The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1896-04-17
Gossip from Antaltrurla.

A soJourn of months IN Antaltruiia has
brought to notice so many traits of character,
which to say the least, are peculiar, that l
shall give you illustrative instances and shall
watch with interest your club discussions and
zee how you place them from an Theological
standpoint. spoke in my last of the stern
sense of duty which actuated the inhabitants.
Mydostess had callers, and knowing my
desire to have a personal knowledge of the
citizens, invited me to make their acquaintance.
| was an interested listener to the converse
ton which was lively and general, PERSONS
being the subject, more than things. Near the
close of the call, an elderly lady, Mrs. Green,
who wore mottled glasses, leaned over to my
hostess, saying,-"My dear, what do you think
of Nora and TOMB"
"1n what way?"
"Why, do you think he is in love with herr"
81 don't know, l am sure. I've never seen
them together"
In a thrilling whisper the old lady said,
"Why, l never saw anything like it! In Sab
bath School she always sits right by him and
whenever they are in the sam company, she
ISidiiio hio III diiu IliO tHlahCo iONC W
him! 1t is ridiculous! 1t is a shame for her
to be so bold! Now, what do you think of
THAT?"
60, l know nothing about them. l inferred
from his talk that he had a sweetheart at
college, and | laughingly advised him not to
stay here too long and break that girls heart"
A few days later, 1 found my hostess much
wrought up. snow, Mr.. Reporter" she said,
"You have a beautiful example of the famous
Antaltruria! You remember when Mrs. Green
was here? Well, Sir, the old mottled-eyed
thing went straight to Nora's mother and told
her that she felt it to be her duty to let her
know that l said, l didn't want poor Nora's
heart broken and she ought to be told that
Tom was engaged to another grill"
And how did you know this" l asked.
80, Nora's mother attacked Tom about it,
and Tom told Dick and Dick asked Harry if
he thought l said it."
"All acting from a sense of duty, suppose"
l said.
eyes, Harry thought l ought to know it,
Seeing me laughs she broke off and exclaimed,
80, Mr.. Reporter, it is dreadful for you to
show us up in this way! But l dom care!
1t is just as mean as can be for old Mrs. Green
to act so! And she is so given to it." Here
the indignant tears interfered with speech,
but she soon recovered and grew eloquent
over her wrongs.
zone day we were all invited to dine with
Mrs. Jones. The dinner was splendid and
everything as nice as could be. Afterwards,
Mrs. Green called to see Mrs. Wells, who was
sick. Mrs. Wells said she had heard of the
dinner, that a woman had told her, that Mrs.
Jones thought that she had some mighty nice
ice-cream, but that it was nothing. but cold
skim-milk. Mrs. Green then went to Mrs.
Jones, and told her that she thought it was
her duty to tell her that IL! mind you,-I
should have told Mrs. Wells about the skim
milk. Mrs. Jones, of course, felt hurt, and
came to me to know why l had treated her so.
Why, l told her that l had never heard of
such a thing! l didn't even so much as taste
the ice-cream and if | had | was too honorable
to speak of it, if anything had been wrong
with it. When I met Mrs. Green, 1 asked
why she said what she did for. why, my |
dear, l knew you had been to see Mrs. Wells, |
and [ was not very we'll acquainted with you,
and l thought it was YOU And she was the
very one, too, who spoke of the white sauce
eaten with the plum pudding. She said to
me, My dear, did you eat any of the sauce?'
Yes. What did you think of it?' 1t was de-
~licious, l replied. We'll, she must have given
me gravy, by mistake, for it was not sweet at
ALL"
l laughed heartily at the woes of my hostess
as she related many instances of where this
sense of duty caused trouble. The baskets of
eggs, or glass-wearing will next be spoken
of by YOUR REPORTER.