Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-30
Chapter vi.


is no help for her until the attack has run
its course: no great scientist has yet been
brave enough to apply remedy sufficiently
heroic to kill the germs. Those women who
have had the advantage of social inter-
course with their kind have the disease
mildly and nationally; I. but those of us who
have been deprived of experience with the
world, especially those who have been tied,
willingly or unwillingly. to home duties ex-
clusively, are hopeless cases from the very
outset. And l had been thoroughly inocu-
lated.
True to her word Mrs. Parsons had given
me prominent place on the reception COM
mittee. and also on a minor committee,
out too much responsibility. Instead of the
long. dull days in the little fiat over the
store, 1 now found that there were not
waking hours enough in the new house on
the lake 'front.' Before we were fairly set
tied in our new home l saw that 1t would
be impossible to keep up with my home
duties and the demands of the club; the first
l was tied to: the second would not give
up. So l sent to Kansas for my mother,
who-self-sacrifcfng woman that she was
came prepared to stay on indefinitely.
Necessity was beginning to be the mother
Of diplomacy with me. and I did not tell
was to-sisit us. and as his business kept
him away more and more of the time, her
advent mattered little to him.
She was an excellent housekeeper and
il city home with its modern improve
ments or enjoyed the doubtful pleasure of
attempting to rule over servant or two.
Consequently 1t was a very easy matter to
drop the reins of management into her
hands.
AS the days heightened and spring came
on became more absorbed in club matters
and left everything to her. Having Joined
two more Chicago clubs. both of which met
weekly, / found myself in vortex of en-
gagements which I fondly imagined was
society This necessitated several new
gowns and hats. and / learned the gentle
art of running up bill at the shops.
Never shall I forget the scene with my
husband when the first bill came in. As I
had no money, It had to be turned over to
him. which I did with an assumed air of
careless gaiety. doubt if Mrs. Theodore
Parsons could have done 1t better. But 1t
Great Scott, Jahnnie}.' he thundered.
Who gave you permission to do this? Are
we poor that you must get trusted
Where is the allowance I gave your
with spirit. II haven't had new clothes
for several years; and there are club dues
and other expenses
Then he produced and displayed a choice
discovered heretofore In his vocabulary
words which it may not be permitted to
record here. Suffice it to say, he denounced
roundly the womaH's club idea. But he
paid the bill, and I was in no wise shaken
in my determination to- shine In the club
world. That. very afternoon I Joined a
whist club, after which my time was more
fully occupied than ever.
Matters reached climax few days
later. I had had an unusually hard week.
use the adjective advisedly. Women who
stay at home and devote themselves to
caring for their household do not fully
the phrase hard work" Only
those who go deep into the designations Of
work can appreciate its full sig
nificance. ss at.'is
1 did not get down to breakfast until O.
Joe was already DOWN: town.
couldn't watt said. mother. He ate his
breakfast early. You were late home last
night
Eyes. Our whist club. you KNOW" an
swered. Il really wanted to get home and
get to bed early, but one can't break up a
party. And I've so much to do today"
Il did hope you could stay home today
and help me fix that wrapper" said mother.
Il can't manage it alone
mo, not today, was my answer, with
touch of asperity "Pve got a committee
meeting this morning and another meeting
at noon, and, by the way, I shan't be at
home to lunch. Della, you'll have to make
This isn't fit to drink
1T was good and strong, mem, at half
past t." cheerfully replied the maid, as she
hurried to the kitchen; but nothing tasted
so good as usual, and 1 started of quite
out OF sorts with the world in general. 1t
did not occur to me then that was having
a good many difficult mornings nowadays,
and l would have died rather than own
how tired 1 was.
But once arrived at the handsome resi-.
meeting. my spirits rose again. During the
winter l had gained access to dozen of
the most exclusive houses in Chicago
(places that would never have dreamed of
entering a year before) through my club
and Mrs. Parsons friendship.
To be sure, it had only been for COMMITTEES
meetings so far; but foothold is worth
There was rustic of silk-Iined skirts in
the fashionable drawing room, little
later, as the members of my committee
moved up to let Mrs. Parsons take the
chair. only ten minutes late" whispered
one OF them. That's doing well for her."
The gavel sounded and the meeting was
called to order. The minutes were read,
ana after one or two objections had been
raised and settled again. the business OF
the morning was stated; it was to make ar
engagements for a grand reception to Pro-
fessor Van Hulk Tyn, the latest literary
lion to arrive.
Shall you ask any others to receive with
you, Madam PRESIDENT asked the secre-
tary.
We'll, I think not" was Mrs Parsons
answer. Don't you think long receiving
line rather Objectionable?
But the NOta Benes always have all the
omcers, urged the secretary.
Il think there Is a faction spoke I'D the
vice president, who had an eye on the next
election, who would be glad to see the
other principal officers in the receiving
line"
Yes" urged director. "Then, too, l.
think foreigners are always impressed by
a long line" scsa
DO I understand that as a notion
Mrs. Parsons voice" was tinged with as
perity. a.. ~
"Oh, no, only a suggestion" was the an
sWer from the vice president. :.
win some one kindly tmake motion?'
SAID Mrs. Parsons haughtily.
The motion was made that all the officers
should receive, but 1t was not carried.
had already seensto this You are not
my faithful henchnnan for nothing" she
whispered afterward. sSHow would you
Ike to go to the benniaba as delegate?
She passed on, but the seed fell on fertile
ground.
The biennial! What would Joe say?
treasurer.
For PHYS sake" uresd another MEM
Der. lets have good-lo0king young wo-
men: We had such q set OF guys at the last
met
Il move that the last speaker be appoint
"a committee of one with full powers
,ver the tea tables said the treasurer.
indeed, 1 must beg to be excused. re-
.orted the other. I'm too busy. Besides,
ny taste might not lead me to the right
CHOICE, with whitening scor1l