The bee., 1909-01-28
Staying Home Was
MonOion0us
But nevertheless Stokes
Opposed a Change.

anu Nndl - we re EOlnk W 20 Oul
more This thing Of incoming around
home all the time can be overdone.
From now on we're going around
among people some and to the theateT
occasionally We've been sticking
around here evenings getting old be-
fore our time. And it's up to us to
ginger up a bit and get out to see
our friends more or we won't have
any friends. Makes people all go to
seed to stay right in their shells week
in and week out. Yes, sir. And from
now on we're going to operate on a
different system"
1--WE often thought the same thing"
agreed Mrs. Stokes, but / supposed
you preferred being at home in the
evening. Lots of times I've wanted
to go out but didn't like to suggest It
when you seemed so comfortable at
home and so interested in you pa
pers."
well, there's evidently been some
Misunderstanding" went on Stokes,
agreeably, 'for / don't like anything
better than 10 have an evening Of SO.
cial diversion now and then. It's just
what need. Mans a social being and
il he doesn't enjoy the society OF other
people occasionally outside OF business
hours there's something abnormal
about him, that's ALL"
Wed better take in the Bronson's
musicale, then" suggested Mrs.
Stokes. Its a week from tomorrow
night and we're sure to be invited.
Mrs. Bronson was saying something
about 1t the other day"
"All right" nodded Stokes, but
was just about to say that had tick.
SIS for the theater tomorrow night.
SO don't make any other plans for
then"
Stokes remarked that he'd had a
rather strenuous day when he got
home the next evening. After supper
he lay down on the lounge.
Better be getting ready II we want
to be at the theater on time" sug
gested Mrs. Stokes shortly after seven
o'clock.
Hugh" grunted Stokes, with a
yGwn, this was the night we were 60
ing to the show, isn't IT? Well, be get
ting your things on, and I'll be ready
when you are"
Somebody was telling me-" remark
ed Stokes. as they were leaving the
Fat, that the show isn't so much good
after all. I'm not as keen about It as
I was" Then they went on and waited
for the car.
After dinner, one week later, Stokes
put on his slippers, got into an old
lounging coat and leaned back In the
big chair with satisfied expression
while he looked over the paper. Then,
having finished the paper, he went
over and got couple of his pipes
from off the center table and started
TO clean them up. "This always used
to be my favorite smoke--this pipe
right here" he confided to Mrs.
Stokes, "but it's got so caked up lately
it'll scarcely draw at all. Now's a good
time to clean II up. Then after get
through that I've got a magazine there
with couple of cracking good stories
! want to read TO you"
: you'll scarcely have time to do all
that, will your" inquired Mrs. Stokes.
smiling. you know this is the night
Of the Bronson's musicale. It's about
time you were getting into your dress
suit now. I've got your shirts and
studs all laid out for you" -----
whats thatl'"- Stokes looked up as
startled as II stranger had come
along and hit him In the eye with a
fried egg, Musicale, you say? Haven't
you been little previous in accepting
invitations to such things without con.
sulting me? You know very well how
| stand on trotting around In the even
ing I'm a dress suit. When | get through
work at the office l want to come
home and rest. Rest, mind you That
what | want to do. And 1t isn't much
rest for me to go chasing around with
lot of pinheads that imagine they're
deriving enjoyment out of the kind Of
so-called classical stuff they play at
these musicale things. There isn't one
person in 400 that really likes to sit
and look pleased over that teedle-te-
tum stun that they label classical. But
they make an awful bluff about fairly
doting on Just such highbrow vocal
and instrumental palaver. Mush!
"Where'd you get the idea | was
willing TO be dragged out to such bore
some AFFAIRS as that, anyway, and talk
to a lot of lightweights that don't
know enough TO carry liver to a bearY
| said we ought to go out more? Did,
Ell? o, yes, and suppose l had just
such an affair as this musicale In mind
too. That sounds about like me?
Yeh! Nice spirit on your part to take
advantage Of chance remark OF mine
that was SilliNg to go out in the
evening With Ssu once in a whlle-if
did say such q thing. o. well, sup,
pose I'm up against IL now. Wen
have I'd go to the Internal thing. But
IL does seem a pity that a man can't
have an evening Of quiet and rest now