The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22
CONSULTED HER RELATIVES
FAMILY MAssMEETIYG TO TALK
OYER HELEN'S FUTURE STATE

sNAN w INV AFNNANNh " NHAl
n Conference to Select n Husband 70
Her-who Came and Who Did Not
A s%pinster aunt, lust az good as could be II
her own way. but with a strong tendency b
keen the run OF everything and everybody OF
her W block and with a mania for lncludlnI
herself In any group OF relatives and friends
that might be invited to attend any funera
within a milo OF her own home. received tn,
following letter from her niece recently:
DEAR AUNT SUE: II may surprise you [;
hear that l want to get married, but [ know
that 1t will please you TO learn that before
taking such an important step l mean to con.
suit you and all my other relatives and then be
guided by the opinion upon which most Of
you agree.
You know that there has always been more
or less hard feeling md GOODNESS among the
folks ever since my sisters Judith and Emma
were married. just because every one was not
consulted In advance. Since Judith married
Tom. you know. Aunt Eunice has hardly
spoken TO her. and Aunt Eunice's boys won't
even recognize Tom on the street. not because
they have a thing against him. for he is \ very
good husband. but because they were not con-
suited. And 1t is Just as bad with Emma and
Cousin George. He pretends that he is heart
broken because she married William without
first asking him what kind Ola man William
was when she knew all about 1t herself.
Now. 1 don't want to cause any more dis
s~ensions In the family. and so propose TO have
what you might call a massmeeting Of all our
folks and urge a general discussion and then
take q ballot to see who Is the most suitable
man for me to marry. As 1 do not propose to
have any vote myself for fear Of hurting some
ones feelings. 1 shall preside at the meeting.
After calling the meeting to order / shall an
nouDce that | have received two offers OF mar
riage. one from n young clergyman and one
from a young business man. They are both
splendid young men. have good positions. and
II l was a mother / am sure that l should be
perfectly willing for my daughter to marry
either Of them. I'll admit that l prefer one to
the other. and II I felt at liberty to decide for
myself would not hesitate to make my choice.
However. ! shall not say at the meeting which
one | prefer. because 1 know that one OF
mothers cousins does not like him,
Il have counted up all my relatives on both
sides and find that in addition to father and
mother. the four grandparents. my brother.
two sisters and two brothers-in in law. there are
seven aunts. eleven uncles, twenty three first
cousins. fifteen second cousins. three great
aunts and my little niece. SO you see that IL
will be quite a massmeeting. shall ask all
who cannot come to send letters expressing In
full their, opinions and preferences in the mat
ter. shall read these letters aloud at the
meeting which will be he'd next Thursday
e' f, EDO 9g gou a Know Mhet Rh.sc John HadgiSs.
ton Is really n cousin Of ours. or do we call
him cousin because the families used to be 30
and. Of curse. couldn't come to the meeting.
but II he Is actually n relative. l must write to
him and get his opinion by letter. Please an
Aunt Sue was delighted with the letter from
Helen. and after writing back that John .Hud-
uington was a sort OF a third cousin and that
IT. wouldn't do any harm to consult him, and
also announcing that she would come to the
long private talk before the meeting. the spin
ster lost, no time In telling her nelghbors what
a sensible niece she had and that her brother |
nad at least one daughter who was a credit to
the family.
The plans for the meeting went off without a
were present but one aunt. three uncies.
seven cousins and the little niece. The little
a bad cold. which caused Aunt Eunice to
snif and intimate that Judith knew ts much
.bo ut taxing care Of baby as she did about a
and Helen got her massmeetine into parlia-
You have all learned. she said. from Your
,e emir r. OF Invitation what the purpose Of this
so e'n man sI 81 yon have as; I sb 1eeI very you grateful infdra th at
my welfare by coming here tonight. Before
lsking for remarks will read vol letters that
other from Cousin Susan. This is the one
rom Uncle:
My DEAR NIECE: Your strange request re-
,eived. It Will be impossible for me to attend
Iour foolish meeting, and | would not come ii
could; because 1t Is none Of my business
who loves you and whom you love, and Titnis IL
ny earnest wish that he may be worthy Of
iou, III be at the wedding. no matter, what
engagements | have. Congratulating
'ou in advance. l am, your afrectionate
JUNGLE JoE.'"
Murmurs. OF disapproval from the assembled
followed tho reading OF this first let
er. One aunt expressed her gratitude that
,oe wasn't on her side Of the family. and said
aid II told you so" in concert,
The Chairman Of the meeting had taken
lidn't show 1t and proceeded to read the letter
Dear Cousin Nellie" she she'T Wrote. IT was de-
sensible qirl you are-so, different from some
inately j. will not be able to attend the masa-
for on that very night | am to preside
ie~ Interpretation Of the 10 Zodiac ae''e' Ne '9 are 't TO
axe up the scorpion. and l couldn't possibly
,pce.l, But il your mind Is set. for heavens
as always been respectable and all that but Il
about time. should think. that one OF us.
sa nn.he5 81 one co9 Of you 0a %6nid to get ss q man a With With
zainst Thomas and William, but you know
iht Juulth VIII always be a drudgaa and as for
rather be dead than In her position.
'ome Of the relatives. led by Aunt Sue, APP
auded vigorously. Emma and Judith looked
4 they wanted to cry, but as obey knew that
ellen, sympathized with them and admired
ls!ir husbands. they didn't leave the room.I
Now. there is one thing more. Helen" r
two offers Of marriage. One, you say, is >
on a Young business man. don't want to /
can y. Y. h., ! want to say right here that 7
III must not think OF marrying him. Why :
Ignore the engagement altogether and 9
ould never recognize him as a member OF c
lr family. Don't call him a business man. I
'lish at al, none OF the finer feelings. He g
res TO work every morning at & and drudges Ii
way until q. Why. Nellie. he might as well ri
Try a tin dinner pail, l guess he'll have to :,
he eyer tries to support a wife, and Just o
Give my love to dear Aunt Sue and tell her n
at ! received her pretty little booklet on "
~idactics..' Thanking you for asking my ad- e.
,e and hoping that I have helped you. I am. II
ure sincerely. COUSIN SUSAN. n
'P. S.-Burn this letter Immediately" y
General discussion followed the reading Of
9 letters and Aunt Sue was the first speaker. IA
70 said that her dear niece and namesake ir
d struck the keynote OF the whole thing and -
nj the raIafivaa could not a rriya N ~ yrIaa. N