Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-01-24
MisCellanenMS.
THE DREADFUL CLUB.

Mr.. Phiander Hawkins was slave
He lived in the land of the stars and
stipes He was property owner and
an ofliceholder. He came and went.
like any other man Still, he was u
slave. He bent the knee to the most
despotic tyrant that ever reigned over
covering humanity. That tyrant was
his wife.
Mrs, Hawkins was u clever woman,
but ignorant, narrow-minded, unreason-
able, with temper that carried all be-
fore it, including Mr.. Hawkins aud the
three children. People said that Nh.
Hawkins didn't dare to say that his soul
was his own Still less dared he assert
any right as to the house, the children,
or any worldly possessions
When Mrs. Hawkins drew down the
shades and locked up all the front part
OF the house, and made the family sit
in the dining-room, the neighbors limited
it was cranky" But poor Mr. IIaw-
kins dared not to demonstrate. He was
equally powerless when she dieted the
family all winter op buckwheat cakes
and apple sauce and all summer ou
boiled potatoes aud mush aud milk
MIR. Hawkins was fond of music. but
Mrs. Hawkins kept the piano securely
locked, save On those rare occasinns
when they had company. Mr. Hawkins
longed 10 go into society, and 10 enter
tain his friends occasionally in his own
house, hut his wife set her face against
oil manner of amusements and recrea-
tions; and although Mr. Hawkins had
been pctitioning ever since they were
married that they might have IA little
company" )" this petition had always re-
ccived n withering veto from the reign
ing power,
Mr.. Hawkins was Met hodist, and
strongly attached TO his own church
but his stronger help was II Baptist, and
much against his will and conscience,
Mr. Hawkins meekly followed bis wife
every Sunday to the Baptist church
around the corner
One afternoon Nj Hawkins sat in
his Office with u cloud on bis brow. IIe
had Just come from Il stormy scene at
home, in whic! Mrs. Hawkins had in
formed him that no one in her house
should 90 in or out her front door ex-
cept on Sundays.
A knock at the door and Il ludy en-
tered wearing a black silk dress, II
stylish bonnet and pleasant smile
She introduced herself ns a Mrs. A,
from Boston, and at once made known
her crrand.
Il am soliciting contributions" she
said, for most worthy object | de-
sire 10 found Il club for the ladies of
this city. 1t is called the Womans
Mutual Improvement Club We shall
study history, literature. art. house,
keeping, hygieue---in short, all that
tends 10 enlighten and cultivate wo-
man think | can promise that this
club will make the women of this place
more intelligent, cultured, independ-
cut
Stop p shrieked Mr.. Hawkins
"For heavens sake stop" -
The lady looked at him in amazement.
Mr. Hawkins was seized with an aw-
fn tear '1ndependcnt Oh heavens p |
he groaned.
an have nothing to do with the
thing !" he shouted II won't sub
scribe one cent, and will do all | can to /
oppose il
The lady left precipitately, convinced
that Mr.. Hawkins was an escaped lu- I
natic
Then yot aren't in favor Of the /
clubT' said his partner, ns the door
closed behind the lady,
well | should say wasn't" thun-
dcrcd Mr. Hawkins That woman
ought to be suppressed What right I
has she To come here putting any more
independent notions in our women 3
heads -
But his partner only smiled, and
winked knowingly AT the clerk.
Mr.. Hawkins did not say anything |
about that club at home. lie feebly /
hoped that his wife might not hear
about it Delusiye dream The next I
evening, at tea, she informed him that |
she had been invited TO join the Wo- |
mans Mutual Improvement Club, and |
she had put her name down as a charter
member
Poor Mr. Hawkins Fate was against |
him. He went about in walking night |
mare, vaguely wondering what awful
thing would happen next. There was
just one thought that gave him the
faintest CLEAN of comfort.
Whatever COMES" he finally con-
cluded, sit doesn't seem az il Sarah |
could be any worse than she is. Per-
haps she'll take to going around lectur-
ing on spiritualism or some other strong
minded subject; and if she should, why.
the children aud | would try 10 bear up
while she was gone.
Two weeks past Mrs Hawkins had
twice been present at the deliberations
of that awful club Mr. Hawkins had
listened with morbid iasclnai;aa, while
she held forth at the tea iable about the
J first afternoon on "ituskin."