Amador ledger., 1907-05-17
WOman's Diplomacy
[OriGinal.l


wisely aud economically, wastes no
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 wife to manage other women for
him. The economy consists in the fact
that men shall marry. A single man
never appreciates the sensitiveness of
the opposite sex. Woman hides her
wounds, and man often stamps through
her feelings with seven league boots.
An incident that occurred to me aft
er my marriage taught me this, and
since then l 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 l 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-
poses What wounds l had inflicted l
did not know, nor was l conscious of
having inflicted any.
The honeymoon over, my wife took
, me in training, and it soon became ap-
parent that | needed great deal of
it. However. in about year / sup
posed l was thoroughly edueated, One
day my wife Informed me that her
dearest friend. whom she had not seen
SINCE we had been married, was COM
ing TO visit her, and she was especial
ly anxious that should make good
| impression. | resolved to be on my
guard and put on my most affable and
deferentlal manner.
Tie first evening Of Miss Blands ar
rival my wife. my sister and our guest
sat down to 4 game of whist. l was
of course assigned to play with Miss
Bland. got ON swimmingly. l saw
that my partner knew little Of the
game. and it gave me an opportunity
to show my wife that l 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 q
misplay that gave me an opportunity,
as l thought, to make brilliant strike
in soothing her.
1 had a fine long suit, all Of which
1 could make if l could draw my op-
ponents' trumps; but, having only four
trumps myself, all depended upon my
partner outstanding hers. My wife
led small spade, and l, desiring to
get the lead, put on the king. When
my partner played, the trick was mine.
She trumped 1t. l WINGED, but said
nothing. My partners error gave our
opponents the odd trick.
81 shouldn't have trumped your
trick, should I?' 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 1t didn't matter since
we were playing for fun.
l didn't see the fun in playing that
way, but refrained from comment.
-"Now 1 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 appeallngly to
say something to make my partner feel
easier, and it was then tried to soothe
her.
"You only trumped my king. There
Is a worse thing than that" l said
softly.
"What is it?" asked Miss Bland.
ITO trump your partners ace"
Miss Bland cast q quick glance at
me, and l cast glance at my wife,
expecting to see approval in her face.
I saw frown.
There was an ominous tremor on
Miss Bland's 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 q fool and wondering
If my wife would be able to explain
matters and get me out of the scrape.
| also wondered how she would man
age the diplomatic task. OF course she
would tell Miss Bland-what else could
she tell her?-that l had intended my
remark to make her blunder seem less
blunder. But had l solely so in
tended 1t? Women are quick to see q
slight. and perhaps Miss Bland might
have detected a trace of sarcasm In
my voice. "Thank heaven" l NUT.
tered, "its woman against woman
I'm sure the more l excused myself
the worse would make the matter"
My wife returned, but without her
friend
"Well?" l 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 intlcting on me, she add.
ed, ITS all right now"
did you tell her intended'-
Nonsense. told her nothing OF
your Intentions"
"What did you tell her?'
"Why. l told her that you had been
IL bachelor all your life, had lived al
clubs and all that and hadn't been used
to playing cards with women-in short
that
Il didn't now any better"
"Yes"
"And it made her feel all rightT
"Yes"