The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-07
MRS. VAN ALIENS HUS.
 BAND.
BY DOROTHY DIX.

Copyright. 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Co.)
 In discussing the subject at the club we have never been able to decide just when Van Allen first began to get upon our nerves. Darlington contends that 1t started with the automobile with which Van Allen surprised his wife the day after she casually expressed a fancy for an electric runabout, while Blundel de- clares 1t was not until after the episode of the diamond and ruby ring that her husband presented to Mrs. Van Allen on the anniversary of their wedding.
 On the other hand Graham, who is d close observer, is equally certain that the exact psychological moment in which Van Allen passed, from being a dull neil- entity into an active 'aggravation in our lives was that in which we learned that he kept a standing order at the florists for violets-Mrs. Van Aliens favorire fiower-and that they were sent to her twice a week with the most delightful little notes imaginable. As for myself. I confess 1t never occurred to me that he was prig and a poseur-two things detest in a man-until Mrs. Van Allen was kept in the house for week with q slight attack of the grip, and Van Alien was so alarmed about her that he neFer left the bedside the entire time.
 Of course. if we had been in the city we would never have known all these de- tails of the Van Allen menage, and as- suredly Van Aliens domestic virtues would have been of no interest to us whatever, but the chief charm of living in the suburbs is it's neighborllness, and that, precisely, Is the point we reeom- mend most strenuously to strangers who come to Bonneville. In 1t no one lives or dies, or even cooks dinner to himself alone. We take philanthropic, if act i've. interest in each others affairs. When a baby cuts it's first tooth 1t is matter of animated discussion at every dinner table within It's circle of influence; when woman loses a. cook the entire. town turns itself into an intelligence agency until another domestic treasure is found and I we'll remember-for they kspt watch at my house and consumed a box of cigars and two bottles of Scotch-that when poor Grigsby was so low with ty-. phoid that not man on the block went to bed until we had the doctors report that tine crisis was passed and all was well. r,..- '.
 It was this feeling of neighborliness that made the coming of the Van Aliens an important event in our lives. They were people of standing and wealth, and before the first winter was over they
 
 card clubs and amateur theatricals that were our Bonneville substitute for the balls and plays of the city.
 Mrs. Van Allen was a pale, pretty wo- man, who seemed almost colorless by the side of her big, forid and somewhat as- gressive husband, without whom she seemed to have no existence. Indeed. her devotion to him was almost pathetic. In room full of other people her eyes followed his every movement stealthily, like a dogs. In conversation, no matter how much interested she was in a sub ject, and she was a most intelligent l:s- tener you had a curious sub-conscloas feeling that her real attention was given to him. and she was straining her ears to catch his lightest words. As for her tastes, thoughts, opinions, she was mere ly his echo. She quoted him continual ly. not extensively, but simply as if her oracle had spoken.
 They had bought a charming little cot tnge, and they threw out another wing to it, and made 1t into a veritable ar tistic dream, but Mrs. Van Allen took no credit to herself for the blending to- gether of colors. or the collecting of old carved mahogany. and curious and beaa- tiful things that made it's furnishinAs something apart
 
 one day when we were enviousIy admir- ing the library. it Is very beautiful. bat then Mr. Van Aliens taste is always perfect Did you notice these first proof etchings and that old Spode in the din ing room? It is said MT. Van Aliens collection of etching and old china is absolutely unique. hut then, of course it should be. since he is a connoisseur in both.
 From that the conversation drifted to a much discussed problem novel. and af- ter we had expressed our opinion of it's inner meaning. Mrs. Van Allen smiled gently, and repeated to us MT. Van Al lens criticism on it--a criticism so suht,e and penetrating, and revealing a literaI V taste so profound and so eclectic that it fairly made us gasp
 By George" said Darlington. as We strolled home. you never can get at what's really in a fellow, can won? Now Van Allen strikes me as about as fot- | headed. commonplace a Philistine as vo, | could stir up in days journey, and hove we find him an aesthetic. cherishinc a secret passion for etchngs and old ch,- ns."
 Funny" I agreed. that a person with | literary acumen like that should haca kept his light hidden under a bushe, T | never heard him discuss anything h,,t the baseball score, or the race sheet | well, I call 1t fine" cried my wife
 who was along. Don't you see? He keeps all the best of himself-his bean.
 tiful taste. his poetic thought-for hIs l wife. It's just like a romance. No won.