The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-04-04

Uncle John quitting down his news
paper as Philippe enters)-Very glad
to see you, my dear. Enjoyed myself
immensely, thank you; delightful yacht;
French cook: choppy sea; can't be-
lieve l have been away three months
Quite well, deary rnat's right And
jogging along pretty much the same as
usual, l suppose?
Phillippa (seating herself opposite in
a straight-backed chair, and with dig
nity)-I have ceased to jog. uncle, for
the past nine weeks.
Uncle JOhn-What-eh Ceased to jog.
my dear? Very enterprising of you, l
am sure. Struck out new line, l sup
pose. Gone in for a slum, perhaps.
Very nice thing, a slum. / am told.
Dirt, drink and socialism most pictur-
esque
Phillippa-You are mistaken. uncle;
charity is so od-fashioned that
Uncle John-That you have written
novel Very clever, indeed. There is
certain delicacy and refinement about
a lady's novel that no man, to my think
| ing, not even a Frenchman. has ever
attained Not a novel? Rights and
wrongs from platform. perhaps Such
a charming speaker, my dear Phillippa,
could convert me to anything.
Phillippa-You will oblige me, Uncle
John, by being as little frivolous as
possible. Charity is played out, as
| said. Everyone writes novels, and
womens rights are not attracting much
attention l have gone in for physical
development of our sex in fields (both
actual and metaphorical fields, as our
leader says which men have hitherto
usurped for their exclusive possession;
and am prepared to meet unfiinching-
ly any amount of opposition which you
may offer the cause in my person.
Uncle John (resting his newspaper on
his stout knees and looking up)-Op-
position! From me! What in the world
should have made you suppose that
my love? l oppose you? Not at all. On
the other hand. a cause as noble as the
one you have named claims all my
sympathy. Physical development, my
dear! What more needed in a class of
persons who can get into No shoes
and No 6 gloves? l am not personal
in the least, l assure you, Phillippa.
All women take three in shoes and six
in gloves Or they say they do, which
is the same thing. Yes-yes, Phillippa,
| can promise your cause my most zeal
Gus and devoted support.
Phillippa (rather taken aback by a
reception which totally differs from her
expectatiOns)-I am glad of 1t uncle as,
Of course, if you had disapproved,
should have been compelled to act with
out your approval.
Uncle John-Certainly, my love-cer-
tainly.
Phillippa-And have you indeed wait
ed for it. in that | was, 1 trust, a not
inefficient member IF the winning team
in the public football match, of which
you may have seen an account in the
; papers a few weeks back.
Uncle John-To be sure / did. A vul-
gar and prejudiced account, if am not
mistaken--but still an account, and il
the public press. Dear-dear me
what a proud moment it would have
been if l could have turned on all thos,
- ill-bred scoffers at Nice british gen
tlemen, too, they called themselves) anC
| said; Gentlemen, beware; my niece
is a member of the ladies' football club
, Dlsrespect It al your peril!'
>, Phillippa--You would Oblige me ant
! a few other members, uncle, by substi
tuting women Cor the more Anticipated
word. We
tncle john GU Gan rely upon me
my love. never to call you ladies again
r And were you much damaged at In
$ match, Phillippa? Legs much bruised
r Sims cut about at all?
o Philippe Gising and with whitening
!, dignity)-Uncle!
% Uncle John (hastily)-Excuse me, m
. love- l assure you | should never hav
# mentioned anything SO improper bu
fbot my oNtrr, ranollAcfiope IF ha pra m
1t are so exclusively connected with tn
5 lifelong harm done to my-don't b
u alarmed. Philippa, 1 should not drear
n of repeating the words-to my-in shor
is you know Any one killed at the match
l. Phillippa with an irrepressible not
l. of alarm in her voice)-Killed incl,
IS What in the world should make yo
= suppose that?
Uncle John casuaily)-Oh-one of til
players generally is, you know. Dang,
adds to the excitement--don't yo
n think?
n Phillippa (rather faintly)-Yes; bi
K of course football isn't the only way
Id developing ourselves. uncle l practit
r that, certainly, good deal by myse
/ in our back garden, but-what are yc
~ laughing at?
NJ Uncle John-Laughing, my love--n
ne at all It's this COMPOUNDED cough
Of caught on board.
IS Phillippa peassured)-And there
bicycling you know.
Uncle John-Capital sport that--ca
ital sport. Very glad you go in for tina
IN Saw a young fellow-by the by, 1 a
a. not sure it wasn't a young woman,
he Reigate hill last summer, spinnil
an down at a beautiful pace-come o