some little indignation in his man.
ner, "My wife paint her china! She's
deal too careful Of it. Not but what
she's quite 4 dab with the brush"
Here Paul nodded sympathetically,
and murmurcd, "Oh she's got it like
all the rest of EN-"
"But," continued John, unconsciou.
Of the mental interruption, "she think:
too much of her china. Now tins, old
milk pans, and slop buckets, and such
like, she does real good to with hel
paint, and though she wouldn't like hel
neighborS to know it, for folks is now
getting so stuck up, and above work
she has painted fence. Not white
wash, you understand, but real paint.
As 10 needlework, my Maria was alway,
a-.rester hand at that. Why, dom
you remember her cutting out clothe.
for your first baby, and helping youl
wife to sew on them1 | recollect how
she wondered" Here Mr.. Rodger
suddenly lost the thread ofhis discours,
not wishing to "recollect" how Mari;
had wondered, show that go.ahcad Pau
had come to marry such silly piece o
laziness, and went on. "Asto bricks
or any thing of that sort, Maria Away
had notion there nigh, be sulphur
springs on the farm, but | never hcart
her mention clay or bricks"
"Oh, how l wish had staid on tn,
farm," said Paul with sigh. "An,
you have six children, Johnl"
"Six Of 'em, yes. And the younges
just beginning to toddle round after ma
How many have you9''
"Only two. The eldest ten, and th,
other little thing just two years old
But my wife is asthctic-paints, en-
broiders sunaowers, dccoratcs.
"Then the business you took up hasn'
paid as well as farming1"
Paul looked puzzled for a moment
not seeing the drift Of Johns remark
and added, l'vc made plenty Of money.
Honest John could not conceal his in
dignation. "And you let that delicat
wife Of yours paint and decorate Ma
ria never could believe she could ha
done it. know something about dc
coration's cost a heap. But / didn'
know as women ever did that; and {,
think that yow wife," John closes
his lips with snap.
"You don't understand, old fellow
and I'm glad you DON'T" said Paul
"It's refreshing to meet some one VIII,
has not gone crazy on blue and white,
or Japanese art, or something Of tha
sort. I'll tell you about it; we've al
hour before we reach the city,"
"You see when we first moved 4
Yarmouth, it was very quiet place
near enough to the city for me to go 4
and from my place Of business ever.
day, and not so near, j thought, as q
sssnpt us to take up with city style o
living. But four years ago, there cam
lady to visit there, who struck up
great friendship with my wife, and sh
was quite astonished that We took NJ
art paper. So as Jeannie was alway
fond Of reading any new papers, and
was always ready to pay for them, sh
subscribed for the one her friend salt
was the best. There was the beginning
Of il. We had been careful, and ha'
laid by a good bit Of money, and wa
quite willing to furnish the parlor AM
best bedroom anew. Well, instead O
Jeannie and l goingto the city together
and choosing the carpets and suites Q
furniture, having pleasureday together
and
! "Topping of with the Ministries,