The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02
Copyright

n Y 0Ol Is lily ildIiS-lOIl OCplbs 4 q Va
an unassuming, diffident American
~ man. In the country where woman
rules rampant and man acquiesces couch
ant, so to speak. I know my place. and !
keep it.
Because of the mingled joy and terror
that the fair sex arouses in me, woman
bas become my constant study. In Pleas
useville she reaches the zenith of her
glory at church festivals.
Shall 1 ever forget the bazaar of last De
cember? 1t was pleasant to go from q
bachelors cherries room over drug
store to a gayly garlanded hall, bright
with shifting colors and buzzing with
chatter. And the reception committee
Mrs. Brown, large, aristocratic and I'M
posing. at their head-how they bore down
upon me and enveloped me. My old heart
warmed and expanded. That wicked Myra
Galtl What was 1t she whispered about
Miss Virginia and fascinators and fancy
tables? AS II every fibre of my being
was not then. concentrated upon a dear.
gentle face across the room, just visible
above a pile of fluffy, fuzzy, pink and
white and blue things piled up on a
counter. How very careful l was to visit
every other part before selSing the maven
where L would be, and how diseoncerting
1t was on arriving to find myself face
Myra-
II am assistant saleslady here" she
announced brislly Nov then. colonel,
I know you need q fascinator, Miss
Virginia made this blue one"
'Myrap' from Miss Virginia, protest
ingly.
"Well, he might buy one for his future
wife," drawled Myra. Let me show him
the effect by trying 1t on you, Miss Vir-
ginia.''
"Myra!" in horror-stricken accents.
''In case Of an emergency" broke in,
ut is well to be provided with fas-
cinator. / think-yes, will take the blue
one"
Miss Virginia was under the counter
looking for something she could not find,
and had to give my money to Myra.
It was Marcia Belknap who bore me or
to the supper table and talked to me while
I consumed edibles that meant present JOY
and future destruction. Marcia Is Miss
Virginia Talbot's neice. She invaded
Pleasureville last autumn with advanced
ideas. She Is young, athletic and artistic,
Is Miss Marcia, and-may Heaven Tor
give the blasphemous utterance-she has
the manner of one who wears pants.
1t has been my earnest endeavor to avoid
thinking of pants when 1 see her, and
l remind myself that my great aunt
Priscilla taught me that the ladies' feet
are pinned to the edge Of their dresses.
but it is all in vain. I see Marcia and
think pants.
On the night of the festival her hand
some, boyish face wore q look of bore
dom and she asked me YEARLY:
Does nothing ever happen in Pleasure
vile but festivals and fires?"
Nothing, answered promptly. THAT
is why live here: 1 enjoy both festivals
and fires"
well" said Marcia, II hate the festi-
walls, but I admit that do enjoy the
fires"
shall turn incendiary?" said I gal
1antly, land put the torch to a stable, Or
better still, to a distillery?"
Now you are laughing at me. colonel. =
said Marcia, earnestly. 81 mean to say
that the effect of a fire in Pleasureville Is
far more dramatic than 1t is in New
York; the rapid changing Of the court
house bell, the wild shouts of that fee
ble-minded darby
"Old Billy?" / interjected.
eyes, and the sudden change from quiet
to clamor, the exciting way you men pull
ropes, climb ladders and do valorous
deeds-I long to be one Of you"
MY dear young lady," 1 said, st see
you are full Of surplus energy. How will
you expend it in Pleasureville?"
I'm sure 1 don't know" said Marcia.
'"rhis place is asleep, sound asleep
ut is beautifully situated" 1 ventured.
1T is" admitted Marcia. "and yet these
people, surrounded by all this natural
beauty, are dead to art"
Remember" I said gently, they lack
what you had both by Inheritance and
environment. Your fathers famous casts
of the antique sculptures"
"Ah, you have seen some of them"
broke in Marcia, her face alight with en-
fbt,ct MOI l. live
and died in the service of art,'
"Have you any of his works?'' I asked.
"Only one piece, the Marble Faun.'
He loved 1t SO much that he never could
make up his mind to sell it, and, of
course, 1 never shall part with it."
And you have it with you here in
Pleasureville?' asked, in surprise.
YES, and would you believe it, Aunt
Virginia has modestly placed it behind
portieres in an alcove in the drawing
room. Poor Aunt Virginia. She is hope
lessly old-fashioned. But I am going to
exhibit it at the club meeting when our
subject is Greek art
For Marcia had recently expended some
of her surplus energy In the organization
of a woman's club.
It occurred to me that Miss Virginia's
view of club life might be of interest and
so while 1 escorted her home from the
festival marcia and young Tom Escott
being far ahead of us) 1 learned that
Mrs. Brown was president, because Mar
cha said she had executive ability and
presence; that Mrs. Taylor, the wife of
the Methodist preacher, was treasurer,
because she was so conscientious" that
Miss Flint was secretary because she
wrote poetry, and that Miss White set
tied parliamentary disputes because she
had studied law.
And what does Marcia do?" asked.
''She makes all the motions was the
naive reply.
DO you-er-flibuster?'
Eyes," doubtfully. II think we do. We
get all tangled up in motions and amend
ments and points of ORDER
And how does Miss White untangle
your"
"She advises us to put things on the
table. or let them go by default, or remain
in statu quo''
I wish that I could put in words Miss
Virginia's pride in these intricate pro-
ceedings.
II don't understand exactly what we
are doing" she added honestly, but"