The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-03-16
PHILOSOPHY.

l didn't catch her name when Cous-
in Edith introduced us at the garden
party, but she was unquestionably in
teresting. We ran through art and
music and drama in half an hour.
Then we came to philosophy.
There is such difference" said
she, between practice and theory"
l conceded the point. She was so
charming, in fact, that wished it had
been larger point to concede But"
| ventured 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 regenera-
ton of the universe can only be &C
complished by white men marrying
black women"
"And black men, white women"
mo, thank you!" She shrugged her
shoulders. well, as matter of fact,
you do not care anything about the
regeneration of the universe?"
Il don't believe | do" l laughed
Nor contemplate marrying a ne
gress yourself?"
Unfortunately, my personal taste
lies so strongly in the direction Of
blonde!" Edith had remembered this,
with her usual discretion.
"lf | were black, you would say you
preferred ebony to ivory"
raised my hands in protest. 81
I ouarpnd cnInronIy ftT
prefer you as you are"
But you haven't seen me any
other-how."
81 am clear that improvement is i'm
possible"
She laughed a delightfully."- saucy
laugh.
What a stock in trade of compli.
ments you keep l can understand
why your cousin described you as a
tonic for diffident young person
like mel"
There is not" declared, another
like you, so far as my experience
goes"
You are putting me in glow Of
satisfaction with myself Please go
on. There ought to be one or two
nice points remaining in me-"
l regarded her with calm scrutiny
IAN appearance of impudence be-
comes you" said "but -"
"But?"
so do all appearances.
Pray don't think that you have ex-
hausted my appearances" She sank
back in another attitude. why you've
barely known me an hour!"
AN hour" l said feelingly, of ex-
quisite quality"
IAN hour" she suggested, (which
should rightfully have been devoted
to black woman" She looked as
if she would like to add something,
but refrained.
You were going to say"
Poor black womani" Her eyes
sparkled wickedly. 81 don't mean it,"
she FASTENED to add.
According to my theory" l ex-
planned you should have been de-
lighting the eyes and ears of some
dusky gentleman, AMBER"
Poor black mani" never saw such
a girl to laugh.
"On the contrary. If you were like
= L
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 the
cries 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 gray.
ity, ''the folly is in such unstable be,
ings 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" | said, there is no harm in
laying them down-for othersl" She
smiled again.
For Jones and Brown and Smith,
a black woman apiece" she cried,
clapplng her hands; for the author OF
the theory"
Blonde" | interrupted, blue eyes
and haxen hair; preferably attired in
pale blue with pink roses"
stop, stop! I'll assume that you've
paid me all possible compliments. Let
us get down to the bed rock of serious
conversation.
"Umph! One so rarely gets there
that l doubt if have any serious con
versation. You are not a missionary
in disguise. are you?"
She didn't answer for a minute
was curious to watch her face change
from merriment, through thought, to
seriousness. First the laughter died
gradually in her eyes; then the little
curls went out Of her lips; then the
dimples in the checks smoothed them
selves out like ripples widening into
nothingness on the sea; then she lift
ed up her head, little on one side
and looked at me with solemn child
eyes.
I Sometimes" she said sadly, 81
wish | were. Sometimes l wish a
missionary would come to me. l get
( tired of making fun of things, and
think that perhaps they are serious
/ after ALL"
! twirled my mustache, and felt my
own smile fading out. "They are