The Washington times., 1895-05-05


Copyright, 1895, by Bachelor, johnson g.
Bacheller.)
MISS EVELYN NEWMAN AND PROF.
GRUBBE, F. R. 8.
cat London Diuner Party)
Miss N.-Have you read "Tbrobs,"
Professor
Prol.-Wbat is .'Throbs?" A novel?
Miss N.-Yes. It's a novel-at least it's
in the form of q novel. But its subject
is the most serious that
Prof.-Tben / shan't read it. Serious
subjects, indeed What business have
novels with serious subjects? Serious
subjects should be treated in a serious
form, and reserved for serious think
ers. When i read a novel / read q
sporting novel 1t rests my mind.
Miss N, (appealinglyl-But it's about
the position OF women, Professor.
Pro. huckuA - atLie Will look
after that, my dear young lady.
Miss N.-Oh, but Professor, that's ex
actly the point Of the book. 1t shows that
we ought TO get away from nature-to get
to something higher-to recognize that the
day of mere force isover, that
Profits pity the author doesn't
read some textbook OF science.
Miss N.-But surely, Professor, man
of your enlightenment can't be satisfied
with the present state of things?
Prof, with gleam in his eyel-I didn't
say that. No, no; certainly not. We are
very FAR from perfection still.
Miss Make marriage; do consider
marriage, Professor.
Prof. wrote an article
Miss Ms the way marriages are ar
ranged now?-
Prof-I wrote an article
Miss N.-Anything but horrible mockery
of all that is
Prof.-In my article
Miss Nor ought to be, best and holiest
Prof-Just what / said il my article.
Miss NJ mean
Prof. (hastily)-In my article / pointed
out that we must get back to nature.
Miss N.-To nature? Oh, you mean our
tuest, highest nature. Yes, indeed.
marriage contracted from any other reason
than a real union of soul to soul is horrible.
Prof, turning aronnd-My dear young
lady, the vague use of the word soul" is
responsible for infinite confusion OF thought.
Miss N.-Rut, pro .essor, everybody knows
what "soul" means.
Prof On the contrary, very few people
know even what they themselves mean
when they use the word. What do you
mean by a union OF souls, Miss Newman?
Hiss N. uncom fortably-oh, well, pro-
frssor Ito HERSELF / think he's father
disagreeable.
Prof, smiling blandly-How do you per-
ceive its existence?
Miss NJ, with an attempt at superior
tiy-If you've never felt it, professor,
Jon can't possibly
Prof, bluntly-It means no more than
that a silly young woman and a silly young
man are in love with one another.
Miss N, taking courage-Well, suppose
it does mean that? Isn't it better than
marrying for money, or-or position, Or
OF anything?
Prof in the majority of cases, | should
answer No, most unhesitatingly, my dear
young lady. Now, observe that anaeIIIc
Young man at the other end of the table.
Miss N.-Where? You don't-oh, you
don't mean MIR. Featherston?
Prof-The one--two from the end oppo-
site? Is his name Featherston?
Miss N.-Ye-cs. Tin
Prof.-Now, there's q man who ought
never to be allowed 10 marry.
Miss N, ,triumphant1y-Buth he's genius.
Erof-StulL. We cont want ReI4UseS.
Thy are usually very unhealthy aud by
no means always sane Believe me, Mis-
Newman. the one idea which progress VIII
eliminate is that mere INCLINATION ought
TO have any share in marriage.
Miss N (opening her FAM n)-ProfesSorl
Prof.-Tbe State should take the matter
in hand, and
Miss N (behind her fan1-Professor!
Profit that's what your friend who
writes "IhrUDS lDlDkS, aRTte With hiIu,
although it's a pity that he's wasted his
ideas on n novel.
Miss N. tfaintlyl-It's woman.
Prof.-What's a woman?
Miss N.-The authoress OF ''Throhs."
Prof. (genially)-And here We have been
discussing the book seTiouslyl
The eButler-Cbampaigne, sir?
Prof. (after abStruse calculation)-Yes,I
may have another half ounce, please. tHe
turns again TO Miss NJ Yes, Miss Newman,
there's no doubt as science grows III strength
and its conclusions gain more general ac-
ceptance-
Miss N (timidly)-P rofcssor!
Prof.-Wrll?
Miss N.-rm-Tme engaged to Mr.. Feather
ston professor. "a long pause.)
Prof with asigh)-Engagedl Now there's
a wordl
Miss N.-well, what should say?
Prof (shaklng his head)-Ah, well, my
dear young lady, you'd think differently II
you'd studied the question as have.
Miss N-Sball / ask your wife about 1T
In the drawing room?
Profit shouldn't do that.
Miss N-But ! shall. And I'll tell you
about it afterwards. (The ladies' rise.l Au
revoir, Professor. (To herseif.j Horrid
Did man, I'll pay him out.
Prof ito himselfD-Siily girl! Dear me,
I,f M he won't chatter to Marial