The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-13

Pursued to Their Homes by People
Who Want Things.


Grace H Boutelle, in Boston Transcript.
In the contrasting class of those who
plead for special legislation, which will
mean personal benefit to them, there are
many subdivisions. There is the persua-
sively appealing little woman who could
not fad her way around that horrible
noisy Capitol, possibly" and only asks one
moment of the congressman's time. but
stays an hour or two. The first half-hour
is taken up in telling him how sorry she Is
to intrude upon his home life; the second.
In contrasting her present lot with the
splendor of her past, and the rest of the
time is spent in a gentle. obstinate. con-
tinuous lament that the mere fact of her
having married again should deprive her
of the annuity she had received as the
widow of her first husband.
What do they keep that big surplus in
the treasury for. doing nobody any good
at all? They wouldn't miss that little tiny
bit L want. 1 known John would wish me
to have it just the same-he always said L
should never be crossed in anything If he
could help it, and If he wouldn't mind my
marrying again. I'm sure l don't see why
the government should. / never supposed
II was tyrannical enough to try to control
a woman's whole lifei"
Whereupon the congressman looks help
less, amused, annoyed nonplussed. all at
once; opens his lips for patient explana-
tion and shuts them again. for he sees
that the end is not yet.
With the air of having saved her crown
ing argument for the last, he says: III
isn't that care for myself at all; my
manage without any any heIpNeven from John
but now that the baby is six months old.
we DO need the money for him. He's too
earring for anything, and so artistocratic
ne ought to have harmonious setting; and
just think we can afford an English car
rage for him. or those lovely long cap
ribbons for his nurse. You can see how We
feel about it,
She lifts a pathetic little face TO her
Ilstener and two large tears tremble in her
eyes. The congressman's voice shakes
he says:
so you think that John would make
particular point of the cap-ribbons If he
were cognizant of his-er-posthumous
step-son? L am very sorry, madam, but
fear there is no legislation covering pre-
cisely that point" And he escorts a much
aggrieved little Niobe to the door.
AFTER one or two golden moments in
which he snatches a glimpse at the morn
ing paper, peremptory knock is heard at
the door, followed instantly by the en-
trance OF one who has the air of Roman
ton. Having vouchsafed to say Good
morning, she begins without further pre-
amble.
81 came up myself, because I know the
ways OF public men. and how they make
a cats-paw of the bell boy, sending word
they're out when you know they're in."
she announces accusingly.
The congressman is conscious of guilty
and unworthy wish that he could have en-
ployed this nefarious device on the present
occasion. but as II occurs to him how much
be than that of the too-confiding cat to lit
tie black Bob. the bellboy, who lives in a
continual effervescence of pranks, he is
he reflects THE dreadful inference seems
TO be that take the monkeys part myself
What is TO follow this tactful preface?
He is not long left in doubt. First comes
an arraignment Of governmental methods
in general-then of congressional callous-
ness, and lastly of the general apathy to
the best interests of the country which
kept in a minor position where his talent
has no chance to expand. 1t is gathered
from her angry volubility that the said
husband is a born leader of men, capable
of directing their efforts as the leader of an
orchestra Yields a baton-with the skillful
ease and the result of perfect harmony. She
has startling way of turning sharply
upon her listener between each general ac-
cusation and saying, You know it's So
it's just L say, and If thinking people
didn't protest from time to time the coun-
try would go to the dogs-and precious lit
tie most of you would care-you know
it's SOL"
In the first place. the listener remarks
mildly, Pardon me- madam, what you say
of the decadence of patriotism and political
intelligence Is most interesting, but / did
not quite gather what position 1t was that
your husband wished to apply for"
In the impetus of her wrath, the Roman
matron forgets policy and includes her I'M
fortunate husband in the whitening fire of
her scorn. HE wish to apply? He doesn t
care if he stays in a corner the rest of his
days If it wasn't for me he wouldn't be
where he Is now; he's basely, humbly salts
fed with anything he can get, but I'm
going to bring him to the front rank-he
doesn't know his own possibilities.
The congressman regards her thought
fully. 'In that case" he says, sit occurs
to me that he might not be an infallible
Judge or developer of the possibilities of
other men. l should say that he had gal
lantly resigned his executive talent in your
| favor, and, unfortunately, the position you
| speak Of cannot be held by woman"
She turns her back upon his courteous
| bow and slams the door behind her.
This visit is followed by the arrival of a
| telegram from an ease-loving soul who has
| been enjoying the advantages of a delight-
| full climate and charming social environ
ment for many years 1t has at last been
| Thought meet for him to take up another
| branch of his work in a less attractive
Mace He feels that he is being uprooted
| from his proper sphere and wires imme-
| diately:
Am ordered to Dullburg-this is persecu-
| tion!'