Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-02-12
Woman's Diplomacy
[Originall


 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 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 CT my marriage taught me this, and since then l have invariably left the settlement of my differences with oth- CT women to my wife. l had passed middle life before marrying. l 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 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 I needed great deal of it. However, in about year l 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 ing to visit her, and she was especial ly anxious that I should make a good impression. resolved to be on my guard and put on my most affable and deferential manner.
 The first evening of Miss Bland's ar rival my wife, my sister and our guest sat down to game of whist. l was of course assigned to play with Miss Bland. l got on swlmmingly. l saw that my partner knew little of the to show my wife that l could pass her friends mistakes without the slightest reference to them. l 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 I thought, to make brilliant strike In soothing her.
 I had fine long suit all of which l could make if could draw my op- ponents' trumps; but, having only four trumps myself. all depended upon my partner husbanding hers. My wife led small spade, and I, desiring to get the lead, put on the king. When my partner played. the trick was mine. She trumped it. l winced, but said nothing. My partners error gave our opponents the odd trick.
 'I 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 that in this case 1t didn't matter since we were playing for fun.
 I didn't see the fun in playing that way. but refrained from comment.
 ''Now I think of it." said Miss Bland, much mortified, somebody told me once that to trump ones partners trick was the worst mistake player can make"
 My wife looked at me appealingly to say something to make my partner feel easier, and it was then tried to soothe her.
 You only trumped my king. There is worse thing than that" I said softly.
 What Is it?' asked Miss Bland.
 ''To trump your partners ace"
 Miss Bland cast a quick glance at me, and l cast a glance at my wife, expecting to see approval in her face. 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 CUTS 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 D blunder. But had l solely so in- tended 1t? Women are quick to see slight, and perhaps Miss Bland might have detected trace of sarcasm in my voice. Thank heaven" I nut tered, its woman against woman. I'm sure the more 1 excused myself the worse would make the matter"
 My wife returned, but without her friend
 "Wellr' 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 lngs are sheet ironY Then, seeing the | pain she was infictlng on me, she add ed. Its all right now"
 Did you tell her I intended"-
 Nonsense! told her nothing of your intentions"
 What did you tell herr"
 "Why, told her that you had been bachelor all your life, had lived at clubs and all that and hadn't been used to playing cards with women-in short, that"-
 T didn't now any better"
 "Yes."