The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-07-18
A Modern Knight Errant.

'But surely, my dear Kitty, you do
not really believe in women's suffrage?"
] asked.
'Indeed l do" responded Mrs. Lett
rim. why should not we women have
the same rights as you men! 1t is high
time we took our proper position in the
world. To put the matter on common
sense basis, men are mentally decauent.
You have only to read the papers to see
that; while for years women have been
educating themselves to take their prop
er place in the world. Now the time
has come.
There was an air of finality in the
way Mrs. Leltrim spoke.
'Look at the men of century ago;
take those of the present day, and you
see the difference" she went on.
Kitty l said, Il happen to know
your age; you know absolutely nothing
about the men of thirty-five years ago,
let alone fourscore.
81 have read about them"
''And according to books they spent
The major portion of their time drinking
wine for wagers.
Nothing of the sort, retorted Kitty.
l changed the course of the conversa-
ton. "And how do you propose to con-
duct the New Women's Club? Will you
keep a maiden house, presume that
will be the right term to use-and re-
fuse admission to members of my sex,
while you hurl defiance at them from
the roof?''
Certainly not" she replied. eve
shall admit some of you occasionally,
but everything will be done by women,
all the business arrangements and
everything. We mean to show you up
in your true colors-show how useless
you really are" Mrs. Leitrim smiled
pityingly upon me. why you cannot
even sew button on your own clothes!'
l sighed heavily. 81 CAM have to,
since you refused me eight years ago.
Poor Dick" said Mrs. Leitrim; you
should marry some nice girl. will in
troduce you to some of the members of
our club
Heaven forbid! do not want wo-
mans rights forever dinned into my ears
across the domestic hearth"
"Soon that will be the cry of woman
kind the world over"
"Oh, for the optimism of youth, Kit
ty," | said, as | rose to take my leave.
when that day dawns will come on
Bonded knees to you, and beg you to
take me on as doorkeeper or some me-
NAL position beneath the sway of wo-
mans hand"
Dick" said Mrs. Leitrim, "you are
getting frivolous.
Kitty Morgan and l had been friends
for many years, since early childhood in
fact. l was one of many disappointed
suitors when she married Mr.. Leitrim,
man some thirty years her senior. Three
years later saw her widow, pretty,
fascinating little widow with an income
left her by Mr.. Leitrim which placed her
forever beyond my reach.
1t was many weeks before / was able
to have another chat with her regarding
the wonderful club which she had or
ganized-a club which was to herald the
dawn of new order, when women were
to take an equal, if not greater part,
in the worlds struggle, and man was
gradually to be forced to assume his true
position, or, rather, the position which
was to be relegated to him.
By that time the club was practically
an accomplished fact. The clubhouse
has been taken and furnished, and few
of the women had gone into residence.
Mrs, Leitrim was most enthusiastic
concerning it.
eve mean to show how easily the
world can exist without men," she said
to me, ''that they are nonentities. Once
the club is formed, only women who
prove themselves capable of earning
their own living will be admitted-we
want no drones."
81 see," l murmured, "a survival of
the fittest. and you, do you intend to
relinquish ali the comforts you possess
your house and it's attendant Injuries,
your life of easel"
81 shall earn my own living like the
rest, but shall retain my house, for the
present at any rate
"Ah," | said.
Something in my tone must have
piqued her.
''Simply as matter of sentiment"
she explained.
A month later the club was reality;
a merry, jolly reality, inclosed within
four brick walls. Over thirty members
had joined, and they journeyed daily to
and from the City, They were merry,
light hearted young ladies; most of them
passed away the time in the train read
ing books or newspapers. Some We're
not above Casting their eyes at the male
occupants of the carriage. These were
the disciples of feminine reform. | Won
der what Mrs. Leitrim would have said
had she seen them-she took it so very
seriously.
A short article appeared in one of the
daily papers about the club, with photo
graphs more or less resembling the ex-
terror.
During the Christmas holidays. when
the club was in full swing, had young
cousin of mine down, and with him a
great friend of his.
They had heard Of the club, and made
me tell them all knew concerning it.
Mrs. Leitrim," said my cousin, when
l mentioned the founders name. "that
was the girl you were nearly engaged to
once-I met her yesterday"
eve have been friends for a great
many years." l replied, stiff1y.
He looked at me and laughed.
Rough luck on you, old chap, now she's
a widow and you had chance, for her
to go in on this sort of thing"
| changed the subject.
1t was few days after Christmas. A
foot of snow lay on the ground, we had
drawn our chairs before the fire and were
chatting.
"You are going to Colonel Bertram's
tomorrow, aren't your" asked my
cousin.
Eyes; are you coming, too, eh?,'
'Well," he replied, 1--WE thought of
going for a long country walk if Won