The Tupelo journal., 1908-05-29
FAMILY
SkELETO MS
(Copyright.)
BY Thomas Masson.


"One of the most extraordinary
things to Ms," said the first family
skeleton, lis the Common belief that
there is only one Of u.s."
1t was midnight in the luxurious
country mansion, the home of n Oh
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 ono
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 a
time of specialists. AS if, in this
enlightened age, one skeleton could
do the business for this family"
At which sally, every n 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
the table with his right metatarsal.
Now, gentlemen" he said, Ito bust
ness. The daughter of the house, az
you all know, comes of age tomorrow.
We must decide what is to be dons
with her. First, then, let her be
brought down here. Four of you will
go upstairs and get her"
At this, four Of the family skeletons
filed solemnly out of the room. ST.
lently, they assembled the stairs. 81
lently, they entered the room where
the sleeping daughter of the house lay
dreaming. Her lips, slightly parted,
were as red as June roses; her cheeks,
full and round, held the lambert glow
of health. Her throat, as it heaved
with each inspiration, was white and
firm with urves of beauty.
The four skeletons stood, one at each
corner of the bed, and stared down al
her from eyeless sockets.
81 presume" said the skeleton at her
right hand, that if, within this osse
GUS framework of mine, there were
again rugged up and fastened to the
sides that thing entitled a heart, il
might beat responsibility to this touch.
ing sight. AS it is, l 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 CO."
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, a 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 ske1-
eton. "Her father, by religiously rob-
bling 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 is the mat.
ter with herr"
Defective education" said number
three, promptly. "She can speak
French, read and play music, drive a
f~our-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 BUSH
ness. Remember that there is work
for willing bones to do. l 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
ambition-see that nothing interferes
with it. Teach her to know when to
snub. when to grovel-teach her when
to crush.
"And to you"-turning to number
three-"wif1 be assigned her matrf-
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-"will be left the sacred rights of
the children. In the first place, see
that there are none. They are o only
bad form, but in her station of life so
useless. Do your duty, therefore, and
fail not.
"And to you'-turning to number
five-"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
only 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. Now take her away, with my
blessing"
The next morning the daughter Of
the house said sleepily to her maid:
Marie, last night I had a beautiful
dFeam."