The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-22
Mr.. and MRS. M|GGS.
What They Think and Say by
the Domestic Hearthstone.
TERMINAL FACILITIES FOR BRISTOL
Mrs. Miggs Wants to Know About IL,
but She Does Not Get Far Because
the Subject Is Sidetracked Tenn
porarily.

porarily.
"Why is IT," inquired Mrs. Miggs as she
looked up from the evening paper across
the library table to Mr.. Miggs, reposing
OH the sofa-"Why is it that these Bristol
people are stirring US all up so about their
railroad connections? The papers are full
OF nothing else except that-and that hor-
rid Cleveland"
Mr.. Miggs had already read the even
ing papers. He had begun whilst coming
home on the deadly trolley-which, by the
way, affords exceptional good light for
newspaper reading as compared with the
old fashioned life-saving horse car with its
oil lamps-had hung on to the paper while
the tea table was being spread, had buried
himself behind it while the supper
was being eaten participating I'm
the eager converse of the family
circle only by short grunts, and, at the
conclusion of the meal, having concluded
with the paper, Mr.. Miggs had thrown
himself on the lounge with view to
making himself interesting by going to
sleep until bedtime.
Having thus had supper and paper,
Mr.. Miggs wa not inclined to re-
consider either. Besides he was half
asleep when Mrs. Miggs addressed him.
So he only responded by gently suggest
ing that while Mrs. Miggs was at liberty
to talk to him to her hearts content, he
wished she would not PROFOUND questions
for him to answer, as he was tired.
"But 1 want to know" persisted
| Mrs. Mfggs, with unreasoning
feminine pertinacity. "Besides
want you to talk to me-" she added plain
lively. 81 don't see anything of you all
| day long and when are we to talk?"
| Apparently Mrs. Miggs thought this
reductio ad absurdum proposition
clincher, and it certainly did bring Mr..
| Miggs' eyes open and cause him to ask
patronizingly and sleepily:
"WelI, what is it, my dear?"
''It's this" said Mrs. Miggs, with an echo
| of hope in her voice. "These Bristol peo-
pie want something, and they are stirring
Providence people all up about it,"
! "Well, why shouldn't Providence be
all stirred up about it?" demanded
Mr.. Miggs, somewhat aggress-
lively. "If you belonged to our
Business Mems association you'd
see plenty of reasons why. You shouldn't
| question it, shouldn't question it at ALL"
'sBut I'm not questioning it-that it's
not all right" returned Mrs. Miggs apol-
| ogetically. 81 can't belong to the BUSH
ness Mems association and don't doubt
that its all right. only want to know"
"That's like woman" declared Mr..
| Miggs, "to want to know about things
| that don't concern her even il she Is able
| to comprehend them"
81 believe you are cross" expostulated
| Mrs. Miggs. "Why shouldn't woman
be interested in things that interest her
| husband? and why shouldn't she be able
| to comprehend them?"
"Oh, pshaw," muttered Mr.. Miggs. 81
never saw anything like woman. They
always want to get into an argument"
"But don't want to argue" pleaded
Mrs. Miggs soothingly.
81 know you don't my dear" re-
turned Mr.. Miggs, "but woman
can't help arguing if she can get nail TO
hang to-"
"I don't think women arc more disposed
| to argument than men," said Mrs. Miggs,
after a moment to get brace in her
spirit.
"No, not argument" assented
Mr.. Miggs, who was disposed
to be technical sit is not
| arcument--It's Just controversy with no
argument in it,"
"I think that women know how to dis
as well as men," returned Mrs. Miggs,
getting good grip on her spirit.
"But they don't know about things
returned Mr.. Miggs turning himself over
| on the sofa with his face to the wall
81 think they know about lots OF
| things" declared Mrs. Miggs with a brave
show OF spirit
"very likely you think they do" said
| Mr.. Miggs. "But the world does not
| recognize their capacity and they have
| got to suffer Misrepresentation accord
| ingly."
"That's mean," gasped Mrs. Miggs.
"It's true though" declared Mr.. Miggs,
| who realized that he was gaining strength
| again.
"Well, don't want to argue now,"
begged Mrs. Miggs. 81 want to know
about this Bristol road and that-that-
that thing the papers call a Consolidated.
"That thing they call Consoli-
| Dated" is the most autocratic
railroad concern in existence" calculated
| Mr.. Miggs with vehemence.
"That doesn't tell me anything" re-
marked Mrs. Miggs after pause.
"Of course il doesn't, my dear" said
Mr.. Miggs, allowing his eyes TO close.
"You might talk all day on some subjects
and even very bright woman couldn't
| understand them"
Mrs. Miggs was silent for few minutes.
| Then she looked over to the sofa.
"Honry," she said, 'you're not going to
sleep again, are youW
Mr.. Miggs didn't vouchsafe reply. Per-
| haps he didn't hear. AT all events before
Mrs. Miggs could get words together for
! further remark an audible snoro came
| from the sofa.
"Well ! declare, Henry Miggs," ex-
claimed Mrs. Miggs, with something like
! a tremor in her voice, you're the most
inconsideratc man in this house."
MIR. Miggs certainly didn't hear this.