The Van Buren press., 1895-09-14
A HOLIDAY TRAGEDY.

All my life have been-well, not
exactly woman hater, but n firm be-
lever in the idea that man is the lord
OF creation, and that woman is not an
absolute necessity. For many years it
was my proud boast that was able to
dispense with feminine aid and vet live
avery enjoyable life, as, with clockwork
regularity, l went from my bachelor
lodgings to business each morning, re-
turning in the afternoon, and spend
ing the evening at the club or some
place of amusement. The idea OF hav-
ing lady companion in my rambles
never entered my head.
True, my landlady (good old soulD
prepared my meals and cleaned my
rooms, but that was because l had not
time to do 1t myself, and a man-serv-
ant was beyond my means. But in all
else | dispensed with woman's aid.
Boot cleaning, sewing buttons on,
lighting the fire, ETC., were all done
with my own hands-nay, at a pinch,
have even washed a pocket handker-
chief.
l desired to stand forth as a living
example of the original Adam, and a
proof Of the superfuity Of the modern
Eve. But my misguided companions
refused to profit by my teachings or to
follow my example. One by one they
fell under female influence, one by one
they married, and then-I cut them
dead. All, me! Those free Bohemian
days were happy ones, as year after
year pursued my adopted course, IN
spite of the continual falling off of
my comrades. Then came time when
my circle Of acquaintances had de-
creased SO considerably that l began
to feel lonely. Bachelor chums were
more difficult to find than ever. To
loneliness succeeded melancholy, and
grew miserable and pessimistic.
One friend, to whom l laid bare my
woes, said
"You keep to yourself too much.
What you ought to do is to lodge with
some family where there are two or
three grown-up daughters. They
would wake you up bit"
This, to me, the hitherto ideal ad-
vocate OF an Eveless Edenl And yet,
after the advice had been rendered
several times, began to think that
such a change might be beneficial.
Such course need not involve the rem
dering up Of my tenets; but as woman
still formed part of the world, she
might at least contribute to my
amusement. So, after very serious
considerable l decided to seek fresh
apartments, with light society thrown
In. tL
Now my troubles commenced. /
could not make the direct inquiry:
Have you any grown up daughters?'
So generally viewed the rooms, listen
ing to the landlady's verbiage, settled
the rent, and then casually asked:
Have you any children?" and the re-
ply would be: "Yes, four, five or
six" las the case might be); "the
eldest is ten years old and the young
est two months. But they are rs good
as gold, and never make a bit OF
noise"
The numberless journeys l made
and the many desultory conversations
I listened to were all to no purpose.
No one appeared to possess grown-up
daughters-th eldest was always ten.
just when was about to abandon my
search fortuue-or was 1t fate?-led
me to Myrtle Villa, Paradise Gardens,
Inner Dulwich. The door was opened
by a vision of loveliness, faultlessly
dressed, and with bright blue eyes
and golden hair. Newly married.
Thought I. well, here at least, the
Oldest won't be ten!" She invited me
In and then disappeared; a middle
aged lady entering directly after, we
proceeded to discuss terms. Ihen
came the inevitable inquiry rs to chill
dren.
II have two grown-up daughters,
the younger OF whom opened the door
to you" -,.,;
week was Installed in Myrtle Villa1
The landlady IA widow was genial,
homelv woman, and the youngest
daughter. Annie, aged twenty-five,
have already described, but the other
daughter. Julia, did not impress me Ia
vorablv. She was neither good looking
nor pleasing, and, without being ex,
actly bad-tempcred, always insisted
upon having her own way.
now seemed to be in new world
Nv boots bore brilliant luster each
morning without my aid, and my slip
ners were laid ready for me IN Inc
evening, and, as for lending me nee
dIo and cotton-the ideal-if would
anlv leave them outside they would
only be too happy.
Iro longer needed to seek relaxa-
.,o, ot The club after the labors OF the
Snv. M Julia played the piano well lher
oniv accomplishment, while annie
sang aiyinely, and thus the evenings
S .Sassed altogether too quickly. Male
pan~a;ntances they did not seem to
rossess--yet, stay, there was one
H. Malcolm, whose name frequently
rn.rd mentioned, but as his calls were
aiwavs made in the daytime never
- aaw him. had rapidly passed INTO
s". sa" condition of mind which raised q
sns,;ng ri of jealousy on his account so
lr ona dav I questioned my landlady on
the subject :, ..,.na ~ oprs
o,c. we thought he would have pro,
snssd ~ to Julia, but nothing came Oh
" What a relief Only Julial
q. lime went pleasantly on, and