The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-27
Realism vS. ROmanticiSrn.
BY F. H. LANCASTER.

ID 1s ll<A1NN<Ao
 Copyright 1902. by Daily Story uPb. Cop
 They were sitting on the gallery in the twilight and the discussion began by the Woman Who Wrote taking exception to the extravagant praise bestowed upon a modern book
 Ut is not true: not possible. If hu- man woman had attempted to live through such a series of sensations she would have died of heart failure in week: or. been sent to an asylum for the insane.
 The Newspaper Man cut in dryly, say ing:
 'I wish to goodness that could under stand what Is meant by realism and TO- manticism,' announced the Green Girl.
 Why, the difference is just this" re- sponded the Woman Who Wrote.
 Realism deals with what would prob ably happen-every-da flesh and blood. Romanticism with impossible creations of nerve and fury. For instance:
 iOnce upon a time there was man and a woman in a gaudy little garden and life looked glad. But as the sun hast ened to its setting the glow of their glad ness began to dim, for to the man sun set meant return to camp, and to ~he woman, making hot biscuit for supper So they watched the setting sun and their words were fewer as their eyes grew wistful. For this is ever so in life, nov elist to the contrary. notwithstan9ing A full heart makes not ready tongue.
 Then into the garden came the maiden aunt of the woman. and she made obeis- ance to the man and said to him In pleas ant, every-day talk that she would be much pleased to have him make a third at their teatable Let any man who has learned to prize the presence of one wo- man above all others say what was in the heart of the man as he followed the old maid and the woman Into the dining room that smelled of new bread and sad salmon.
 .' We will not bother about biscuit to- night, Polly. if you will slice some cold bread spake the aunt But the man in- terfered. declaring himself to be familiar with the weapons, and laying hold upon the bread knife, attacked the loaf vaior- ously. Whereup5n the old maid went to the pantry for the tea The door latch clicked in closing and the breadknife was in the left hand of the man and his right arm was about the shoulders of the wo- man. His breath raised her hair, and then that happened which will always happen when any ordinary man and woman whose hearts have gone into each other S keeping, chance to find themselves alone together and safe from the eyes of oth- CTS. For the space of a moment Heaven hung over the breadboard, then loose plank squeaked and the woman began to lay places for six and the man cut slices of a thickness to beat the band.
 The maiden aunt made tea and small talk; and presently they seated them selves around the pickles and preserves, also. some butter and a monstrous pile of bread.
 The mans hand touched the woman's s Intentionally as he passed plate and plat ter. Marvel not, ye mortals of mundane flesh and blood, that the tea drank that night was a nectar compared to which the ambrosia of the gods was but as milk and water For all that l have told Is very true and has come to pass many hundreds of times. and if the world holds will come many hundreds of times more.
 At last they said good night in the moonlight. And if there be any among YOU who have not counted the moments by the delicious quiver of a heart beat picture to you that pleasant parting. for no words could make it plain; and if there be those among you who have, neither will I eXpehd energy upon use less endeavor. for you know that no words may do it justice.
 So for &he sunshine. The shadow came next day with his letter: My own dear Polly, The Indians are up and we have been ordered against them" Do not con- demn him for breaking 1t so rudeIy. His heart was hurting him too badly to think of fnesse. It is ever so with an ordinary man. pain makes him impatient.
 We'll the woman felt troubled; because she missed him, and because all at once she could think of him only as of d still white face upturned to the moon. She went to the machine and made a couple of shirt waists with tucked fronts and insertion as per order. then she read the newspaper to keep from going into the garden. She did not care to talk about u-sympathv upsets ones self-control. But tho hurt in her heart grew worse as the day died and when the time came for tea, she felt as though the food Was choking her beforehand.