The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-04

Man-HaterS and they were eXcHdlS lib
opinions as to what they disliked par
ticularly in men. With that to pick at
drifted naturally into an experience
meeting.
L suppose I should never have mar
ried Fred" said the Young Matron,
but for one thing. He knew enough
to go home. And really he was almost
the only man L ever knew who had that
gracious gift. At one time there were
two or three other fellows whom 1
thought I liked a great deal better than
Fred-but most of Them stayed too long.
used to be on the verge of nervous
collapse I was so worried for fear papa
would appear at the door with some
rude unfeeling remark and although
he never did, l always knew what to
expect at breakfast. After awhile it be-
gan to be a perfect relief to have Fred
drop in because 1 knew l could depend
upon him to leave at a reasonable hour
and no dark hints or subtle innuendoes
were necessary to dislodge him, either.
At first, / confess. that 1 didn't think II
such a bore for the others to stay II L
hadn't been so uncertain as to what
papa would do but you know as you
grow older you begin to realize that
there are other nights and ii occurs to
you that perhaps you would look for
ward to them with more pleasure IL
your callers would break away at, say
1880, for we were country people and
used to early hours. Haven't you no.
ticed how little there is to say after
1890? And there is so much in an easy
exit at an interesting moment. Why
( don't all men realize how much more
desirable it is to leave at a time when
= he girls prefer them to stay rather
han to walt until their hostesses are
bored to death and relieved to get rid of
them"
There was a murmur OF approval and
assent, somewhat self-conscious it is
true on the part of the debutantes and
then the girl with brown freckles to
match her eyes said her little say:
THE first time l was awakened with
a shock from loves young dream it
was all due to a hole in the heel of
stocking. You may look incredulous
but 1t is perfectly true that the man
who wore the stocking was rather
good sort. I can see that, now that time
has softened my scorn. 1 had known
him for several months and we were
getting to be right chummy. One warm
evening he dropped in as usual looking
very smart and fit in his white fiannels
and a swell new straw lid and
thought ii would be a good time to take
him to see some friends of mothers
whom he had never met and who had
been asking me about him. I suppose
everyone has friends of whose good
opinion they are especially proud and l
had been brought up to think Mrs. AL
tus a person of considerable 1mpor-
lance Consequently 1 thought that
evening would be about the right time
to trot the New Man out for her in
spection as he was really looking very
well indeed 1 observed him closely
when we reached her house because we
were just at the stage when a girl be-
gins to wonder, seriously, whether a
man will do, and I must say that he
aequitted tnimself acknowledgements. Mrs.
Altus was charmingly gracious, still l
suspected from the way she watched
him that she and mother had been talk
ing him over. After a while the front
piazza filled up with other callers and
in the shifting of chairs and rearranSe-
ment of groups it happened that Mrs.
Altus and 1 were sitting together rather
apart from the others at the back of the
veranda. It had grown dark and some
one turned on the light Suddenly i
noticed my hostesses' glance WANDER
and then stop as If fascinated. 1tolloW-
ed her gaze and saw that her eyes were
fixed on the feet of the New Man who
was sitting in front of us leaning for
ward with his feet on the ROUNDS OF MS
chair and in another minute l discoV-
cred what was causing her expression
of mingled amusement and disgust;
there were two of the biggest holes in
the feet of his lace-striped black nsle
hose that you ever saw! Positively they
were enormous! / suppose they dloh
show when he was standing but ne mad
forgotten himself and his trousers were
Dulled up Just enough to reveal them. 1
thought I should faint. never knew
how I made my excuses and adleuX
and got out of there but 1t was one Vi
the most painful experiences OF my
career. I can laugh at it now but then
INV humiliation was something pitiaple.
And I never see a swagSer young man
without wondering if his stockings need
mendiug."
II think I've learned to hate more
men bv seeing them eat than any other
way" said the girl with the pince-nez
eff you had ever trained small
brother you would know that male man
is.naturally very much Berkshire Wnen
1t comes to feeding. And judging By
their manners at table. too many men
of this crude western civilization or
ours grew up without the refining in
fiuence of a nagging elder sister You
all know the kind of man who eats
slowly but distinctly, with a gurgle or
a grunt accompanying each mouthful.
You know the man who gulps, the man
who eats with his mouth open so that
you get a series of fine views of the
aesophagus; the man who leaves his
spoon in his coffee cup. uses his knife
for a shovel, stabs at his food with his
fork. and tits his soup bowl. Also thS
man who carefully ticks his moustache
clean. DO you care much about them
/ don't, anyway
IT got over liking a man once" lisped
the girl with the baby stare, when I
met his family. How can presentable
man spring from such common stock ,
y We were dreadfully in love- and he
wanted me to meet his people. Web.
the opportunity presented itself and 1
made the acquaintance Of the whole
outfit. Yes. outfit is the word l was
still in love with him, though. and
would have married him anyway be-
cause / said didn't have to marry his
family. but mamma said that was lust
what did have to do, and if didn't
believe It then I'd find it out. She said
a lot of other horrid things about mi.
children inheriting all their common
instincts and frightened me so that 7
finally gave him up. see now that she
was right. He's getting perfectly dis