The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-03-14
Wornan's Diplomacy
[Original.l

talents on man for the management OF
woman. The wisdom of this course is
that man needs no such talent until
after marriage, and after marriage he
has a wife to manage other women Tor
rim. The economy consists in the fact
that men shall marry. A single man
never appreciates the sensitivenesS or
the opposite sex. Woman hides her
wounds. and man often stamps through
her feelings with seven league boots.
An incident that occurred to me att
er my marriage taught me this, ana
since then | have invariably left the
settlement of my differences with 9th
er women to my wife. / had passed
middle life before marrying. had
met ladies. as other bachelors meet
them, socially, but my club was my
home, and | was never thrown into IN
innate association with any woman.
But | considered myself sufficiently
mild hammered and deferential to the
softer sex for all ordinary social pur-
bosses. What wounds | had inflicted
did not know, nor was | conscious or
having inflicted any.
The honeymoon over, my wife took
me in training, and it soon became APP
parent that | needed q great deal OF
It, However, in about a year | sup
posed | was thoroughly educated. One
day my wife Informed me that her
dearest friend, whom she had not seen
since we had been married, was com
inc to visit her. and she was especial
ly anxious that / should make a good
impression | resolved to be on my
guard and put on my most atfable and
deferential manner.
The first evening of Miss BANDS ar
rival my wife. my sister and our guest
sat down to a game of whist. | was
of course assigned to play with Miss
Bland | got on swimmingly. | saw
that my partner knew little Of the
game. and it gave me an opportunity
TO show my wife that | could pass
her friends mistakes without the
slightest reference to them. | would
probably have gone through the even
ing without trespassing on my part
ner's feelings had not she made
misplay that gave me an opportunity,
as | thought, to make a brilliant strike
in soothing her.
I had a fine long suit, all of which
I could make if | could draw my OPP
ponents' trumps; but. having only four
trumps myself, all depended upon my
partner outstanding hers. My wife
led a small spade, and l, desiring to
get the lead. put on the king. When
my partner played, the trick was mine.
She trumped it. l WINGED, but said
nothing. Ny partners error gave our
opponents the odd trick.
ST shouldn't have trumped your
trick. should II" said Miss Bland, red
dening.
My wife explained to her that to
trump ones partners trick was not
considered always the best course, but
that in this case it didn't matter since
we were playing for fun.
/ didn't see the fun in playing that
way. but refrained from comment.
''Now / think of it." said Miss Bland,
much mortified. somebody told me
once that to trump ones partners trick
was the worst mistake a player can
make"
My wife looked at me appealingly to
say something to make my partner feel
easier, and it was then l tried to soothe
her
"You only trumped my king. There
is a worse thing than that" | said
softly
"What is it," asked Miss Bland.
'"To trump your partners ace"
Miss Bland cast a quick glance at
me- and | cast glance at my wife,
expecting to see approval in her face.
/ saw a froWn
There was an OminOuS tremOr on
Miss BANDS lip, and presently she
arose, left the table and went upstairs.
''Now you've done it, said my wife
as she left the room to follow her
friend.
I walked up and down the floor ours
ing myself for a fool and wondering
If my wife would be able to explain
matters and get me out of the scrape.
l also wondered how she would man
age the diplomatic task. Of course she
would tell Miss Bland-what else could
she tell her?-that | had intended my
remark to make her blunder seem less
q blunder. But had | solely so in
tended it? Women are quick to see a
slight, and perhaps Miss Bland might
have detected a trace of sarcasm in
my voice. THANK heaven" / NUT
tered, 'its woman against woman.
I'm sure the more | excused myself
the worse | would make the matter"
My wife returned, but without her
friend
"Well?" | asked eagerly.
''She's coming down presently. after
she's got rid of the appearance Of
tears
"Tears?'
"Of course. Do you suppose her feel
ings are sheet iron? Then, seeing the
pain she was inficting on me, she add
ed, Its all right now"
did you tell her | intended''-
Nonsense! told her nothing of
your Intentions"
EETVhot did Won fall hnr9''