The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1911-05-27
The Doctors
Happy Thought

II had been only few months since
young Hickok had begun turning In at
the brand new entrance OF the equally
brand new fat building. running up
one flight OF stairs and rafting his
brand new latch key in the lock--a
purely superfuous proceeding. be.
cause young Mrs Hickok, who had
been watching for him down the street
ever since $3.50. always opened the
door before he did more than touch
t. There would be a delightful
fragrance OF baking things and steam.
ing coffee In the air and bright light
In the kitchen and a rufiy apron upon
Mrs. Hickok all OF which slgnified
that dinner shortly would be upon the
table.
Hickok had grown so used TO this
scenic setting that when his key
turned clear around and the door
opened without the help OF his wife
his heart jumped in vague alarm. AS
ne entered the shock developed. The
kitchen end OF the fiat was dark. So
was the dining room. In the living
room the shaded drop light was going
and languidly bestowed in the easiest
chair sat Mrs. Hickok, attired in her
newest gown, with her hair elaborated
and no apron visible She was read
ing.
"Are-are you sick?" gasped her
husband, advancing with hat and coat
still on.
She held out one white hand, smiled
sweetly and said, NO" She seemed
quite calm.
Then what-wh-" stammered her
bewildered husband. He laid an anx-
ious hand upon her brow
my health is perfect, Augustus"
she told him. i've just had a great
light break in upon me! You see, this
afternoon happened to read an ar
ticle, great long one. in one of the
leading magazines, by a famous doc
tor. II was about what he called the
sin OF being homely. He said 1t was
every womans first duty to be beau
tiful and"
1T isn't duty with you because it's
perfectly natural" asserted Hickok,
violently. But what"
$50, OF course, couldn't get din
neF," concluded his wife, as though
the matter was now fully explained
Hickok sat down and stared at her
Il don't understand" he murmured
"Is eating incompatible with beauty
and, II So what II I'd rather eat than
dazzle by my superior loveliness?"
He said" replied Mrs Hickok, sit
ting up straight, that a woman had
no business doing any sort of work
which impairs her health or good
looks or happiness or hurts her hands
or ruins her complexion, because II
makes her an Improbable member OF
the community and her husband won't
love her! He said that heat from the
cookBtove had spoiled more com
plexions than ali the paint and pow
der In the world and that the much
denounced dollhouse air OF the ball
room is a California zephyr compared
with the sOupy Oniony stew that
passes for air in the kitchen He
said early rising had caused more
nervous wrecks than late hours and
that social designations and rich din
ners are to just plain cooking for
harvest hands or washing for a family
OF six as chicken pox Is to cholera.
oh, and he said a lot more! had
never thought OF II before, but. OF
course, I'd rather you kept on caring
for me, so / made up my mind TO
stop"
''Milly." asked Hickok, "are you sure
your head doesn't ache?" ~
Read Il yourself!" retorted his
wife. thrusting the magazine into his
hands with energy. He's a scientific