The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-09-20
Cyniic and
Siren

LONC. ACPCdlcu ku0 SyulC vaguely.
"Oh, love-lovs Is a concrete name
given to many abstract emotions.
Sometimes it's the frame, and some
times it's the picture; and sometimes
It's just-just q spasm round the
heart"
I'm afraid you really are Cynic."
said the Siren regretfully.
"A Cynic," said he gloomily, SIS a
man who knows everything, and un-
derstands nothing. Thank you"
The Siren looked dubious, but nat
ural kindness Of disposition kept her
silent. How" she demanded present
ly, "can one be sure that one Is In
lover"
That" sighed the Cynic, rs the
eternal tragedy of life"
THAT one can't be sure?"
mo, that one always Is sure"
Il don't see that that's tragic" she
protested.
All, but it Is. Though ignorance
may be bliss, when 1t becomes knowl-
edge it's tragedy"
But knowledge" argued the Siren,
lis happiness"
"A phrase" he sneered, taught to
cheerful fools by gloomy philosophers.
The only wisdom Is cheerfulness. A
thing Is what we think it,
You're carbohydrates the
word ?-enigmatical," said the Siren
pathetically. 81 wish you wouldn't
be. You're SO deep, it's like talking
to coal mine"
There was silence for a few mo-
ments
yet" urged the man.
I'm trying to think Of it." answered
the woman.
III one only knew what love was!"
said the Siren plaintively. Does 1t
lead to a union of hearts or a dissolu-
ton of marriage?"
Neither" replied the Cynic Love
is footpath leading to everywhere !;
or, If you prefer it, it's a porchway
leading to a house that's just as big
as you think it is"
For a beginner" said the Siren
distrustfully, you talk with a good
deal of authority"
Love-" he explained, differs in
that respect from other sciences. We
begin as experts and wind, up as
novices."
you mean, then" said the Siren
| to whom love was an art and not a
science, that you don't really know
anything about love-"
"On the contrary" said the Cynic
patiently, 81 have just been to some
trouble to explain to you that l know
everything"
HIM." said the Siren doubtfully
We'll, let's take marriage.
Had we got as far as marriage? 2
she broke off to inquire. well, any
how, marriage is akin to love, and
we'd got to that"
Some people say marriage means
taking from both and giving to Meth
er; halving ones joys and doubling
ones sorrows. or course, that's the
selfish point of view," she admitted.
From any point of view," said The
Cynic, marriage is selfish. Both par
ties receive so much and give so lit
tle."
They say" resumed the Siren re
fiectively, that marriages are made
in heaven; I'm afraid they're mostl,
made for export, though"
ION the contrary" objected tn,
Cynic, "all true marriages are lived il
heaven"
But marriage is $3.50 definite,
she said nervously; zone word, ant
snap-it's just trap"
Quite as often it's the bait"
DO you think so? Why is 1t pee
pie do narry?"
The modern GIRL" said the Cynic
living up to his reputation, appear
10 marry because she wants to learl
how to cook; the young man becaus,
he's afraid of his landlady."
mo, but seriously"
Seriously. the woman marries be
cause she wants to be taken care OF
and the man that he may have some
body to respect him. They are bot
doomed to disappointment; in a few
months it's the man who gets takel
care of, and the woman who gets tn
respect"
do you mean" demanded the Siren
that woman never respects her hus
band?"
mot If she loves him"
MOTT" Her voice became almos
shrill. mot. did you say?"
Yes. woman may sometime
love, or sometimes respect her hus
band, but she can't do both. 1t 1
weakness We love, strength we onl
respect. 1t is one of the compensa
tons of nature that the weaklin
should love everything in the figh
of life-except the one thing wort
winning. The strong man may foun
nation. but not a family; may d.
fend a million hearths, but never on
of his own. To one, the sweetness G
defeat; to the other, the bitterness c
victory"
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