The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-02-08

course, and the social inquirer is we'll pleased to be
quit of her card with its inscription.
Inquiries by the card are often unreal, but they
are not the most trying. The worst those which
are sprung upon us at times when Our acquaintance
are desired to be unaware that there is anything for
them to inquire about 1t is needful to add that
these are always the moments when such acquaint-
ances point their kind inquiries at the very subject
wishing to keep in protected darkness If
one is particularly endeavoring to screen something
and to keep the conversation off that matter, the
kind inquirer aims question right at the heart of it.
Someone has an illness which his family do not care
to discuss; is not doing at this moment quite
we'll his people had hoped, daughter in
comfortable and behaving erratically sister has
gagged herself to man one does not really like, or
brother has similarly chosen unwisely; one removes
into bad neighborhood because one has losses
these furnish some of the subjects for interrogation
What is the best method of meeting these inquiries?
There is choice between several policies. Some
persons and these the most sensitive close up like
a musSe When the inquirer says
"And how is your third son, Jack getting on?" We
don't hear much of him now; but you used to
think him the brightest didn't your" Or, so
hear your nephew, Al gernon, is engaged! Do you
like the girl? Used Mt you to think he rather adj
mired your Winner" You being the VICTIM can if
you please, shortly and huf4y that Jack never
was bright and that all your children stupid
can be, and that for Algernon admiring Winnie,
you had other things to think about. Met thus, the
inquirer will have to be CIVIL fattering,
Some persons, being asked questions which they
sent say absolutely nothing but this is a
quring courage and firmness than most of
us possess when taken unawares in the course of an
ostensibly friendly talk Yet another plan is to
put a good face" on the affair." and make out that
everything is smiling and prosperous with With
regard to Jack you reply that he is doing extraor-
dnarily WE'LL that he will turn out very remarkable
of these days. AS for Algernons engagement
is subject of the greatest JOY to you the girl is
perfectly charming. Everybody admires Winnie, of
course; but it is not everyone Winnie admires In
societes-not the most highly civized-where ques-
tioning is customary, the bluffing optimistic reply is
usual likewise Things may be different now but in
middle-class German society some years ago
morning call had been properly begun till each side
had assaulted the other with inquiries After "Guten
Tag" each began at once "Wie gents dem Herrn
Water? "-"und der Frau Mutter ?'-und den lieben
Schwestern?"-" und Ihrem Herrn Gemahl?" AS
surances would be forthcoming in reply that every
relative perfectly "gesund" or, at worse only
suffering from trifing indisposition which occas-
toned uneasiness. The father might be taking to
drink, the mother not right in the head and the hus-
band COMFORTING himself most unsatisfactory; but
hint of these facts would the serenity of the
interview the persistent maintenance of the cate
chsm. In the provincial England of the early half
of last century things must have been very similar;
and the sort of call at which cake and wine were
produced was doubtless largely nterrogative in its
character And the answers, I imag-
inc, would not have been accepted evidence in any
court.