The Cairo bulletin., 1908-07-27
FAM
SIX FL ON S
(Copyright.)
BY Thomas Mason.

things to me, said the first family
skeleton, lis the common belief that
there is only one of us"
1t was midnight in the luxurious
country mansion, the home of one %
our wealthiest and most important cit
liens.
THAT comes" said the second fam.
lily skeleton, from tradition. There
was a time when there was only one
of us. He served for all purposes. He
lived in a closet most of the time, and
was dragged forth only on state oc-
casions-hence the delusion that many
entertain today"
They forget entirely" said the
third family skeleton, that this is
time of specialists. AS it, in this
enlightened age, one skeleton could
do the business for this family"
At which sally, every one of them,
of course, laughed.
why" said the fourth family skel.
eton. as a matter of fact, it takes a
syndicate"
The first family skeleton raped on
Now. gentlemen he said. ito bust.
ness. The daughter of the house, as
YOU all know, comes of age tomorrow.
We must decide what is to be done
with her. First, then, let her be
brought down here. Four of you will
go upstairs and get her.
Al this, four of the family skeletons
filed solemnly out Of the room. ST.
lentIy, they assembled the stairs 81
lently, they entered the room where
the sleeping daughter of the house lay
dreaming Her lips, slightly parted,
fun and round. held the lambent glow
OF health. Her throat, as it heaved
with each inspiration, was white and
firm with curves of beauty.
The four skeletons stood, one at each
corner OF the bed, and stared down at
her from eyeless sockets
81 presume" said the skeleton at her
right hand, that if, within this osse-
ous framework OF mine, there were
again rugged mp and fastened to the
sides that thing entitled a heart, it
might beat responsibility to this touch
ing sight, AS it is, | have no feeling
for her Have you, brothers,
The other skeletons grinned.
None" they replied in chorus, but
the stern voice of our duty. Where
duty calls us we must 60
Then they lifted the sleeping girl
and bore her down to their compan.
ions. And they laid her quite correct
ly and skilfully on the table. Cover
cred with the white. silken sheet, she
lay there, central figure of inno'
cence and purity.
And now" said the head skele
ton, before assigning ourselves to our
respective stations, let us first dag
nose this case. Just what is the mat
ter with this fair young thing?'
First money" said the second skel-
nton. Her father by religiously rob.
hing the widows and orphans, bought
for her mother a place In society
which she is about to succeed to. Mon
ey has made her selfish, cruel and
artificial"
Good" said the head skeleton.
Number three, what else Ia the mat.
ter with her?" .
Defective education" said number
three, promptly. she can speak
French, read and play music drive a
four-in-hand, and mix all kinds OF
drinks But her character is anemic.
That is, her moral perceptions have
been blighted. She imagines that
The world was made for her purpose,
whereas she was made for the world
If she knew it."
Enough" said the head skeleton.
Now, gentlemen, once more TO bust
ness. Remember that there Is work
for willing bones TO do. | shall now
assign YOU to your several tasks"
Turning TO the second skeleton on
his right, he said.
You will have charge of her social
ambitien--see that nothing interferes
with it. Teach her to know when TO
snub, when to grovel--teach her when
to crush So.
And TO you'-turning to number
three-"will be assigned her matri-
monial ventures-whom to marry, how
much to marry and how often. See
that you do not neglect your task. for
upon much marrying depends the
whole fabric of social success.
And to you"-turning to number
four-"wilI be left the sacred rights of
the children. In the first place, see
that there are none They are not only
had form. but in her station of life so
useless. Do your duty, therefore, and
fail not
And to you"-turning to number
fve-"must be left the task of pre-
serving her beauty. Keep her natural
complexion going as long as possible.
and don't resort to artificial methods
until hygiene fails Above all. don't
bleach her hair, until absolutely neces-
sary, That is to say, work nature as
long as possible. and substitute art
1nly at critical points.
And to the rest Of you, look alive
and keep her restless and relentless
with a profound sense of the value Of
the complex. and a true love for the
trivial %oW take her away with my