Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-01-14
CHAPTER /.

was esteemed the only career worth con
sidering for women; where not TO have
achieved matrimony by the time one was
- was evidence of some lack of charm,
mental or, worse yet. physical; where to
90 on to middle life without prefiXing a
Mrs was to drop into the deadliest
level of insignificance possible to women.
So when during the summer | reached
nv twenty-frst birthday Joseph Henning
came down from Chicago to our little
Town in Kansas to visit his aunt, our
reighbor, and fell in love with me, | ac-
cepted the proposal the gods provided and
married him without delay.
lie was well established as a retail
grocer on the west side, and when | en-
tered the little fiat of five rooms over
the store which he had fitted up for his
bride, l felt that my career had opened
IN most pleasing fashion. How we'll
remember them! The tiny parlor, with
its lowered tapestry carpet, its peacock
blue plush furniture, its marble topped
table, its cheap Nottingham lace cur
tains, its Rogers statuary III the bay
window! The little dining room at the
back, with its one window looking out
on cherries brick wall the struggling
light from which mercifully concealed the
chean rawness of the ornate but rickety
ash sideboard and extension table. and
toned down the gaTishness of Desdemona
and Othello in the gilt-fTamed chrome
on the wall! The bedroom, with its wal
nut chamber set, overlooking the side
street and the little kitchen beyond! But
il was beautiful to my inexperienced eyes,
and it was my kingdom Like most
country brides, | knew nothing and was
nappy-for a time.
pass over the first months. when city
life as seen from the second floor of a
suburban block was full of variety; when
acquaintances were few and my husband
was reasonably attentive, for man whose
enc object was to make money After
all, as [ look back now | sometimes
think l was happier then than l shall
ever be again; for it is the unambitious
woman, ignorant of real life, who is the
cantentad woman.
Al first | did my own homework. with
woman in to scrub and wash In our
little Kansas village, to keep help" I'M
less one was an invalid or lived on big
farm, was mark of shiftliness. My
German mother was skilled hausfrau,
and | had been carefully trained. so that
wher | took possession of my little fiat
the idea of 4 servant did not occur either
to my husband or to me
But in due course of time a baby came,
and the next year another. A little girl
to mind the first baby was added to our
meHage, but with the second came weak
ened nerves and overwork, and then be
gan The Dynasty of the Servant Girl in
The House of Henninp
Never mind, Johnnie said my hus-
band, "I'm doing well enough now, so we
can afford it. Babies come high but we
have to have 'em," with which original
remark he would toss little joey up in
the air after a most unhygienic fashion
if we had only known it.
/ haven't explained, have |, that I was
"Johnnie" when L came into this mundane
sphere and disappointed my eXpectant
parents, who in fond anticipation had
chosen John as my appcllation. My
ftaaeT had an inspiration:
Call her Johnaphene" he said. "That'll
do for new-fangled girls name" And
Jdhnapbenc l was christened. But | was
Johnnie" to him until his dying day;
and my husband also delighted in that
euphonious word. | had not yet realized
It's outlandishness.
| was fond of my babies, and for
year or two found them a comfort in
spite of their and my own iil-hcalth. But
~ my husbands business extended his
work kept him more than ever away from
home. The novelty of city life wore
away; my illusions were dispelled; the
constant din of the street and the same
ness of our rather dingy thoroughfare
wore ON my nerves. All at once life
grew inexpressibly tame | recalled the
little town in Kansas. with It's straight,
long street, its one shallow stream or
creek with overhanging willows and cot
tonwoods: but it was not home ] longcd
1T. Rather, | was like the young bird
happy in its nest for season. but at
last feeling the inevitable stir Of some
thing pulsating in its blood something
indefinite, inexpressible, Irresistible Out
beyond cur street, with It's clang of
traffic and its unceasing procession of
common people was a great world--a
world of beautiful things. where dwelt
eolhpaliOnable women and strong men.
kad read few books and papers. content
ing myself with the indolent life Of one
who has no interest beyond the four
walls that bound her home. But now
felt the impassioned call for a change
Tor appreciation, if you please
What is this impulse that comes so
strong to the modern woman. compelling
sT to demand for herself more of that
freedom and broadness of vision that her
husband and brothers nave enjoyed for
wears?
It was about that time that | began
I" read the society columns of the sun
day papers. Heretofore my housekeeping
and nay babies had absorbed all my time
and attention, but with failing health and
disposition to lie on lounges began
u read more, and nothing in all the
worlds progress - absorbed my interest
- the descriptions Of society women.
Not that | knew enough of my Chicago
% discriminate :,nuug them Bless YOU. /
No pink tea on the ragged edge of
scuth Chicago was t. me a. fascinating !
- dinner dance on the Lake Shore !
aflTe. did not yet know the difference |
'ttWeen the wife of a grocer who sells |