The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-02
A MODERN ALCESTIS.
CHAPTER I.

to him.
! Il don't ever intend to enter the do
nestle SERVICE" 1 replied.
| Does that mean that you are a
| New Woman'?"
| Comparatively new; twenty-three. "
| "Ah, now you are f1ippant!" he cried,
turning white face and angry eyes to
| me.
We women have all more or less of
the cat-and- mouse instinct; but there
come times when we are genuinely sor-
ry-ay, and even a trifle frightened.
I'm not fiippant" 1 cried. But I
don't want to marryl Why should I?
Women are so happy nowadays! They
| have everything they want without
marrying. They used to marry to be in
| dependent, and for the excitement of
the thing, you know. Now they have in
dependence and pleasures without, and
SO they don't marry unless"
| "Yes?"
well, unless the spirit moves them
to, 1 suppose" / said lamely.
| He smiled grimly. II wonder if any
thing ever moves a woman except a
desire to please herself!''
II wonder you want to marry me if
lildI De your opinion Oh us!
Il wonder I do! But I've wanted to
ever since I first saw you. Why won't
you marry me?"
| Have you had classical educa-
t1on?' l asked him.
L was at Harrow" he replied sulk-
lily.
ct does not follow Do you remem-
Der the story of Alcestis?"
mo, DON'T
IT said that it did not follow.'
What has the story to do with us?'
| IF you remembered it, you would see
| AlceStiS consented to die and go down
into Hades instead of her husband
| well, 1 shouldn't ask you to do that,
Miss Dayrelli"
| "Oh, yes. you would; every day"
What do you mean?"
| Spring cleanings and autumn out
ings, and tradesmen's bills, and church
attendance, and afternoon calls" emu
merated.
Would you kindly consent to ex-
plain?"
| So 1 explained.
'Alcestis seems to the modern reader
to be an unusually self sacrificing hero
inc, l replied; land her husband-Ad-
metus, was he not called? an unusually
selfish lord and master. Indignation
struggles with amusement when we
read that Admetus first tried hard to
persuade his parents to suffer death in
his place, using the agreeable argument
| that their terms of existence We're any
how comparatively short. But the par
| ents We're obstinately deaf to reason.
and We're charmed when Alcetis duti-
fully undertook dying for her husband
| as part of the trivial round and the
| common task. The father of Admetus
| even led him aside, and earnestly sug-
| geSted that judicially selected relay
OF wives might postpone Hades indefi-
mtely. The story struck me; that is
why remember it. Please don't think
that L am as we'll up in all classical
mythology. But really, Captain Des-
pard, do we not see the enacting of this
melodrama every day Of our lives? L
have great many married lady
| friends. They. would themselves all
deny it Indignantly; but it is plain to
the most casual observer that they,
every one Of them, make a practice of
suffering daily perdition for their hus-
bands.''
| I paused for effect - and breath. But
Jack Despard continued in an attitude
of polite attention.
| The nearest approach to Hades now
adays that l know Of" l went on,
| since we have eschewed the pit Of fire
and birthstone of our chndhoods, is the
spring cleaning. You will allow this ?''
Il don't know much about it, said
Jack Despard meekly.
Exactly So" 1 answered drily. you
were never required to go down into
Hades; you probably went to your club
instead. During the spring cleaning
which is recognized necessity among
| the middle classes-the whole house
smells Of soft soap and furniture poll
| ish; and workmen are perched on lad
ders; and all the furniture is grouped
in the centers of the floors, and COW
cred with shrouds; and meals are ir-
regular and unpalatable; and the SER
wants are untidy and discomposed; and
you can't find anything you want, and
you are not able to ask a soul to come
and see you; and you are disturbed at
4 in the morning by the banshee moan
ings of chimney-sweepers, and all day
long hammering goes on; and
| '"Oh, stOp!" he implored.
| well, during all this time who ar
ranges and supervises and suffers I'M
complainingly? The wife! Who lives
on a brown teapot tea and bread and
butter, brought when the servants feel
inclined? The wifei Who goes for a
weeks golf or a little fishing with a
| friend? The husband! Who, if he
/ hos 70, onix1 IL
cessantly, and considers himself i'll
used, and dimes daily at his club? The
husband! On this occasion, then, the
wife clearly and distinctly suffers
Hades on his behalf"
He'd be awfully in the way"
| ooh, if it comes to that, Admetus
would probably have been awfully in
the way in Hades. Then again, take
the autumn exodus to the seaside. Who
| travels with the servants and the lug
gage-boxeS, baskets, hampers, wraps,
| gun-cases, violin cases, baths, bales,
tennis-racquets, golf-clubs, fishing
tackle and wine hampers? The wife!
Who comes next day, when the cook
has had time to get reconciled to the
kitchen range, and everything is I'M
packed and in order? The husbandi
On this occasion, then, the wife clearly
and distinctly suffers Hades on his be-
half"
| "Ye-es.''
| cor takes such minor infections as
dull callers. When the husband comes
in and finds that Mrs. M'Jones, who
takes a deep interest in the Jews, is up
stairs; or Major Mandrake, who has
such q painful stammer; or the two
| Misses F'idgetts who oVerlap one an