Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-20
new WOMAN,NEW BABY
MAMMALS PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
SWEEPS ASIDE GENER ALITIES.
The CORRECTION of an Essay as Infu-
cnced by Human DOcuments-
TOOts Didn't Like That
Picture Book.

From the Commercial Advertiser.
She il neither solemn nor morose, so
certain people are apt To smile when she
allUdes to herself as strong-rninded. But
she thinks she is. and it comforts her when
she has to write descriptions of the
piquant Mrs. Sniffkins lwhose husband
has lust won "A golf cup, a prizeiight or a
sherifiship) to say that Mrs. Sniffkins is
an interesting and amiable woman, where
a. Mrs. Sniffkins. whose mind and DISPOSE
ticn are well known. would have preferred
her 10 say that she had sapphire eyes and
Il Grecian nose (which she has not), but
can not dispute the remarks OF Miss
spacerayte. who thus shows her mental
metal.
She was writing a paper for a club the
other day. She hasn't time to belong to II
club herself. but she supplies the incendi-
airy IDEAS which another women exploits
at The ShriekcrS." The other womans
papers have become quite famous for their
decidedly bombastiC and turn-society-up-
Shutdown character. and are the more
surprising as the reader OF them is a
bland-faccd woman. well fed and well
dressed, with no obvious reason for want
ing 10 rant. At hrst Miss Spacerayte
thought it was great sport. but she grad
ually came 10 believe In the ideas she ad-
v~ocated-alwayS Il dangerous thinS-and as
they were all uncomfortable to II degree.
she looked forward with dread 10 second
Fridays and The meeting OI the Shrlekers.
She had settled grimly to work the other
Gay on Il terrific paper entitled: The
Amusement OF Women Il Highest Qualities
by the Demands of DomestiClty.' She was
getting along beautifully. With a few
stabs of her pen she had disposed Of man
and was coming to servants and children
when the doorDell rang. Her maid con-
ducts herself as do most maids of strong
minded women. and did not answer tl.e
Putting a round ring around the
period after the last sentence. Miss Space
rayte went 10 the door. \ woman with a
rosy face and a sweet voice stood there.
| She held "A small child bN the hand IL
wanted To know. Miss. Spaccrayte. if you
would let me leave Doilie with you while
| so down town? Her nurse is i'll and she
gets so tired shopping. If she wouldn't
bother you-
Why. of course she can stay. the dar-
ling said the slrong-minded Miss Space
rayte. She won't be a bit OF trouble.
Wen have a hoo-ful time. won't we
Toots?"
Toots assented with a nod of her curly
head and her mother departed with many
thanks TO the obliging young woman with
the ink spot on her chin.
She Is Peculiar.
Then trouble began. Miss Spacerayte,
who never had a baby sister and found the
greatest difficulty in conquering the Ger
man language. has a fine command OF nur-
sery English. ToOtS. who rs being brought
up on scientific principles. had never heard
it before and thought Miss Spacerayte was
peculiar. TO say the least.
That young lady seated her guest on the
floor out of the way OF sharp table corners
and bric-a-brac and returned 10 her writ
ing. She scratched away vigorously for IL
few minutes and then there was Il tug at
her elbow. Toots didn't like that picture
book. She wanted something else TO amuse
her. Miss Spacerayto sat looking down al
the round face and the curly head. Toots
stood on one foot. holding on TO the desk
with one fat hand and returned the gaze
with interest.
What would the baby like to do?' asked
Miss Sracerayte. DO you like to play
cats CRADLE
of much character and few words. When
a piece Of string had been found and the
game had been played many tunes roulS
said she thought she could get on alone.
and her hostess returned 10. The Ahdsc-
ment of Women. Marriage may or may
not be a commemorate institution. she
wrote. AS a qucncher of gayety it seems
TO have been successful in most ages. As
4 clog to the advancement of men and
wcmen in the arts and sciences that do not
bring speedy and great pecuniary rewards
ii mas beech
\ shrek from Toots sent Miss Spacerayte
out of her chair with alacrity. upsettins
her ink bottle in her haste.
Tut mine finger. walled TOots. holding
up the injured digit End the offending
piece Of string.
Poor finger, poor. poor Toots," muir
some medicine on it," The cut was
only Il scratch. but roots liked a fuss and
watched the bathing ana binding operation
with a solemn. round-eyed gaze. When
the little hand had been wrapped up in
one of Miss Spacerdyte's best handker-
chiefs and tied to Toot's delight, with Il
pink ribbon, the surgeon said: Are you
ready for lunch. Toots. or would you like
some bread and jam? Do you have your
lunch SO early in the morning."
Me has Jam in de mornln said ToOtS
evasively.
MnrmaInde Il Boon.
So Miss Spacerayte got out the biscuits
and jam and Toots w~risgled into Il chair
and prepared to enjoy life. BY this time
the ink had sunk deem into the rug. and
the woman who objected 10 the thrald1m
of domesticity had 10 fetch a basin of
water and mop and sop and rub the spot.
1t was weariSome work. and when it was
! over she hadn't many ideas on the ".Abasa-
ment of Women" or any other subject.
But Toots was diving, happily into the
marnalade with - Dickls-Spoon. and her
face looked like u baby on Il poster.
The hostess filed her ink-well and wrote:
While the beauty of motherhood has been
celebrated in verse and pictures by men
of all ages. ii * an inconteStable fact that
the conscientious care OF small children Is
a drain upon the strength OF the clever
woman. that rohs her of her precious
birthright. Individuality. and the oppor-
tunity TO foster and develop her mental
gifts How can a woman study undis-
Il fink" observed Toots. Laundering
down from her chair, 81 fink Use had
huff"
Il hope You won't be i'll. my dear" SAID
Miss Spacerayte. "a shade of anxiety in
her voice. Come and have your face
| wished. bul mere IOplS ifDtiItti- 'pdh-
ing. bribing. scoldins had absolutely no
effect. ard finally Miss Spacerayte gave up
in despair. and even save the grimy. sticky
obstacle to woman's advancement Il pile
of picture books to look at and returned to
her work.
The woman whose mind is centered on
other things she wrote, can never hope
to bend the strong will of Il child or en-
force discipline in her household. She
should devote herself to her home or to
herself. and in this age of progress ard
opportunity the woman of mind owes it to
| herself to study and strive to exert a
wider influence in the world thar that
which she could exercise within the mar
| row confines of her home"
IL Wasn't Her System.
She was getting rather mixed, but she
kept on bravely: The woman who mar
ries and is willing to allow ner highest in
terests to be engulfed in the bourgeois
routine of Il purely material existence
lacks self respect. No matter what its sits-
| cial mission may he. matrimony was never
| intended as an occupation for the un.m-
ployed or an outlet for idle sentimental
ity."
There was a ring nj the bell. Topts
looked up from her picture books and
crumplsd up her face to cry. She felt 1t
was her mamma. and she was homesiCk.
She's been very good" said Miss Space
rayte as the fond parent claspcd that
sticky infant 10 her heart.
shes been eating sweets. ! see said
mamma with a shake Of her head. And.
good gracious. What's the matter with