Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-31

look very much less mournful and
lamentatle to me than 1t looks now.
Yet l mn happy. Life IS full Of won
der and beauty and constant new de-
lights. And, remember, never before
knew the meaning Of the word happi-
ness"
"Um-nl You are happy" he re-
peated. "I'm so glad to know 1t, ELL
nice"
"Of course one constantly sees things
that sadden. No sooner am deep in
the enjoyment and interest Of some
pleasure than I am confronted with
sight Of poverty that makes my own
possessions seem wholly wrong. I
didn't work for this money-why
should have it?'
But your father worked for IT," he
said, knowing very well he was instill
ing false social economy.
"That doesn't make 1t right" she
shook her head.
perhaps not" he granted.
II thirlk," she went on, that people
would interest me more than anything
else in the world II only they were
real, were themselves; but have yet
to meet man or woman Of the world
who seems to me genuine-e.cept you
and my aunt. And Aunt Eunice seems
to be herself only when we are alone
Perhaps" she suddenly looked up at
him, "if saw you with other people
you, too. would seem artificial to me
and to be acting part"
There's no telling. Eunice, what
your unclouded eyes would see"
'Some things seem SO strange" she
went on; Aunt Eunice and all the
people who make up what she calls her
set (n1eaning sort of clan) are SO
hemmea In by social laws, so ham
pered on all sides by perfectly meaning /.
less rules and customs. SO taken up
with details which are trivial and I'M
essentill-and very tiresome to them
selves, but which they nevertheless
take heed to-for what reason it Is
hard to make out-that at times they
all seem like puppets moving at the
pull of string-with no freedom Of
motion at all and no spontaneity. 1t
stiles mey'
Go on" he urged when she paused,
her fresh impressions interesting him.
II ask myself sometimes, Is all life
slavery, only in different forms? Ev-
cry ore seems to be In bondage Of
some sort. The men Of Aunt Eunice's
clan are slaves to the women: man
allows himself to become a mere mon
ey making machine for no other ap-
parent reason than to keep his wife
and daughters in idleness or to give
them opportunity to cultivate them
selves 1t seems that the man doesn't
need time for culture. It's no objec-
tion to him IL he does have some cul-
ture, but It must not Interfere with
his money making But the women
must have leisure for the study of art.
for society and other feminine occupa-
lions. Aunt Eunice says that IL a
man is a gentlemanlhe will work night
and day to give his wife or daughter
absolute leisure to do as she pleases.
I don't see the sanity of it or the
Justice. If a woman does not rear
family and make home or else work
at some vocation. If she is simply the
daughter of a household, spending her
time cultivating herself in music and
literature and gracing social affairs, of
what significance Is her existence In
the economy Of the universe? What
point has her life?"
She turned to him with her old visit
full appeal. These commonplace prob
lens, 10 new to her, were evidently
vexing her sorely.
us 1t perhaps enough just to be- he
suggested, IF only one be lovely and
good and delight to others?"
"But," she objected, "is 1t possible
to be, anything worth while-anything
strong and worthy-without work, ct
fort, responsibility? am looking on
at life not to judge and criticise, but
only to learn but sometimes Judgment
is forced upon me by what l see."
"A1ld perhaps you. with your unso-
phistlcated eyes, may be able to see
deeper truth than is vouchsafed to old
buffers like us-your aunt and me,
mean"
"But," she answered impetuously,
whatever impresses me try to see
through your eyes as we'll as my own,
wondering what you would think
about this or that which bewilders or
puzzles me. In everything that l do
or see your presence seems to be with
me constantly have longed so I'M
speakably to have all these experiences
with you actually and not just in
fancy"