Middletown transcript., 1909-05-08
The Statesman and the sultragette
BY EMERIC HULME BEAMAN

on earth Is that arrangement
you We got around you? he sud.
denly broke off to inquire.
Oh, you've noticed it at last
snapped the Suffragette.
The Statesman bent forward,
his hands resting on. his knees,
as he peered at her more earn.
estly.
It-er-seems to be some sort
Of chain, he hazarded.
It is a chain! she flashed.
Gracious heaven calculated
the Stateman. And what's thai
thing, pray? He pointed a de.
-nunciatory finger at the object in
question.
A paddock, said the Suffragette
proudly.
A paddock? repeated the States
man in astonishment.
told you it was no use for
John to attempt to remove me,
she reminded him gleefully. I'm
chained to the sideboard. Sc
now you'll have to listen to me.
The Statesman rose.
shall ring for John to remove
that paddock, he announced with
decision, and you, too
Don't be silly, protested the
Suffragette, in some alarm. ]
tell you John can't remove me or
the paddock, either. It's word
padlock-unless you fix the let
ters right, it won't open.
The Statesman gave a little
gesture Of resignation and sank
back into his chair again.
In that case-he spread ont
his hands with an urbane air of
surrender suppose I have no
alternative must listen TO you
I'm entirely at your mercy.
I'm glad you at last recognize
that fact Yes, you'll have to
listen to me-for once!
Oh-come, objected the States
man pleasantly. As if-He fin
ished the sentence with a shrug.
Have you really anything to say?
he added.
Certainly-Votes for women;
replied the Suffragette.
But you've said that before, be
demurred.
We're going on saying it till we
get them, she explained affsbly.
It sounds rather silly, doesn't itP
It seems to me the last express
sion Of idiocy. the Statesman
agreed. And what on earth have
you fixed yourself to my side
board for? It looks extremelv IN.
comfortable.
It's the correct thing to do, she
pointed out, when one becomes a
Suffragette. At the last meeting
it was decided that every men,
ber should provide herself with
a chain and paddock at once.
Meeting? echoed the States.
man, aghast. Surely you don't
mean to tell me that you have
joined this-this abandoned So
ciety. You?
The suffragette blushed slight
ly.
Well, I-I-was there, she ad-
mitted, with a friend.
I am surprised at you, said the
Statesman, in a tone of grave re-
proof Really | am
Well, you needn't be, she re-
torted with spirit. ! don't see
that there is anything to be sur
prised at in women wanting the
vote.
Ny surprise was not on that
account, he explained. Though
why women cannot be satisfied to
attend to the nursery, and the
er-thousand -and-one domestic
Offices which fall within the le-
climate province of feminine ac-
tivity, which men are incapable
of discharging, instead Of strug-
Cling to interfere in mems work
and the things which they under
stand nothing about, passes the
ordinary wit of man to determine.
The Suffragette clapped her
hands.
Ripping! she cried. l simply
love to hear you talk like that.
lists just as good as being in
the Ladies Gallery. Was it part
of a speech?
No, said the Statesman sternly;
1t was not. And now, pray, what
have you got to say on the
SUBJECT?
Oh-votes for women. Well,
don't you think it's only fair that
they should have them? she in
quired.
It's not question of fairness.
but of expediency, rejoined the