The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-16
EVENING CHAT
BY RUTH CAMERON.

If the government ever feels that it
would like mother and daughter to
act as spies in its secret service de-
partment, can recommend two wom-
en- who are qualified for the position by
a long course of home training
I don't know that there is an ex-
animation for spies, but if there is the
fine tooth comb inspection. of the
netghborhood which these two women
carry on daily from their living room
window certainly ought to make them
able to pass with flying colors.
I made a call at their home the
other day and this is a sample of the
conversation.
Please puntuate scantily with a few
general remarks and literally with
seances at the window.
ooh, mother, look out the window
quick and see if you. thinl, that's
new coat Ruth Blakely has on or her
old caracul trimmed UP with lynx.
Lucy, do you know who that man
going by with Madge Holbroek is. Is
he the one she went to the theater with
/ Wednesday? No, that one was light
haired. This must be another one. My
dear, this is the fifth man we have
seen that girl with since she got back
from her vacation 1 think it's posi-
| lively scandalous. I don't see why
| her mother doesn't forbid her to make
such a show of herself"
| There goes Mrs. Norton off to her
| New Thought lecture. Yes she goes
every Monday, Wednesday and Friday,
and stays so late that her husband often
has to get his own supper"
| eff that isn't the Holbrook maid
starting out all dressed up. 1t isn't
her afternoon off, either. 1 don't see
how Mrs. Holbrook can let her CAD so.
Why, she had two afternoons and two
evening last week. Mrs. Holbrook
spoils her terribly
| MY dear, do you know who that girl
| is going down the other side of the
street with the brown corduroy suit
| on. She came out of the Blakely's, 1
| think She is one never saw before"
| Pause, while the two ladies stare
! the luckless stranger out of sight, tax
! ing in every detail of her costume. 1
am sure If you should call and ask
them today they could tell you wheth-
er she wore button boots or laced and
just how much the plumes on her hat
cost and whether her puffs were really
her own or made in Germany"
There's the doctors automobile at
Mrs. Rice's. My dear, that's the fifth
| time this week and yet Mrs. Rice ism t
even sick abed. I always used to like
her but I certainly don't think this
looks well. The doctor is such a fas-
cinating man and Mr.. Rice is away so
him You don't believe Mrs Rice
could do anything wrong? Oh, my
dear, you haven't seen as much of the
world rs I have"
| No. l haven't, thank goodness, ana
I trust never shall. At least not the
/ way she sees it.
| 1 happened to visit elsewhere in that
| neighborhood and 1 know how the
people who live within eycshot of that
argus-eyed window actually skulk out
of their back doors sometimes to avoid
it's scrutiny.
know how they even plan their go
ings and comings so that Mrs. NJ. and
Lucy won't see me and try to find out
what I'm doing"
Not because they are doing anything
| wrong, but merely because they resent
this perpetual spying.
1 think these people are foolish. In
allowing themselves to be disturbed by
the two spy-women's littleness of mind
they place themselves almost on the
same level.
1 think they should good-naturedly
j ignore the scrutiny instead of actually
letting it influence their actions.
/ But as for the spy women themselves
we'll I'm just sorry for them.
| Don't you think it must be terrible
to have so few real interests. so few