Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-12-24
SOCIETY AS 1T is.

Characters: Frank Rlair. q husband Mrs
Blair and Alan Kemble, friends; Laura
kemble, wife.
Scene: Veranda ut "Nolleys," Blair's
country residence. Time: After lunch
Temperature 80 degrees in the shade. Mrs
Blair and Alan Kemble are discovered In
wicker chairs
Kemble (glancing at the tennis
court)-What energy! but there, at 20
one is willing to play tennis under any
conditions. Myself, l am
Mrs. Blair Canning herself) u should
say, 40, if you are day.
Kemble Starting nervously, but re-
covering himself quickly)-I was not
meditating any reference to my age,
but for the sake of accuracy, if you will
refer to your Browning Birthday Book,
you will discover that I was 35 on the
1st of April last.
Mrs. Blair ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS!
Kemble-The perfect age! In the full
bloom of manly-of manhood!
Mrs. Blair-Thank you! If I desire
an impression, will consult Laura.
Kemble (hastily)-Do no such thing.
No man is hero to his-wife.
Mrs. Blair Oaughing)-Looka at those
dear old stiles!
(Kemble looks. Sees his wife and
Frank Blair through an open window +;
the two figures sitting at the further
end of a~dimly-lit room are just dis
tinguishable. They are engaged in q
game of chess.)
Mrs. Blair-I draw the line at playing
chess with Blair.
Kemble-Chess is Laura's pet nui-
,sance.
Mrs. Blair-Nuisance?
Kemble-Yes, it is cultivated vice. I
do not play myself, but being perfect
husband
Mrs. Blaire-A man who periodically
realizes that wife may possibly have q
wish she would like gratified.
( -Kemblc Treating the remark with the
contempt he thinks it deserves)-But,
= being perfect husband, do not care
, shat she shall pine away for want of her
favorite recreation. This is the sole
reason of my coming to the "Nolleys"
so often.
Mrs. Blair-You mean it is why !
tolerate the frequency Of your visits
We are of mutual assistance to one an
other.
Kemble-Exactly.
Mrs. Blair-"A weeks chess for
Frank" scrubbed on my mental diary
completely subdues any feeling that ne
may have been hurt by my
EKemble (murmuring)-Neglect.
Mrs. Blair MISUNDERSTANDING
attendance TO the demands of socia
life.
Kemble (enthusiastically)-AndL au
IA, she is such quiet little thing, will
perfect simplicity of taste! She care!
little for the glamor of London sea
son, much preferring her country home
and completely happy in the society O.
her
Mrs. Blair (quickly)-Now, Frank, hi
would positively go nowhere unless
made-unless he thought it would Civ,
me pleasure.
Kemble (who wanted to have finished
his sentence)-I wonder what a man o
his disposition saw in you?
Mrs. Blair-Probably what a man gen
orally sees in the woman he falls hea,
over ears in love with.
Kemble-In that case, nothing; hi
powers of perception are temperate,
removed.
Mrs. Blair with becoming blush)-
You cannot expect me 20 fathom tn
mystery.
Kemble-I suppose not. Anyhow, 20
are fortunate; he is good chess player
Mrs. Blair-How should know?
have only played few games with hir
soon after we met.
Kemble-Ah! l remember your il
satuation for the game that week; til
next you were engaged.
Mrs. Blair thinking it is time t
change the subject)-Frank think
Laura a sensible woman.
Kemble-Ihaye fairly good opinio
Of her myself.
Mrs. Blair-And it is so converter
that they agree so we'll; the old dear
are simply started with chess, m
'croscope or cribbage, and we are le
entirely free to
Aemble-Discuss politics.
Mrs. Blair-And the agricultur
question. Not one little bit of anxiet
can even have girls like Alma Sta
ford in the house.
Kemble-Yes. Laura and Blair gi
ahsurdly little trouble.
Mrs. Blair (thoughtfully) - Tn,
would not have been badly matched.
Observation-Disclosures! Married peoI
should never be of similar temper
.xnent. They would wish to be alwa
together. When is a woman to kuc
what perfect freedoa is u=less it
when she is marriedf