The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-01
Jane Leslie.

needs be no cause for oftense, for are
we not all animals-domestic or other
wise?
When / married some yars ago l
chose a wife who app 'ached very
closely to my ideal of mans helpmate.
She was, and is, extremely pretty; not
too strong physically q always think
there is something repulsive about the
very robust girD; and possesses sweet
ly feminine appreciation of the attrac-
tiveness of good dressing.
paid all her bills uncomplainingly
and with such indulgence she should
have been content but, as not even
the best OF us Is quite perfect, do not
mean TO speak harshly OF her when
admit that she was not so entirely
satisfied as shoulG have liked to see
her.
In fact. to speak plainly, she went
on strike for an allowance.
l tried to put the absurdity of the
matter before her in a proper light
I asked her what more she could pos
sibly want. Had she not liberty to
give unlimited orders.
She gave a little stamp of her foot
(she has very pretty feeD and answer
ed me with a show OF Importance
which could not help disappearing.
do you expect me to spend my
whole life between four walls while
you are happy and busy at your Of
fce?" she asked. "I may any day
take a sudden facy 10 go into town.
and wish to be free to do so. once
there / can interest myself in many
ways besides shopping"
Dearest" I said tempering my
| logic with affection, mature intends
| the female TO be housekeeping
| creature" I took THE Descent of
| Man" from the book. shelf. and opened
| IL mpressively at well-remembered
passage. Darwin says, The female
| glow-worm Is destitute of wings, as
| also are many female moths, some OF
which never leave their cocoons
| Many female parasitic crustaceans
have lost their natatory legs" look
| ed up at her to observe the effect Of
| this unanswerable argument. and to
my disgust l found that she was
actually laughing"
| "All right" she said. I'm not a
beggar. If you won't give me money,
I'll earn it for myself. That's ALL"
The I laughed happily, for If she
joked II was a sign that her good
humor was restored. And of course
concluded that she was joking. How
could she. my wife earn money-she
I'm her sheltered life?
She did not mention the subject of
an allowance TO me again, and knew
that her days were happy and full of
interest, because she always looked
bright and never complained.
In my work she always affected to
take a kindly interest, and was ever
ready to lead me into talk about the
literary management Of the Weekly
Eclipse, of which l was the editor.
II WISH" said one evening. that
Jane Leslie would offer contribution
to the Eclipse. 1t is against my prin-
ciples to solicit contributions, and
particularly object to do so in the case
of women writer's. but one must occas.
sionally make an exception"
"Who is Jane Leslie?" she asked
and for a moment l could not heir
thinking that it was rather stupid OF
her not to know.
Have you read her book?" she ask.
ed.
"Of course have" said. IT re.
viewed it myself in the Eclipse"
And you really think it remark
ably clever?"
Certainly do. AS you are 81
much interested ! will order 1t FOL
you"
II wasn't thinking about readinl
it," she said, rather ungratefully. -,
was only wondering if you woulc
consider that this authoress was full
filling her destiny IL she carried on
your theory about women, and die
nothing but sit by the domesti,
hearth"
1t was agreeable to find that m,
words had been treasured.
But why" / asked, make specia
case Of Jane Leslie? Women Of gen
ius and of exceptional talent are al
ways with us. They are the excep
tions. ! lay down TO rules for them.
Don't you think" she asked, "tha
you would find Jane Leslie NOR
congenial companion than you flint
me?"
replied with a number of prett.
.. ncthings such as women love, bu
for once she seemed scarcely to appre
ciate my tenderness.
: ''Perhaps 1t is true" she said. "tha
/ have very sweet lips to kiss and
musical voice TO fatter you with
these things are to be had in harems
have been your plaything for som
: years. | should like to be your goo
comrade for a change"
Darling" I said, ut Is amongs
men that a man looks for good com
rades he does not seek then
amongst"
Average women" she cried. with
= laugh that was less musical tina
: usual. Pulling her hand away fror
, me she ran out of the room, and pres
E emily I heard the door of her sanctur
3 shut, and the key turn In the lock.
e 1t was pretty little burst of temper
g and interesting in its way, but l wa
e very busy just then, and I did not al
\ tach much importance to It until late
!. ! was raped up in the interests {
n the Eclipse, and, before the end {
@ the week l wrote to Jane Leslie, unde
n cover, to her publisher, asking her I
h favor me with a short article.
3 A few weeks later she sent me
+ charming short story. and not Ion
e afterwards l was able, owing to III
= death OF a member Of our staff, TO O
r fer, her n weekly column in III
= Eclipse She held out for high term
s but | knew her name would prove
draw, and, being anxious to secure 6
Il much as they were worth, which is a
5. unwise thing to do, but sometimes vi
d avoidable.
l. All this led me into an animated co
y respondence what Jane Leslie, and
e became deeply interested in her pc
s sonality. We passed from business