The Washington herald., 1907-05-05
Stories of Washington Life
SPRING HAT VERSUS OPERA ucKETs-oNE MARRIAGE
KILLED By A NECKTE-THE CONTRADICTORY
DRINK-THE AGGRESSIVE COOK &C


nervous despite the fact that / had some
months back made up nay mind that I
was going 10 marry Jack because I had
studied him carefully and he was so ten
der, and big and generous, that he sur
passed every other man / knew. He
started In by drawing his chair closer 10
mine. and then ] noticed that he WAS
trightfuily warm and was perspiring so
that great drops stood out on his fore
head. and / wanted TO howl. Besides, his
necktie had broken loose in the back and
was trying 10 lOop-the-loop with his col
lar. Jack cleared his throat and began
IN tones that seemed 10 come from his
shoes. and all the time that dreadful
necktie kept climbing up until it seemed
10 me thar 1t was going TO vault over his
head. Ii fascinated me. and J could not
take my eyes from il. Jacks words to
me were an unintelligible humble, and To
this day / don't know what he said. l
only know / came hack long enough 10
hear pleadings of VIII you?
VIII ] what?' l shrleked, all the
while gazing at that necktie.
Marry me,
Not for worlds, I replied. And
heaven is my witness, / meant 1t.
Il knew he Jack) would never under
stand. and I've never told anybody about
double-riveted, copper fastened JOY. but
tll I'm dead IL remember that necktie-
and / simply could not marry him.
An English author who speaks with en-
thusiastic appreciation of Americans in
many ways, makes dinident comment
upon one thing that he did not find so
praiseworthy.
with many gracious qualities of
American people in mind" said he "one
can readily picture my surprise when !
found that in the best circles of society
polteness. as our grandmothers understood
it. is not so rigid. certainly in one re
spect, and that is that the people of ac-
knowledged culture viii so unceremoni-
oUsly interrupt ones conversation l have
heard many of the cultured peop.. apollo
gize for the habit by saying, We all do
il, you know and this seems sufficient
excuse to continue the practice.
Far be il from me 10 critcise the
Washington people They are delightful,
and nowhere have I received greater cor
diality than in their hGmes. But / shall
remember ever the first dinner / attended
here in Washington The hostess. well
known for her successful dinner parties.
was good enough to ask me to dine I
was charmed and said so. The night of
the dinner / knew I would meet "A num-
Der of distinguished people, and likely be
presented to them as an author that one
heard of now and then, so naturally, be
ing stranger in a strange land, 1 was
bit nervous.
Everybody and everything was charm
ing. and after dinner / drifted into a lit
tie corner with the fascinating girl whom
/ had taken in 10 dinner. She proved 20
be another Interesting woman. and was
kind enough 20 praise some of my books
she had read. I felt as though l were In
the midst of old friends, and my one de-
sire was 10 get better acquainted We. the
beautiful girl and I. were deeply abb
sorbed. and. inspired by her earnestness.
! was deep in the plot for a new story.
Now how many pages DO you think that
which is termed a short story. like the
one you are telling mt. should cover
she asked. ! am thinking about writing
one
Wen. for a story to catch the eye
Oh, Mr.. Blank came from an unex-
pected direction. what is the title of your
last book; the very last one?'
II answered the question and turned TO
my beautiful girl
II should say that when one does not
really wish for a long tale, but wishes to
be entertained for the mo-
Again some one sprang up
How near completion is your book?
I understand YOU are writing one about
American women-it makes US a bit
nervous, Mr. Blank but ] also hear you
are very kind
Il assured the third interrupter that
while I was not at present writing book
upon American women being their
devoted admirer, l should consider it a
pleasure and privilege to do so in the not
distant future.
Well, my dear Mrs. Blank 1 again
ventured. there are moments when We
want, really need. something 10 engage
out attention for the time. and it is this
publishers watch out for Now, 1 would
suggest that you do not cover more
than
Is On, do let me shake hands with you
Mr., Blank I've always wanted to shake
the hand of "A real live author. Mother
doesn't know I'm down I'm supposed to
be studying, you know. Good night And
m awfully sorry I'm not grown came
from the lips of the hostess fourteen
year-old daughter.
"Then I turned to my fair charmer.
There is something strangely fatal
about this corner I said Come with
the crowd and / shall tell YOU something
about your book But even there il was
a sorry task, but gave me the coveted
opportunity of asking If we might not
-
making a very delightful acquaintance
While the custom is far from serious,
the idea Of everybody with something to
say and nobody waiting until it is said
is bit novel to me. However, this does
not materially detract from the really
charming American people"
Cooks" remarked one Of washing
tons matrons. "are great deal like the
pups that are sold on the street corners
one can never tell just what traits they
viii develop. I've had them by the score.
good, bad and Indifferent, many of them
proving impossible. which state Of affairs
recently caused a vacancy in my culinary
department and no end Of confusion and
turmoil TO my household. so I promptly
advertised for cook and was quickly
besieged with applicants. One, known
as Liza particularly attracted me- and
something like this followed
Are YOU a good laundress, Lizag
Is all a good laundress? Huh; no
woman needs "a looking glass wen she
wears nah Clothes
THAT was encouraging, so l pursued
the question, Can you make bread. Lizag
Gin an max bread? What ails yo'?
Certainly al h Gin max bread
But do YOU make good biscuits?'
JUS melt in yo' mouth. responded
Liza. with considerable pride.