The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-22
AN OLD MAIDS DINNER
Copyright lseA b. American Pre0 Aasocia-
toni

Copyright leeA b. American PreD Aasocia-
tion.l
Miss Domingo received many invitations
to dine out on Thanksgiving. Sho was
called IN .old maid" by persons whose
choice of terms was not extra delicate. She
owned to IS and looked 80. She lived alone
In coy fat at the very top of large New
York apartment house and devoted herself
to decorative painting.
Theinvitations b ad arrived all in bunch,
and she sat down one evening soon after to
answer them. Not one of them did she in
tend to accept. She smiled as she read
them. A vein of COMMUNICATION ran through
every one. They were from married friends,
Of course-women whoaffected to pity her
because she had no family to surround her
board on feast days.
Really Miss Domingo did not look like
pitiable creature as she sat there in
dainty tea gown in her artistically fur
nished apartments. And very significant
were the smiles that came and went on her
still handsome face. Her thoughts ran
along somewhat like this:
Here's one from Annie, bless her mis-
guided hearth She feels sorry for me be-
cause haven't had as much misery as she
has had, though she doesn't call it by that
name. think she calls it domestic bliss
'fireside happiness or some such mis-
homer. She has five children, i'll health.
no taste for housekeeping and no ability,
. husband who is always talking about
doing something great and never does any
thing to speak of. They are limited as to
money, while the dirt, disorder and lack of
discipline about their house are unlimited.
No, Annie, | must decline your invitation
to dine with you on Thanksgiving. But
your letter reminds me to be thankful that
destiny gave me no such fate as yours
And you, too, Helen, must have polite
No. You have fine house, we'll trained
servants. a good looking and good husband,
but you are so selfish and spoiled that you
can't behave yourself properly for the few
hours your guests remain. You are sure
to find something to go into rage over
even in their presence. Your skeleton is a
big one, with bad temper written all over
him, and you trot him out every time a
friend is under your roof, and heaven knows
how often when friends are not there.
am thankful that | have been disciplined
enough to appreciate what blessings have
and that don't fly into RACES
Louise, your invitation must also be
refused Your skeleton is even more hid
eous than Helens. 1t has green eyes. and
it's breath withers. Its name is jealousy
| cannot eat at your table and not be mis-
cradle, for | see your skeleton-a skeleton
of your own manufacture, too-brandish
ing its arms over the unhappy head of your
silent husband see that it makes his
life a hell. Its atmosphere affects your
children unpleasantly. 1t has killed the
love in your home. 1t has brought with it
legions of evil spirits, and it will finally
destroy your soul. No, Louise. l cannot
give thanks at your board. The thought
of you and your skeleton is another re-
hinder that | am thankful | am what l
am A lonely life may sometimes be sad,
but it is never wretched | wish you had
learned long ago that you can't hold hus
bands love by brandishing a cudgel over
his head all the time
Carrie, dear Carrie, | cannot say Yes to
your kind request any easier than to the
others, although love you more. The at
mosphere of your home cannot breathe
without suffering. You are carrying bur