The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-26
Outside the Radius.

A gossipy charwoman and an inquisitive
housekeeper are opposed to furnish w.
PETIT Ridge material for a series of short
stories that are more interesting than the
name, Outside the Radius indicates.
The title, however, applies to the place
the Crescent-a village in the environs of
London, just outside the radius of the
great metropolis. 1t is a place of villas
houses with a bit of lawn surrounding
them-that rent for $3.50 to 500 a year.
Their occupants belong to the middle class
of English society. They are mostly
lawyers, brokers, merchants and manufac-
turers, who go into the city i'm the morn
ing and return in the evening. A few are
retired officers of the army, and two or
three are spinsters, who visit London town
at least twice a year to draw the interest
on their cOnsols. The people of the Cres-
cent being well-to-do, keep housemaids,
nurse girls and other ~ervants and il is
from them the housekeeper gets the ma
terial, or the foundation rather. of the
authors stories. w. PETIT Ridge calls him.
self a bachelor, but he writes more like q
woman than a man. In fact, the imaginary
bachelor should be called the mother of
the village" for he is the confidant of ev-
erybody. No trouble develops in any house
hold but he Is consulted. In closing his de-
scription of the Crescent the author says:
MANY in the Crescent fiatter themselves
that they do not know the people next
door, and they state this with pride, as
though Ii made them worthy of the Vic
toria cross: but their servants are ac-
quainted, and this does just as we'll. Be-
sides there is Mrs. Lade (the charwoman.)
There is also my old housekeeper. No need
TO lift the roofs of the houses TO find COM
edy and drama when Mrs. Lade and my
h~ousekeeper are able TO exchange Informal
ton; / am always quite sure that what
ever NAV hann4n in the CraCCaut rnkpouvn
TO my old housekeeper is not worth know
ing"
There are fifteen stories or sketches I'm the
book. including the description of the
Crescent. 1.-The Education of Mrs. Greg
ory' is one of the best. Robert Gregory,
member of an aristocratic family and an
employe in one of the government OF
fees, weds a girl beneath his station In
life. They rent one of the Crescent's villas.
The young mans female relatives under
take to educate his wife in the ways or
society. They call at her home, but never
invite her to theirs. Their lessons are taken
good naturally at first, but after a time
the young wife becomes disheartened ana
finally resolves to free herself OF the al
most daily hectoring. The next day the Ia
dies hanson stops at the steps, as usual,
but the housemaid has received instruc-
tons and they do not enter. This Is what
happens: "Mrs. Captain Burleigh and the
sister stepped out of the hanson. Mrs.
Captain Burleigh gave her usual advice TO
the cabman on the proper treatment Of
driving horses. They walked up to the
door OF No. 80. Knocked. Door opened.
MISTRESS compliments said the serv-
want breathlessly and exultantly. Mistress
compliments, and she can't see you
The ladies are astonished. and after an
argument with the girl, return home I'm
an angry frame OF mind. The young wife
| is not bothered again. Although she has
dismissed her teachers. she determines TO
improve herself intellectually. She reads
and studies hard. with her husbands assis-
lance. takes lessons i'm elocution and de-
| pertinent, and, under the spur of ambition.
becomes an accomplished woman. Some
of her husbands relatives call and are
surprised at her knowledge and CONVEX
~sational powers. They return home with a
story that Is at variance with the report
| spread by the two self-constituted mentors
who met a rebuff a year or more before.
| Soon young Mrs. Gregory receives an In
Invitation to call on the two ladies. but she
! shows them her education has been COM
| pleted. She writes a polite note OF declina-
| tion.
] w. Petit Ridge IL a focal color" artist
He also understands human nature and