The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1904-03-17

storm.
Roses" said I looking at the empty
stalks significantly, "are so apt to fade
and wither."
And potatoes" replied Polly, "get
hard and old and knotty and develop
eyes"
That's So" said /. "and il isn't well
Tor woman TO have too many eyes"
Besides" said Polly. gathering up
The fallen leaves and putting them and
the stalks in a little pile, "a rose has a
heart
so has potato" remarked.
'But YOU have to dig through so
much exterior to find IT," declared
Polly. And the average man is too
lazy to dig. He wants the good things
in lite's repast set out on his plate. not
hidden under it,"
And yet" said /, discovering the
heart in a 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. meiltatively,
holding a rose against her cheek. so
that you couldn't tell which was
which, but how many men are going
to hunt for the surprise? Nine times
out Of ten the poor little potatoes vir-
tues remain hidden to the end OF her
days. when she is left on the matri-
monlal kitchen shelf along with the
onions and the cabbages. A woman"
and Polly put the last rose in the
epergne and stood or to admire the
effect, like a rose, is meant TO be or
namental. IL she can be useful, too.
so much the better. but it isn't abso-
lutely necessary. There are so many
potatoes In the world-twenty 10 every
rose. Why. look at the woman's clubs;
they SIRE full Of potatoes. nice. solid.
useful ladies, who make the world good
and intellectual and stupid and unin.
terestirg. Look at the reform organl.
cations and the working girls unions:
potatoes, potatoes. nothing but pota-
toes. But when a man wants a wife
he doesn't apply to the intelligence
office nor 70 the secretary Of the reform
club. He doesn't 20 about searching
for nice. hard potato in short skirts.
eyeglasses and boots. He doesn't ask
4 woman il she can make good pie
c-uSrS and darn socks so that they
won't be knoty-not nowadays. az any
rate. He Just goes blindfolded into
ballroom or a pink tea. or 4 fancy dress
fair and walks out idioticalIy happy
with rose in his mental burtouhole. I
o. c2rSsse, his theories are different |
and"
ouch 1 cried suddenly.
Poly turned with startled inquiry |
IN hes eyes.
Its 5 tis-irn." l said. nursing my
49,. but looking az Polly with side.
Jag significance. Roses seem to have
thorns. don't theyT
'Of course, said Polly. and pudding
has spice. They are rs necessary as
the sauce on the meat or the pepper
on the potatoes. A little twInge COW
and then does a man good. and re
neves the favness OF things. \ little
defect in a woman makes her perfeC-
ton more prominent. \ little dent in
the chin accentuates the graceful
curve. 4 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."
Il think" I said. as Polly began pick
Ing mp the scraps and pOkinS them iato
q little paper box. that I'd Ike po-
tato with a rose growing on it,
~Of course said Polly. extracting
rose from the Jar and pinnins it in
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. plaintively, that you
wouldn't put a rose in your hair while
We are discussing a serious problem
~WhyE'' said Polly. innocently.
Because" said I. 1t somehow re-
minds me Of the lady who sent the
pink teNcups-aud, besides. it's dis
tracing"
Polly leaned over a 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.
Shall I change it for tlisy- she
asked, sweetiy.
s.Don't vOrr darcy, I cried