The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-06-11
MR.. AND r BowsER.
BY R BoWSER.

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MI. Bewser came home, and after she had
gone he asked:
"How long was Mrs. Blank heref
about half an hour"
"And you talked about fashions, I sup
poser"
eyes, mostly; what should we talk
about"
"Mrs. Bowser, did it ever occur to you
that there vas anything in life beyond
millinery, and dress goods, and dress
makers?"
"How?"
"Howl Why select some subject of
sense-art, science, mineralogy, the labor
question, or self-government, and discuss
it with calmness and Justice, and learn
something worth remembering Tor half
an hour. You women-folks ".igha as
we'll have been born with a pumpkin on
your shoulders in place of a head"
I made no reply to this, but determined
to catch Mr.. Bowser in his own trap be-
fore the week was out. Fortune favored
me. 1t was only two days before a
neighbor called over as he was at work IN
the back yard, and for two long hours
those men sat down on a ladder and dis
cussed tie question whether a back gate
should open inwards or outwardS, and
the advantages offered by either situation.
Mr.. Bowser contended for the gate open
ing outwards, and the neighbor for the
opposite, and the discussion resulted I'D
Mr., Bowser getting red clear back OF
the ears and jumping up to exclalm:
"WeIl let's drop the subject right
here. There can be cranks on alley gates
as well as on politics and religion"
"And there can be ~lunatics outside OF
the asylums," holy replied the neighbor.
"Don't call me a lunatic!"
"And don't you call me a crank!"
eco home and hang your old gate to
the moOn!"
"Tn hang it according to the rules of
common sense, and don't you forget it"
When Mr.. BOwser came in to wash his
hands l observed:
"Mr. Bowser, did it ever occur to you
that there was anything in life beyond
hanging a back gate?'
He replied with a "humphv' of dis
gust.
"Select some subject of sense, Mr..
Bowser-act, science, mineralogy-the
labor question or self-goVernment, and
discuss it with calmness and Judgment
and learn something worth remembering
for half an hourI"
He looked around in a desperate, help
less way, and put on his hat and went off
without a word in reply. I wasn't going
to let Linn off on that, however. When
he came home that evening I had Mrs.
Orfendorf over to supper, and as soon as
we were at the table l queried:
Doesn't it strike you that Germany's
policy on the Samoan question is n of
Cancellation instead of aggression ?"
at certainly does," she replied, "but
there may be a hidden motive behind this
seeming submission. Trace the record of
the man back as far as you will, and his
policy has been either aggressive or
strategy"
Mr.. Bowser looked from oae to the
other of US in establishment.
81 notice." said 1 as I passed the bis
cults, that the Spanish colonial policy is
working towards a radical change. In
cited by the example of other and stronger
nations, it is about to extend its arms and
enfold new possessions"
The stare Mr.. Bowser favored me with
made my flesh creep.
81 do so hope you can come down to
the next meeting of the Woman's Scien-
tifc, Political and Literary Club" said
Mrs. Orfendorf, as she toyed with her
strawberries. Those gathering are very
very interesting. At Our last meeting
we discussed the Drift Period and at
the n next week we shall discuss Two
Proposed Amendments to the Constitu-
ton of the United States"
"Oh, I'd like to 60 ever so much, and
| think ! can promise you I will be there.
Can Nh. Bowser come, too ?"
"Well, hardly. Men take such little
interest in such things that that they are
DISTINCTIONS"
And Mr.. Bowser sat there, turning red
and pale by turns, until his chair grew so
hot that he had to pretend a headache and
get excused. 1 anticipated an awful
tragedy after my visitor took her departure,
but Mr.. Bowser contented himself with
saying:
"Now that that shallow-pated, long
nosed old nuisance has finally taken her
leave let's go to bed"
He regained his assurance after a couple
of days, however, I was talking to our
tw~o-year-old baby, and talking as sl
mothers talk, when Mr.. Bowser flung
down his paper and exclaimed:
"Mrs. Bowser, you make me tired talk
ing to that youngun that wayI No won
der so many children grow up to be sap
headedl'
How shall I talk ?"
Talk sense-the same as you would
to an adult. He's old enough to under
stand, and I believe he will appreciate ii"
very well; I'll try"
"Thank you. It's more than I ex-
pected you'd do"
The trial came that night. We had
scarcely got to bed when baby awoke
and began to whine. He had got cold
and was feverish.
CHOW, Harry" 1 began, "snug down
and try to go to sleep. It's nothing
serious, and object to being kept awake"
He howled more Justify.
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