Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-02-23
Roses and Potatoes.
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N~N"Noo~oN-~o-o~

lean Beauties on the table and
laying her muff and stole on a pile of
grocery boxes. THE carnations and
smilax and evergreens are coming
down in the carriage with the Japa-
nese lanterns and the funny little It's
sue paper caps.
We were getting ready for the char
ity dinner at the mission chapel, and,
OF course, Polly was doing the trim
mings. Polly always does the trim
mings
But where" said I, gazing on the
great masses of green and pink, will
they find room for-the potatoes, for
instance"
Potatoes" said Polly, scornfully, as
she took mass of blue forget-me-nots,
which she calls "hat," off her pompa-
dour, and laid it on another grocery
box. Those, Mr.. Heavyfeather, will
be Observation-Disclosures of course"
Like matrlmony, after courtship, 1
suppose" I sighed, picking up a long
stemmed rose and holding it gingerly
by the tip end.
'Yes," said Polly, cor housekeeping
after the honeymoon"
"Or the bill after the dinner"
There won't be any bill after this
dinner" said Polly, because the dea-
con donated the potatoes and-things.
and a kind lady donated the roses and
lent us her teacups."
How thoughtful of her." / remark
ed. Il am sure those starving little
slum youngsters are just yearning for
roses served in china teacups Who
was the lady, Polly? \ Delsarte pu-
Pill with fluffy hair and pink tea man
ner?"
ION the contrary" said Polly, pull
ing the thorns off a long green stem
with the dexterity of an expert, "she
was a nice, commonsense little thing
with a turned-up nose, and violent in
terest in her meals. l distinctly saw
her take three helpings of chicken sal
ad at the ladies' aid meeting"
The kind" 1 suggested. who would
spend ten minutes before breakfast
curling her hair and two minutes max.
ing sloppy coffee"
Yes" said Polly, "and who would
spend the whole afternoon planning an
evening bonnet for herself instead of
planning an evening lecture for her
husband; and the whole evening say
ing pretty things and flirting with you
instead of going over the grocery books,
and her whole life making things inter
esting and pleasant instead of cutting
down the expenses"
and her declining years." 1 added.
sin the divorce court instead Of"
"Darning sockr' broke in Polly.
''Not half so many divorces" she went
on. "are caused by cold coffee as by
cold dispositions. Whoever heard of a
man seeking a separation because his
wife let the biscuits burn while she
kissed him in the morning? Nobody!
But there are dozens of good cooks
signing for the husbands they forgot
TO kiss while they were busy making
batter cakes. 1t is never the woman
who makes good biscuits who lures
man away from his fireslde and his
bachelor comforts, but the one who
wears a rose in her hair. Pc tatoes!'
the epergne with scornful shove. You
keep potatoes in your kitchen. don't
vou-on the shelf? Potatoes are cheap.
You can get them and hire Mary Anne
70 cook them for 81 week. But you
don't want them hanging around your
drawing room, nor your dressing room,
nor YOUR den. Now, roses are accept
10 a.
breakfast table in the morning. at your
desk at noon. and in your button
hole"
IT didn't know" said 1. that the
modern woman liked TO be carried
around in a mans buttonhole-like an
adjunct"
''She doesn't" said Polly. care to
be done brown and digested or left on
a plate-to be forgotten the moment
she ceases to be useful"
And" l went on. ignoring Polly's
outhurst, eff she does want to be orna-
mental as well as useful-even a POI
tato has n blossom. you know"
"A sproutr interrupted Polly.
(which" l continued. "a king once
thought lovely enough to wear in his
buttonhole."
Polly picked up full-blown rose
with a jerk that sent a hundred leaves
huttering about US like a pink snow
storm.
Roses" said l. looking at the empty
stalks insgnifcantly. 'are so apt 10
fade and wither."
And potatoes" replied Polly. gel
hard and old and knotty and develop
eyes"
That's So said 1. land il isn't well
for woman to have too many eyes.
Besides said Polly. gathering az
the fallen leaves and putting them and
the stalks in a little pile. "a rose has q
heart"
$50 has a potato" remarked
But you have 10 dig through 50
much exterior TO find IT," declared Pol.
". And the average man is too lazy
TO dig. ELe wants the good things in
life's reTast set OFT on his plate. not
hidden under *
And yet" said I. discovering tbs
heart in woman who doesn't wear
hers on the surface. and who seems
cold and unfathomable. is like discov.
ering birthday gift under your plate
in the morning The surprise is very
sweet"
Perhaps" said Polly. meditative,y
holding a rose against her cheek, Sc
that you couldn't tell which was which
'.hua how many men are going to hunt
eor the surpriSe2 Nine times out OF ter