Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-02-23

the poor little potatoes virtues remain
hidden to the end of her days, when
she is left on the matrimonial kitchen
shelf along with the onions and the
cabbages. A woman" and Polly put
the last rose in the epergne and stood
off to admire the effect, like a rose.
is meant to be ornamental. If she can
be useful, too. so much the better, but
it isn't absolutely necessary. There
are so many potatoes in the world
twenty to every rose Why, look at the
woman's clubs; they are full Of pota-
toes. nice, solid, substantial, useful la
dies, who make the world good anu in
tellectual and-stupid ard uninterest-
ing. Look at the reform organizations
and the woman's rights associations,
and the working girls associations,
and the working girls unions; pota-
toes! potatoesl nothing but potatoes.
But when a man wants wife he
doesn't apply to the intelligence office,
nor to the secretary of the reform
club. He doesn't go about searching
for a nice, hard potato in short skirts
eyeglasses and boots. He doesn't ask
woman If she can make good pie
| crusts and darn socks so that they
won't be knotty-not nowadays. ct any
rate. He just goes blindfoldeG into
ballroom or pink tea, or fancy dress
! fair and walks out idiotically happy
with rose in his mental buttonhole.
OF course his theories are different,
and"
"Ouchr' l cried suddenly.
Polly turned with startled inquiry in
her eyes.
Its a thorn" 1 said, nursing my
finger, but looking at Polly with side
long significance. "Roses seem to have
thorns, don't they?'
..Of course" said Polly "and pud-
ding has spice. They are as necessary
as the sauce ON the meat, or the pep
per on. the potatoes. A little twinge
now and then does a man good, and re-
| lieves the fairness of things. A little
defectina woman makes her perfection
| more prominent. A little dent in her
chin accentuates the graceful curve,
| little dimple in her cheek makes you
observe its roses. And you never fully
appreciate the sweetness of her smile
until you have seen her pouting."
II think" said as Polly began pick
ing up the scraps and poking them into
a little paper box, that I'd like a po-
tato with a rose growing on it"
"Of course" said Polly, extracting a
rose from the jar and pinning 1t in a
bunch of curls over one ear. That's
what every man wants They are all
like the baby who cried because he
couldn't see both sides of the moon at
once"
Il WISH" said l plaintively, that
you wouldn't put rose in your hair
while we are discussing a serious prob
| lem
.'Why?" said Polly, innocently.
Because said 1. 1T somehow re-
| minds me Of the lady who sent the
pink teacups-and. besides. it's dis
tracing"
Polly leaned over box and the rose
nestled down against her cheek
And dangerous" added.
Polly pulled potato out of the box
and held it up for my inspection.
"sSnalI L chsnge it for this" she
asked sweetly.
Don't you darn 1 cried
Polly held the potato up against my
coat lapel and stood off TO admire it.
take il away, l pleaded.
Polly dropped the potato into its
box.
And now" she said. shaking her
finger at me. will 1-ou ever again
malign the lady 40 sent the roses and
the teacups"
Never" l declared
"or snub her If she should ever make
you sloppy coffee
Il don't understand" said I.
"or cry for meat and potatoes when
she gives you kisses and roSeSg'
But. Polly" began.
Miss Lee" said the maid. coming
in with a trayful of dishes, here are
the teacups you told me to bring down.
and your mother says please TO step
ont to the carriages and bring In the
rest OF the roses and things you or
dered"
Polly said 1 humbly. Il beg your
pardon"
Polly smiled forgivingly and tucked
white rose in my buftonhole.
There is something said |. "the'
YOU mentioned in connection with RISES
something that generally goes Wiz
them"
And then somehow that rose In my