Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-02-17
the poor little potatoes virtues remain

tle 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 n rose,
is meant to be ornamental. If she can
be useful, too. SO much the better but
1t 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 and in
tellectual and-stupid and uninterest-
ing. Look at the reform organizations
and the woman's rights associations,
and the working girls associations,
and the working girls unions; ,ota-.
toes! potntoesi nothing but potatoes.
sour wneii a iiiun ,yufits n w,te--neT
doesn't apply to the intelligence office,
nor to the secretary of the reform
club. He doesn't so about searching
for nice, hard potato in short skirts,
eyeglasses and boots. He doesn't ask
Il woman if she can make good pie
crusts and darn socks so that they
won't be knotty-not nowadays, Mt any
rate. He just goes blindfoIded into
ballroom or a pink tea, or fancy dress
fair and walks out idiotically happy
with n rose in his mental buttonhole.
OF course his theories are different,
and"
"Ouch!" cried suddenly.
Polly turned with startled Inquiry in
her eyes.
Its thorn" said nursing my
finger. but looking Mt 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 Il man good, and re-
lieves the iiatness of things. A little
defectina woman makes her perfection
more prominent. A little dent in her
chin accentuates the graceful curve. a
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 DO
tato with a rose growing ON it."
"Of course" said Polly. extracting
rose from the jar and pinning 1t 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"
II wish" said plalntively, "that
you wouldn't put rose in your hair
while we are discussing serious prob
lem"
"Why?" said Polly, innocently.
Because" said l, at somehow re-
minds me of the lady who sent the
pink teacups-and, besides, it's dis
tructing."
Polly leaned over box and the rose
nestled down against her cheek.
.'And dangerous" added.
Wy puiSN - potato ouL VI tlC DOA
and held it up for my inspection.
Shall change it for this?" she
asked sweetly.
Don't you dare" l cried.
Polly held the potato up against my
coat lapel and stood off to admire it.
Take 1t away" pleaded.
Polly dropped the potato into Its
box.
And now" she said. shaking her
finger at me, will you ever again
malign the lady who sent the roses and
the teacups?"
Never" 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 roses?" a
But, Polly" began.
Miss Lee" said the maid, coming
in with trayful OF dishes, here are
the teacups you told me to bring down.
and your mother says please to step
,ut to the carriages and bring In the
rest of the roses and things you or
dered."
polly said humbly. 81 beg your
pardon"
Polly smiled. forgiyingly and tucked
a white rose in my buttonhole.
"There is something said I, that
You mentioned in connection with roses
something that generally goes with
them"
And then somehow that rose in my