Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-12-06

Of the world. knowing it's weaknesses
and a little more tolerant Of them than
l ought to be, but 1 wouldn't have writ
ten that book. Men that are worse
than l wouldn't have written it. A
good woman couldn't ever have
thought of it."
He turned from me in a rage and
walked away.
s. Is IL * Il
AS I have Mid. | am no better than
my fellows, and [ have tolerated many
a bad book in my time: but somehow
this book of Brands weighed upon
my mind. The press blamed it. but
the public bought it. A noted play
wright dramatiZed it and put its evil
into concrete form. l could not stop
the harm which it had done; but I
thought perhaps I might induce his
So I called upon her.
She rose to greet me with a friendly
smile. She was one Of the women that
elderly men like, because they have a
kindly feeling for elderly men. l
smiled at her. too.
Il wondered when you were coming
to congratulate mt on Charles book"
she said. She always imputed kind
intentions to one
I'm afraid 1 haven't come for that"
l owned. My dear. I don't like Char
lies book. You see. I'm an old fash
ioned man"
Il see" She flushed slightly. You
don't believe in problem storias?"
4 believe in them: Oh. yes! I'm
Old. and my eyes have been open for
some years. but | don't want to open
other peoples. | don't want to open
yours. my dear. Id rather you believe
the world was good. It's the belief of
you good little women that makes if
better. Charlie believes in you. and l
want YOU TO make him better. | Cont
mrau that he's bad. He's Il very. very
clever nal rs tic book shows. He
secs things that most CT Us Miss.
We're better for missing them. my
dear. We don't want 70 be told about
them. He's told us. That's what's
wrong"
Sh" worked furiously at the embro.d-
cry which she had picked un.
is there anything in the book that
you had missed:' she asked quietly.
I'm afraid not. but l want the
world TO be better than myself, you
Sec"
1t isn't. 1t secs things Just as YOU
do. and pretends that it doesn't-just
as you %pretend.'
"Concealment implies condemnation.
Evil isn't so dangerous when lis kept
out of sight. Speak Of the-probiem
story
The p%retence is ~threadbare." She Oh
jacted. | was surprised that she OK
pressed herself so well. There are
hundreds Of published problems. and
many Of them are far more Iurid. The
book is, al any rate. refined. Its prob
lens are such as come to good men
and women: such as leave them some
of their virtues"
YES" 1 dropped my hat i'll my
eagerneSs. Yes. That is why the
book is; SO dangerous. Other tales
show worse evils. but they show them
as evils: as temptations that the frac-
ton of goodness in us fights, against,
ven when it is overcome. Your hus-
hand has brought in. the Powers of
Light to fight for the Powers of Dark
ness. The plain man shrugs his
shoulders at the other books. He
shudders at this. Even the club smok-
ing room condemns it. Some OF the
best men go so far as to avoid the au-
thor"
She looked up over her work. Her
face was white.
Does Charlie realize this?:' she
asked. l nodded.
I'VE were talking about it the other
evening. He overheard us. He must
have known before OF course he
knows"
She piled her needle again.
"Havc You spoken TO him. she in
quired.
Yes. He left me in a temper be-
cause counselled him to put the mat
ter to you. You have a great hold
over him, [ am sure. A good woman
always has a hold over a man. 1 am
certain that, at the bottom of his heart.
he is ashamed of the book, but.
"But"-she laid down the work.
HE didn't write it. I did,"
"You?" l cried. "You".'
Il. No, 1 am not saying it to shield
him. 1t is quite true. IL wonder il
you could understand? You see, 1 am
not pretty or attractive. People gener-
ally left me alone. SO I used to sit
and watch them; and sec things. I see
Il great deal. 1 can't help it. It is my
nature. l dare say 1 looked too much
for what vas bad, but it is hard for a
woman when she is not attractive. 1t
makes her look for defects in others.
l was very bitter against people then.
I'm not bitter now, because Charlie
finds me attractive. 1t wouldn't occur
to you that / can be, but 1 can. 1t
didn't occur to him at first. He came
and introduced himself to me out of
sheer pity for my loneliness. He's like