Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-01

Epecinl Corresnondencco t Gazette and journal
New YORK, Nov. 25.-In these days,
when the newspapers are filled with
everybody's and nObody's opinions of
The state of the country; cyerybody's
and nobody's opinions Of the Republi-
cans and Democrats; eyerybody's and
nobody's predictions for the future, it is
perfectly delightful to meet somebody
who didn't even know there had been
au election. | tell you, my friends, !
felt like hugging the woman who said
that she had been so occupied in read
ing the life of Darwin that she had no
eime TO think of small mattersl My re-
spect for that woman was immense |
never lad read Darwin, and never ex-
pect to, but | felt that he had not lived
in vain if he could take one woman out
of the hurly-burly so completely that
she could know nothing of politics.
The way | came to meet her was a little
funny. adore short stories. ldancei
with delight when | heard that the
dearest Of all short stories, My Disrep-
utabe Friend, Mr.. Reagan" had been
dramatized, and that SOthern, the
bright actor, was to be that particularly
delicious tough. Of course, the after.
noon 1t was to be presented it rained;
however, with stormcoat and an UNI
brella to protect me, and my own sweet
self for company, | went to the theatre.
saw Mr.. Reagan himself without any
doubt. heard him talk just as the
toughs do talk, and saw how the man
triumphed over the brute, and how, for
the sake of Il little child, an ignorant
boy gave himself up, to face, perhaps,
the gallows. 1t was wonderful pic
/ ~,
life-like, and wien the curtain dropped
on "Nlr. Reagan" | was thinking to
myself how few of us managed TO dis.
cover the heart OF gold when its out
side cover was one of dirt and rough
ness.
now THIS WOMAN DID GUsH.
just then voice beside me said ado
you think that such pictures Of low life
are elevatiug?" very vaguely said
did not know, and cnergetically wiped
the tears from my eyes. From that time
on | was Mt the mercy of the woman
next me. She told me how she divided
her day, the hours She devoted to read
ing, the books she thought proper to
read; she gave Inc pointers On different
plays, said she saw | wasn't in the habit
of going to the theatre and advised me,
Il l ever got Il chance, to go to see
Georgia Cayvan. / thanked her and
looked crushed. Then | summed up
,he small amount of bravery had and
said something about the election. She
cooked at me vacantly and asked elias
here been one?" And I told her |
thought there had. Then she patronzed
ne to a degree that was wonderful. She
aid the women of the country were
wasting their time reading newspapers;
he also explained to Inc the difference
'etween an intelligent and an intel
Ieclual person, she told me how anti
pyrine affected her husband, and how
she never would take morpha. She
condescendingly approved of the
theatre, and said there were people,
who, not being able to fill their life with
culture, probably gained something from
the stage.
never knew woman who talked so
much in my life, and when | got home
assembled my family in row and
asked:
DO LOOK LIKE A FOOL ~
After n wavering sort of negative it
was agreed that didn't look any more
like one than usual, and then asked
"Why did this woman seize me as her
VlctlmY The masculine part of the
family said il was because was polite
and listened-the feminine though it
was because | was sympathetic, but |
think it was becauSeI was n bit of a fool,
and the woman who had read Darwin
recognized this quality in me. There
are so many different kinds Of fools, YOU
know. There is the intellectual fool,
who makes you take knowledge us if il
We're dose of caster oil unless YOU wish
the alphabet had never been invented
There is the aggressive fool, who walks
around with chip on the shoulder,
boiling for fight. There is the athletic
fool, who thinks the country Will be
saved by q football and cricket. There
is the political fool, who has lust com
pretended that the people of the United
States will do what they feel like with
out consulting him. There is the vain
fool, who believes that because she locks
pretty everybody else ought to be happy.
There is the professional fool, who be-
lieves that outside Of the law, medicine
or the church there are no gentlemen.
There is the fool with fad, who is con.
WINGED that the only true enjoyment is
gotten in way directed by him There
Is the rich fool, who ovrrrates the value
OF money, and who thinks it can buy
wisdom. Then there il the all-around
Eool, for whom we all have a sort of an
affection, because he is so ready to coin.
eide with our own weaknesses. Every
blessed one of us, you know, is a bit Of
IA fool. We would be horrible bores if
We weren't.
WHAT Is YOUR SPECIAL FOLLY?
1t is that little lcaven of folly that
makes us fond of each other. | have
always had an idea that solomon must
have been tiresome old trump. Fancy
being married to the wiscst man in the
world Why, it would demoralize any
woman she would spend all her time
trying TO make fool of him. But
whats your special folly? lsit nice
one? Is it one that is interesting to
other people? Just between you and
me | will tell you what mine are. My
own two special follies that hug up
and love, and wouldn't part with for
anything in the world. The first Is q
good novel, the second is good play.
l was born with these fullies attached
to me. love them dearly, and can
laugh and cry over either of them as
occasion demands. And love my own
dear follies SO much that | pray may
have them always with me. Sometimes
the novel isn't good, sometimes tho play
Isn't good. That merely whets my appe-
tite for the delights when they do come.
You need not think theJ don't, Mr
Cynic. for they do. [ saw good play
yesterday afternoon, play written by u
man who has given more delight to me
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