Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1908-01-31
Love AS A
SIDE DISH

"Why do you blush when he
passes?" l demanded reproachfully
STOPPING to pick up Kitty's fan as
Clement Carter disappeared into the
house.
Il didn't" declared Kitty, indig.
nantly.
"You fluttered," l retorted. And
that's the same thing"
Kitty sat up straight and gazed at
me in CONSERVATION.
THE insult" she declared furiously,
(which you have offered TOTO my
sex! Just as If l were an old maid!"
she added with true feminine paradox.
Aren't old maids of your seX?"
asked in gentle surprise.
They're the only ones who iutter,"
asserted Kitty, positively.
Not at ALL" retorted. i've known
plenty of widows who changed color
and their conversation at the mere en-
trance of a man upon the scene; and
dozens of debutantes who became
tongue-tied or tremulous the moment
a decent-looking chap appeared in the
drawing room. Even most married
women" added, lose their poise and
the point of their remarks at sight
of the approach of masculine crea-
ture. 1t doesn't seem to be matter
of woman's age or her condition,
but"
"Of the Importance she accords to
men," broke in Kitty scathingly.
There are individuals of both sexes" "
she added witheringly, who are too
easily impressed by the opposite six. i"
Not at ALL | objected. 81 never
knew schoolboy so insignificant and
homely and inconsequential that he
didn't scorn girls. You see, to men,
woman is a sidedish, mere incident,
while to a woman, man represents the
whole menu of social existence, the
piece de resistance, the Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the end"
"Of course" proceeded Kitty, ignor-
ing my thrust, there are plenty of
women who overrate men and
and look at them through magnifying
glasses"
And who 'fiuttter'" put in hastily,
"at their mere presence
But" she continued coldly, they
are women who don't know them
"What?"
"Old maids" returned Kitty, land
widows whose husbands have been
dead a long time and young girls
who have no brothers to help them
get true perspective on the mascu-
line creature. And there are other
women so abnormally self-conscious
and vain that they can't be their nat
ural selves in the presence of any
man."
It's awfully flattering," 1 began en-
Enthusiastically, Ito think that we can
be so agitating-"
"Oh, it isn't the man that really agi.
tates the" retorted Kitty.
NO" l rejoined promptly, "its the
set of their skirts, or the tilt of their
hats, or the curl of their hair, or the
thought of whether there is any pow.
der on their noses, or of what they
shall say to be scintillating, Or"
Isn't this the seventh waltZ?" ask
ed Kitty suddenly, rising and looking
earnestly at her program. Il must
go. Mr.. Carter must be looking for
me"
"Oh, no." retorted, Il just saw him
come out with the Tredway girl. Are
you going to 'flutter' again, Kitty?'
For Kitty had sat down with sud
den exclamation and was nervously
pulling the remains of her fan to
shreds.
THE idea," she exclaimed indig.
nantly, "of accusing me of-of any
thing like that. Only unpopular WON
en- 'fiutter.'" Kitty flung out the word
scornfully.
"They are unpopular because they
do fiutter," l contended calmly, light
ing another cigarette.
"Of course" l said, relenting lit
tie, there are plenty of women who
do take men as side dish; but they
are either those who are born with a
mission or those who are like your
self, Kitty"
"What?" Kitty looked up suspi
ciously.
who have so many side dishes,
l explained, land are so constantly in
the company of men that they lose
that awe of the sex"
"Sh!" cried Kitty, as dark form
emerged from the vines and passed SC
near us that he swept Kitty's ruffies
There he goes!"
"The devil!" / calculated.
mo, Clement Carter" corrected
Kitty.
kitty" l exclaimed reproachfully
you're tearing that fan to pieces"