Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-06-02
DIFFICULT LESSON.


to her husband the other evening
just as he had settled himself in his
big easy-chair in his smoking Jacket
and slippers, with his box of favorite
cigars close at hand. Il don't wont to
bother you, dear, but | have heen ask
ed to write a paper for our Current
Topics club, and want to ask you
few questions about it. May II"
"Of course" said Sweet, who is
all that his name indicates. What
is your paper to be about?"
ooh, it is to be about this Reel
procity' we hear SO much about nova
days. I've looked it up in the die
tionary, but | cant find enough there
to make up paper, and | can't make
head or tail of what find in the Ii
brary on the subject Now I'll get
that centerpiece I'm embroidering for
a Christmas gift for mamma and sit
right down here and you tell me Just
what reciprocity means while | sew,
and then l won't waste any time
See?"
Sweet saw that he had good deal
ed it cheerfully, and said with a
laugh RECIPROCITY and embroidery
don't go exactly hand in hand, and"
She held up the centerpiece for
his inspection, and then said: Now
tell me what you know about this
bothersome reciprocity. | told them
when l joined the club that l didn't
tn hn 70 ~
papers; but | can't refuse, now that
they have asked me to do it. 1t
would look as if | didn't know any
thing about it."
Yes, it would look that way" said
Sweet dryly.
"Well, l don't. But I'm not going
to own up to it before the whole club.
So l want you to post me on the sub
ject of reciprocity"
You see reciprocity means that"
"There! I've dropped my needle
How clumsy of me. Here it is in my
lap! Do you think that the leaves of
these roses are too light to look nat
ural? Now about that bothersome
reciprocity"
y
between the citizens of two countries
with respect to the commercial privi-
leges to be"
What commercial privileges?"
why, they are-are-well, the
right to buy and SELL and"
You can buy and sell anywhere,
can't you?"
Conc minnie daor r,uct RIM nm
to my room and get some more of
this pink embroidery silk. l shall be
right back. You go on smoking"
When she came back she said :
Now dear, go on with your reci-
procity while l finish this rose. DO
you know? I've a great mind to
change this rosebud to a half-grovn
rose. 1t seems to me it would make
the design more symmetrical. Don t
you think it would?"
ooh, it might. AS l was saying, this
question on reciprocity is a question
of mutual rights and benefits. and
1T isn't the same thing as this i'm
perialism we hear a good deal about
nowadays, is it?"
Il should say not. It"
What does imperialism mean"
Zone thing at time, my dear"
"Do you suppose l could write a pa.
per on Imperialism easier than |
could write one on reciprocity"
Il doubt it; but"
You don't know any poetry about
reciprocity, do you?"
Il should say / didn't! The prin
ciple involved in reciprocity is one OF
fairness and pustice to-"
Oh, if l haven't broken my needle
Now I'll have to go upstairs again
and get another. I'd had to have
gone in few minutes anyhow for
find l haven't any silk l want for the
stem of this rose, I'll be right back
You smoke some more"
Sweet did this, and presently she
came back, bringing with her the
needle.
My dear, if l am to tell you any
thing more about reciprocity | want t
do it, so that l can go on reading thi:
article about the war"
"Of course. Now, I'll keep as still
as a mouse, and YOU go on and tel
me all about it. Wouldn't it be bes
for me to get pencil and piece o
paper and write it all down."
"No, you don't want to do that
Reciprocity means, as | said before
the state of being reciprocal, Or"
'What does reciprocal mean?"
"Of course l know in general way
but l want to know just what
means in regard to this reciproct.
we hear so much about now If | I'm
derstand you, this reciprocity mean
that if we are agreeable and polit
to some other country that countr,
must be agreeable to us?"
ut means more than that. !
country might be very polite an
agreeable and yet refuse us the sam
{ commercial privileges we extend t
it."