Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1896-05-30
Nevertheless Ned secured the Gov

sensible lady, received them, at frst
politely, bat by and by gracefully
and warmly, while Ned's affection
grew deeper and deeper, being com
pletely in ignorance of his sister's
indiscretion, which, after all, while
it delayed, did not hin Ter Hattie's
affection for our hero.
Bat day came when the mother
gave Ned a circumstantial report of
bis sisters first interview with her.
Poor Ned was deeply mortified and
it was in this state of mind the in
terview between him and his sister
took place, and the colloqny occur
red with which this story opens.
Minnie, indeed, felt very sorry for
her undue haste and indiscret;on,
which might have rendered futile all
Ned's further attempts to gain pos
session of his idol. This cireum-
stance went far with Ned to lose
confidence in the ability of The other
sex to keep secret, and poor Miu-
ME felt it, but yet she thought his
structures too sweeping, and hence
continued the colloquy by saying:
"You seem to have a very unfav-
orable opinion of our sex as to their
ability to keep secret, or tell any,
thing strictly true to the letter.
While it is true that excessive cur
iosity is as much to be condemned
as constrained reticence, how come
you to charge our sex exclusively
with this fault | maintain that your
sex is just as chargeab!e with it as
ours"
"By no means, dear sister we of
the sterner sex aim to know only
that which is useful and important.
While trivial matters and such are
neither useful nor necessary, and
sometimes even injurious, such as
town and village gossip and tattle,
in short things that neither benefit
the head nor the heart, do not con-
Germ us, and are forgotten as soon as
heard, while many of your sex de-
light IN them, revel in them and roll
them as sweet morsels under your
tongue. And as to secrets and pratt
tie Of matters about the heart, we
take no stock in them. Man is hum
CRY for useful knowledge; woman
is hungry for mean gossip and satan
ic scandal"
How very clever you men are
to charge our sex with every imagi-
liable weakness and failing while you
arrogate to yourselves every virtue
and perfection. Were it the truth,
1t would be sad state of things, but
happily your position is utterly
wrong"
81 will admit that my remarks are
rather sweeping and need some quail,
ifcaton, but in the main / consider
my position correct. What / main.
tain is eorroborated by examples in
history and experience. In the mat
ter Of inquisitiveness and lcquacity
for instance, l viii cite you two ex-
amples from history.
"Plutarch, an ancient and reliable
Greek historian, relates the follow
ing:
"'The Roman Senate at one time
had under consideration very impor-
tant matter requiring strict secresy
during its discussion. There were
many conjectures among the public
as to what this secret matter might
be, but all in vain. The wife of one
of the senators, though in many re-
spects a sensible and reasonable wom-
an, was nevertheless a person of
great inquisitiyeness and annoyed
her husband continually with ques-
tions with the hope of eliciting the
secret. As might be expected he
continued to refuse her, until she
became displeased and angry, but
desperate, charging him with want
of confidence in bis wife. She prom.
ised, even swore that she would not
diyulge the secret. The Roman
tried in vain to reason with her, and
convince her of her folly. But she
was infiexible in her determination
to know it at all risks. At length
he consented, and this is what he
told her. Said he, 1T is a momen-
tous matter. The priests report to
us that they have seen a wonderful
phenomenon, lark flying through
the air armed with helmet and a
lance. And now we are deliberat-
ing whether this wonderful vision
forebodes good or evil to the nation.
And in order to arrive at true ex-
PLANTATION of this mysterious appear
ance, We must hunt up and consult
all the records and signs and omens.
But, my dear, | entreat you to keep
this secret buried in your bosom.
Its exposure would cost my life.'
After saying this he went towards
the Senate Chamber.
"Now, what think you? Did the
Roman matron keep the secret p
Probably not, for you are, to oil
intents and purposes, determined to
maintain your assumed position that
our sex cannot keep secret,-that
they are too impatient and loqua
cious to keep what they obtained
through inquisitiveness. Were
bent upon giving examples and test: