The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-16
J0bSOh'S PLAN FAILED.
HE WAS GOING TO sOoTHE AND IN.
STRICT HIS WIFE.
began Reading Aloud Extracts From
some of the standard Workable
Soon Grew Weary of His Prcpo-


one evening a couple of weeks ago.
throwing down his evening paper ard
getting focus On the large. well-filied
bookcase in a corner of the sitting
room, how long has /; been since you've
turned the key in that ornamental, glass
paneled library OF ours and extracted a
book therefrom?'
Well. Mrs. Jobson started 70 reply.
II don't have so much time as"
No" interrupted Mr.. Jebson. ~ be-
lieve you do have 10 put towel over
your head and dust couple Of rooms
every couple of weeks. Occasionally, too.
i believe you change the tides around.
and I've also seen you water the palms
now and then. It's outrageous, OF course.
the way you have to slave. But don't you
think i, would be a pretty good scheme
for you 10 just dip into the standard
works with which have stocked that H.
brary, once IN a great while. and get
your mind of things tina; are cut on the
bias. criss-eross. both ends from the mid
Ole. and so on9 In short. DO you think
you'd be damaging yourself any II you'd
just crowd down your natural. inherent
distaste for it and try 10 get on ordinary
speaking terms with good literature?
Do
Why. I have read all of the books IN
that case exclaimed Mrs. Jobson. II
u
girl at school. and
That's all right. too put in Mr.. Job
son. but YOU seem 10 forget that therA
have been a lot OF presidents Of tho
L nited States since you were a girl at
school YOU
Il don't suppose any OF us are growing
any younger" in,erjected Mrs. Johson.
dryly.
.'Jabs like that aren't exactly called for,
JohGOn ~ r1I<
The point that I'm trying 10 make is
that the pinky. pin-headed literature that
! see distributed all over this house-on
all the chairs. tables. nantelpieces, piano
stools. foot rests touches. tabodrets-ev-
erywhere. Mrs. Jobson-in every room In
the shack-be kind enough not TO inter
rupt me. Mrs. Jobson--the point that I'm
trying 10 make stick Is that the species
OF hoppickers literature to which you
are addicted isn't calculated 10 stock your
mind with the right kind of-er-stock-
The hectic flush. Lam here to- save-t this
woman's honor-wtii ne-'ife pipe dreams
i'll yeller- kivered book form upon which
you feed morning. noon and night, are
Wrapping your views. Mrs. Jobson. You
may not be aware of IL yourself. but the
fact Is perfectly obvious TO me. Now I've
determined 20 devote an hour or SO every
evening to reading aloud choice passages
from the high-Erade works I've collected
In that book case. In doing this you may
consider that I'm looking 10 our mutual
Improvement. and not simply attempting
70 wean you away from the stuff that
you seem To-"
"ltn be delightful to have you read
aloud" interposed Mrs. Jobson. amiaby.
ITS So soothing and instructive to be
read TO-"
Mr. Jobson looked up at her suspicious
iy. but she was immersed in her lace work
III
eye.
IN jus. begin to soothe and instruct.
then" said Mr.. Jobson. rising and open
ing the book case. by reading a chap
ter or so from this-er-yes. Ruskin's
Seven Lamps of Architecture. How'd
that suit you?'
y was very fond of Ruskin as a girl"
replied Mrs. Jobson.
Yes. and SO was / very proud OF pate
de foie gras as a boy said Mr. Jobson.
ITS been-er--er-a pretty wide stretch OF
years since I've tackled this Ruskin
proposition myself but the best isn't any
too good for me. Mrs Jobson. and II
you'U Just count those stitches under
your breath for a few moments. III go
ahead"
II was A pretty warm evening, but Mr.
Jobson plunged into The Seven Lamps
With determination He read ike read
ing clerk OF a parliamentary body. At
the end Of the fifteen minutes he vas a
bit hoarse. and he had 10 put his hand
over his mouth n number Of times to
cover up his huge yawns When he
caught Mrs. Jobson yawning, however.
he dropped the book into his lap and re-
garde1 her fixedIy.
Il suppose that the hour that have
spent 4; this has been exceedingly IA
t.euing 20 you. Mrs Jobson but
Why YOU W only been reading fifteen
minutes" said Mrs Jobson.
Very fatigulng to YOU" went on Mr..
JobSon. ignoring her interruption but
you'M get used to II In time. couldn't
expect you 10 take 70 anything that re-
quires the use OF intellect with any great
amount az enthusiasm. bat I'm doing II
with a purpose. and Ne re going 10 have
these little mental exercises every even
ing for an indefinite period"
Then M. Johson put Ruskin back into
the bookcase and figured up the grocery
book tor the rest Of the sitting
The next evening Mr.. Johson picked
out Macaulays essay on Warren Hast
ings. and began 80 read II ~ the rate ~
anA words = minute He yawned prodig-
iously before he'd been ~ IL ter minutes
and at the end of ffteen minutes he was
hoars@ and "ali out" az they say of
wary racers
Tia, winds up our hour" said NJ
Jahson. nUtt!ng away 'he book cot
COURSE 81 these FOLKS W. re reading about
have bean Head and gone fo- a long while
hut It's almighty absorbing tn get = lire
% en- at the hands ~ man who knew
how - 40 It Find Il stimulating. Mrs.
roNsouN"
intensely =" said Mrs Jobeor: and
once gain NJ Iohson found her bending
over her resdlewcrk and failed ~ catch
the twinkle In her eve.
Then Sf- Jahsoa picked an ora ~ the
IG-cent magazines am looked over ihe
pictures therein fer :he remainder @. ne
sitting
IL t.Ent appear - want p get hack
"a Warren FaettUrs he neg evening. rat
to-k ~ Car'y'e's essay on Burns TIE
Carfr1ear stYie @t'n IS huge figures ard
c~aEgy Germauis-,s go him % suffering
and sp'stte~}ur c01s,ieraflr. ard re gave
{. III g. ~ 4n5 r. aft~en minutes ws.a
sra remark .nat re f7- o3s has RAD n
f'gh1T Instructive hc1r - 81 Tn n@xt
oven ~ - rts}'ef egIt she .~s. yo'urn. ~
Ir7t-s-s Conquest ~ G-anaea bar ne
S9as.1 sv2 M@aris- ~4fr~- Sfuupelf IN
- neHiv t-'ere % had gsa;ef through isra