Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-08-29
A CHAPTER OF PHILOSOPHY.

4 CHAPTER Of PHILOSOPHY.
I didn't catch her name when Cousin
Edith introduced us at the garden party,
but she was unquestionably interesting.
We ran through art and music and
drama in half an hour. Then we came
to philosophy.
There is such a difference, said she,
"betWeen practice and theory"
l conceded the point. She was so charm
ing. in fact that l wished it had been
larger point to concede. But [ ven
tured to remark, that doesn't make the
theory wrong.
She leaned her cheek thoughtfully upon
one gloved finger; possibly to display the
smallneSs OF her hand; possibly because
the pose suited her; probably for both
reasons.
''When you say that the regeneration
of the universe can only be accomplished
by white men marrying black women
And black men white women"
mo, thank you!'' She shrugged her
shoulders. We'll, as a matter Of fact,
you do not care anything about the re-
generation Of the universe?'
4 don't believe | do" | laughed.
''Nor contemplate marrying a negress
yourself?"
Unfortunately, my personal taste lies
SO strongly in the direction of the
blondet' Edith had remembered this.
with her usual discretion.
If [ were black, you would say you
preferred ebony to ivory
raised my hands in protest. Il assure
you,' L averred solemnly, Il prefer you
as you are
But you haven't seen me any-other-
how"
I am clear that improvement is i'm
possible
She laughed delightfully."- saucy laugh.
What a stock in trade of compliments
you keep. can understand why your
cousin described you as a tonic for diff
dent young person-ike me-
There is not" [ declared, another
like you, so far rs my experience goes
You are putting me in q glow of sat
isfaction with myself! Please go on.
There ought to be one or two nice points
remaining in me-"
[ regarded her with calm scrutiny. can
appearance of impudence becomes you,"
L said. but
'But?''
$50 do all appearances
fray don't think that you have ex-
hausted my appearancesr' She sank back
in another attitude. why. you've bare
~ known me an hourr'
An hour," | said feelingly, ''of ex-
An hour she suggested, (which
should rightfully have been devoted to a
black woman" She looked as if she
would like to add something, but re-
Trained.
You We're, going to say
Poor black woman Her eyes spark
led wickedly. L don't mean it, she
FASTENED to add.
According to my theory" [ explained,
''you should have been delighting the eyes
and ears of some dusky gentleman, and
Poor black man. 1 never saw such q
girl to laugh.
ION the contrary, if you were likely to
adopt my theory [ should paint myself
black
But you wouldn't be so black as you
were painted"
THE theory" observed, doesn't say
black all-through."
The theory is nonsense; all theories
are
Surely, out of so many theories one or
two must be right-if only by accident."
She leaned her head back against the
chair, and considered. Don't you
think" she asked with sudden gravity,
the folly is in such unstable beings as
we having theories at all? We lay down
all sorts of grand principles, and when
the time for action cOmes-Why, of
course, we break them!' She sighed ;
doubtless to the memory Of some departed
theory.
"Still,'' I said, ''there is no harm in lay
ing them down-for othersr' She smiled
again.
For Jones, and Brown, and Smith,
black woman apiece" she cried. clapping
her hands; for the author of the theory
Blonde interrupted 'blue eyes and
faxen hair; preferably attired in pale
blue with pink roses
''StOp, stopi I'll assume that you've
paid me all possible compliments. Let us
get down to the bed rock of serious con
versatiOn."
| doubt if | have any serious converse
ton. You are not missionary in dis
guise, are your
She didn't answer for q minute. It
was curious to watch her face change
from merriment through thought, to Sc
robustness. First the laughter died gradu-
ally in her eyes; then the little curIS and
turns went out of her lips: then the dim
pies in the cheeks smoOthed themselves
out like rippleS widening into nothingnesS
on the seat, then she lifted up her head,
a little on one side, and looked at Inc
with solemn child eyes.
Sometimes" she said, sadly. I wish
| We're. Sometimes [ wish a missionary
would come to me. | get tired of making
fun of things, and think that perhaps
they are serious after ALL.
l twirled my mustache. and felt my
own smile fading out. They are serious
enough l said, if you look at them in
that way. 1t isn't a good way to look at
thines-things in general think
But one looks sometimes she said.
abs5ently, lat things in particular, and
feels very. very serious
Then" [ said, leaning forward, lone
doesn't talk about them much There is
rarely anyone to whom one cares to talk
about Them
Il don't think" she went on, with
little catch in her voice there is ever
any single person to whom anyone would
like to tell them aii-the serious partic-
ulars' I mean.
Il don't think there is. So usually one
doesn't tell them"