Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-05
A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY
THE IDLER TELLS OF VERY
HARD-HEADED MAN.
he BOUGHT A SUBURBAN HOME.
His Wife Had Fought Against IL,
But He Would Not Listen, Though
He Blamed Her When Trouble
Came. iiIsliSEsl3
.sIEliEIsgg
Came.

Women are whimsical enough, gracious
knows, but when a man takes a motion"
into his head, there's no chiselling it out
until he gets his way. At least, this Is
what those who have to deal with such
men say, and they ought to know. My
authority comes principally from the
wives Of "notiony" individuals. and these
afflicted females aver that they've long
| since learned the futility of opposing their
| husbands in their pet schemes. And the
| funny part about 1t is that men in the
| same conditions Of life generally have the
| same motions" For instance, the we'll
| to-do man who lives in the city invariably
concludes, when he gets to be about IS
or 90 and has a comfortable bunch OF
children, that it would be glorious thing
for him 20 buy a country home or sub
urban residence. Tho idea strikes him all
at once, and forthwith takes root Great
and glorious is the wife who can eradicate
it or convince him that he's clinging TO a
fool notion"
Now, every man. for some reason or
other, thinks he's born farmer, and the
suburban-home scheme strikes him as a
splendid opportunity for his talents. OF
course, he isn't idiot enough to abandon
his business Cor the project, but he de-
termines TO purchase little pace" that
is readily accessible to the city-a little
place that can be reached in half an
hours ride. The children, he knows, will
enjoy it immensely, for they can have
chickens and puppies, and get plenty of
open space, while he In his leisure mo-
ments can raise vegetables In the garden
and save hundreds Of dollars that are an
nually gobbled UP by the green grocers.
And then, I'm addition to all this. there is
the splendid fresh air and the healthful
surroundings and the beautiful environ
ments, and the rural, restful life-things
well calculated 10 make any man long for
a suburban residence. The "notiony" hus-
band doesn't stop to think about the dis
advantages. or the poor inves ,ment for
his money, nor does he realize that his
scheme Is purely selfish one. He's going
10 take the step entirely for his childrens
sake he says, and somehow, in planning,
the scheme, he forgets the most impor-
rant and powerful member OF his house
hold-his wife.
In fact, he has nearly mapped every
thing out before he enthusiastically con-
fdes his plans TO the good woman, who, !
though she generally disagrees with him /
at first on general principles, almost in /
tumbles to his way of thinking |
before the controversy is over. But on 4
this occasion the good woman is as cold /
as ice-too cold, indeed, TO even disagree |
with him. She throws a wet blanket !
on tho whole business from the very /
start When asked what she thinks OF |
the proposition. she simply remarks: |
"Our cook would leave us. Darhes hate
country like poison. and we could never
keep a servant on the place"
The hard-headed, ''notiony" man
knows he's got trouble before him, and
now makes up his mind TO have a subur-
ban home or die. The fact that his wife (
opposes the scheme makes it dear to
his heart. From the moment she gave
the proposition the marble heart his
mind became fixed; that one thing set
tied It.
But think how the children would en-
Joy It," he suggests. for he knows that
the good woman subordinates all her
pleasures for the qualification OF the
pesky brats. And then, he meekly con-
tinues: They'd be SO happy with their
chickens and dogs, and would take so
much interest In my garden, and we
could save so much money on the vege-
tables we raised, TO say nothing OF the
other advantages"
Chickens and dogs!" exclaims the
good lady. "why, IL there's anything on
Earth I do hate. it is these creatures.
The house would be alive with feas in
| week, and IT would make me sick to
nave a lot of nasty old hens and roos-
ers scratching about my yard. And by
he way, what do you know about farm
ng or gardening? It's the first time /
,ver heard of your being an agricultu-
list or an horticulturist."
And the "notiony" man, now deter
mined beyond the shadow OF doubt to
purchase the little place he has in view.
suggests that dogs without fieas can
70 selected for the children. and that
he chickens might be confined TO a GER
ain reservation where they could
cratch TO their hearts content, but with
ut damage TO the body polite. He hum
ly admits that he has had no education
s o. farmer, but asserts that he was
orn with a love for such things, and
an readily acquire the requisite knowl-
dge after one conversation with his
ural neighbors.
And the woman knows she has lost the
ght-that the 'notiony'' man IL going TO
ave his way. and that the sooner It's
yer with the better. She doesn't sit down
nd cry about IL. nor does she get mad
r Illustrated" Not tho wosnan-she sim
ly determines to resign herself and to
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