Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-08-29

All my life l had been-well, not
exactly a woman hater. but firm
believer 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 fem
mime aid and yet live very enjoy
able life, as, with clockwork regu-
larity, went from my bachelor
lodgings to business each morning,
returning in the afternoon and spend
ing the evening ut the club or some
place of amusement. The idea OF
having lady companion in my ram
bles never entered my head.
True, my landlady, good old soul,
prepared my meals and cleaned my
rooms, but that was because l had
not time to do it myself, and man
servant was beyond my means. But
in all else l dispensed with woman's
aid. Boot cleaning, sewing buttons
on. lighting the fire, etc., were al.
done with my own hands-nay, ut a
pinch, / have even washed pocket
handkerchief.
desired to stand forth as liv-
ing example of the original Adam
and proof of the superhuity 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 in
fluence, one by one they married,
and then-I cut them dead. All, me
Those free Bohemian days were hap
by ones, as year after year l pursued
my adopted course in spite of the
continual falling off OF my comrades.
Then came a time when my circle Of
acquaintance had decreased so con-
siderably that began to feel lonely.
Bachelor chums were more difficult
to find than ever. To loneliness sue
ceeded melancholy, and grew mis-
cradle.
One friend, to whom 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. !"
HIS, W Vic luCdi Su-
vocate of an Eveless Eden! And yet,
after the advice had been rendered
several times. began to think that
such change might be beneficial.
Such q course need not involve the
rendering up of my tenets; but, as
woman still formed part of the
world, she might at least contribute
to my amusement. So, after very Sc
rious consideration, / decided tie seek
fresh apartments, with light society
thrown in.
Now my troubles commenced. l
could not make the direct inquiry.
"Have you any grown up daughters?"
So generally viewed the rooms, lis
tening to the landlady's verbiage,
the rent, and then casually asked,
Have you any children" and the
reply would be, Eyes, four five,
or Six Gas the case might be-;
1.-THE eldest is 16 years old and the
youngest months. But they are as
good as gold and never make bit Of
noise
The numberless journeys l made
and the many desultory conversations
listened to were all to no purpose =.
No one appeared to possess grown up
daughters-the eldest was always 10.
Just when / was about to abandon
my search OF fortune-or was it
fate?-led me to Myrtle Villa. Para
disc Gardens, Upper Dulwich. The
door was opened by vision Of love-
illness, faultlessly dressed. and with
bright blue eyes and golden hair
Newly married." thought / +, well,
here at least the eldest won't be 10W
She invited me in. and then disap-
peared; middle aged lady entering
directly after, we proceeded to dis
cuss terms. Then came the newt
able inquiry as to children.
Il have two grown up daughters,
the younger of whom opened the
door for YOU"
At last! Need I say that, within
week, / was installed in Myrtle
Villa? The landlady "a widow was
a genial, homely woman, and the
youngest daughter. Annie, aged 25,
j have already described, but the
other daughter, Julia. did not i'm
press me favorably. She was neither
good looking nor pleasing, and, with
out being exactly bad tempered, al
ways insisted on having her own
way.
l now seemed to be in O new world.
My boots bore brilliant luster each
morning without my aid, and my
slippers were laid ready for me in the
evening, and as for lending me q
needle and cotton-the idea!-if !
would only leave them outside they
would only be too happy.
/ no longer needed to seek relaxa-
ton at the club after the labors OF
the day. Julia played the piano we'll
Cher only accomplishment, while
Annie sang divinely. and thus the
evenings passed all too quickly. Male
acquaintances they did not seem to
possess--yet stay, there was one--a
Mr.. Malcolm, whose name frequent
ly heard mentioned, but as his calls
were always made in the daytime,
never saw him. had rapidly passed
into that condition Of mind which
raised feeling of jealousy on his ac-
count, 50 one day questioned my
landlady on the subject.
''OA, he's very old friend Of ours.