Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-08-15
| HER VULNER-
ABLE SPOT q 8
By. LAvoN c. CHENEY.

AVi most round of the ladder of fame
erected by the people of Shultisville.
She bad been placed in her exalted
position by the male portion of the
community, as shining example of
what a woman should be, and used by
# as prod to the energies of the re-
1uctantly admiring and, secretly en-
vious female inhabitants. The con-
census of opinion was expressed by
Deacon Wilson when he said:
.'ssssbe's the best worker fur ten
miles round, and 'es got git up
enough fur two wimmin!"
From this it may readily be gath
cred that the villagers standard of
excellence in q woman was net beauty
nor intellectual gifts, but ability to
Evors.
Mrs. Pottsey's capacity in this direc-
ton was never ending source of con-
versation among the women, and the
fact of its being a common occurrence
in the life of this remarkable piece of
femininity to buy calico for dress
one morning and wear the finished
garment on the day following. was
something of which to brag to less IA
wored communities. And the work upon
Fl was done entirely by hand, for sew
ing machines were not considered
necessary article of furniture, and
were looked upon as luxury to be
5ndulged in only by the very rich. al
though they were sometimes acquired
by the very lazy.
Mrs. Pottsey's browning achieve
snent was the trousers of the late
sfa% Of
her husband, she had purchased the
material for pair of pantaloons one
morning, and that gentleman had
dnDned those same garments in the
afternoon as a fitting-or, possible.
non-fitting-tribute to his Office as
pail bearer during the obsequies of a
neighbor.
Whether these strenuous exertions
ON the part of his spouse had so wear
aed Ms. Pottsey that he was glad to
GEEK a place where work is unknown,
it is impossible to say. He had been
a pale, meek, little man, lacking in
the energy which the woman, beside
whom he had been obliged to spend his
lie, possessed in such superb bund-
auce-and she was not at all backward
{r showing her contempt for those
whose endowments were not equal to
sler own. This, no doubt, wore on him
TO an Extent that rendered him per-
fectly willing to exchange the real
flies of the world he was leaving for
the promises of the world to come.
The inscription on his tombstone was
characteristic of his relation in life,
for even in death he was not allowed
60 assert himself, but was laid to rest
as Washington, beloved husband of
Zenobia Pottsey:''
There was no suggestion of meek
ness about Mrs. Pottsey. She was tall
and rather thin, with swapping black
eyes and smooth. black hair. showing
40 thread of white. Very courageous,
indeed, would be the hair to dare un-
furl a white banner in her head. Its
death would be sudden and ignomin-
fous. Common report provided her with
q sharp tongue. But this detriment in
fhe mind of her male acquaintance
e<yas more than balanced by the mate
slG1 advantages she could confer on a
possible successor to the late Mr.
Poitsey. Naturally woman who split
Saer own wood, MIXED her own COW
and did other things commonly sup
tSssScu 10 NC man WIN Hdu many al
, sasirers-
As Lemuel Jones-cailed "Lazy
Jones" by his friends, in playful allu.
sssos 20 his well-known dislike fol
s1aaEua1 labor-expressed it to select
zoferie of his cronies: 'You woulG
not have TO do'a thing but jest set down
aud take it easy; she'd do the hust
ting a woman that'll climb ladder
and, paint her own house is the woman
for me-
When Mr.. Jones one afternoon in
ferrupted Mrs. Pottsey's strenuous
processes by knocking at the door, she
sFas engaged in putting the finishing
touches to.a "color scheme" in her hes1
Soom. The predominatin shade was :