Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-21
DOMINIC BALL AND CHAIN
BY ELIZABETH JORDAN.

I her hands, and turned on US the efful.
gence of her brown eyes.
4
You're such an Inspiration to me, YOU
! two women" she began. with a long.
drawn breath. ''You would repudiate my
convictions with your, last breath both OF
you. yet you are living then-a great
many Of them, at least-every moment OF
your inspiring lives
I opened my mouth. But Jessica spoke
| first. She usually does.
Dear lady," she said, suavely, VIVA,
you call our inspiring lives ID really 8
difficult and painful scramble for the &C.
cumula ton of an income large enough tc
live on in this expensive city. There is
nothing inspiring about II"
BUT your professons-your splendid
f1uence over the tender minds of your
pupils began Mrs. Warburton.
We loathe 'em ALL explained Jessica
with great calmness. IL there's any
sions. it's those innocent young minds
you mention. and II anything could be
worse than the young minds. It's the pos
SCISSORS OF then-the pupils
we'll under way. II she were permitted
to continue she would say much more
than she meant and then fierceIy insist
upon its truth: as was her irnpulstve way
You mean: ! said gently. that we
are free to live our lives as We choose
and that. aside from our professions, we
nave no heavy cares or responsibilities -
4 y
Yes, yes. And you have this charmins
home and are so happy in IT," gushed
Mrs. Warburton.
"Of course we're happy" remarked
Jessica, ungratefully, III happiness is
gained by a certain amount of materia,
comfort. We are happy as cat is hap.
py stretched before the fire. But the
nearest thing to an emotion Helen ever
experiences is when she grieves for days
over the breaking Of Belleek cup: and
as for me. the only one ever have II
when she does something more than
usually maddening and / am able to re-
lieve the mental congestion of months by
telling her In one glorious quart d'heure
what really think of her. Do. you call
that happiness?"
"She never used to talk like that" l
explained, sadly Its the effect of age
creeping on apace. I noticed 1t first
twenty-six years ago last April-a tend
ency to crabbedness and waspishness."
But Mrs Warb1rton was pursuing her
feeble interruption and leaned toward
Jessica, her brown eyes afiame.
Don't tell me-" she cried. with tragic
emphasis. that you think you'd be better
on II you were nursing dozen squalNns
The editor devoted himself hurriedly to
his ice. For an instant even Jessica was
dashed. but only for an instant.
Moo" she said consideringly. II
won't say that. I should not want Z
oArfo mi ok A,,lA
object to twelve squalling at once. But
eliminating myself from the question, /
can only say firmly believe the woman
who brings children into the world, sup
erly. and makes her husband happy, is
worth fifty independent spinsters and
their influence over young minds"
The editor applauded. for these senti-
ments were much to his liking. Mrs.
Warburton rose impulsively from the
table and walked around the dining room,
beating her hands together.
"Oh, blind. blind! she murmhred, al
most chokingly. You're. all blind. and
the blindest are those who should SET
bling block in my pathAthat can't make
the unmarried women. the professional
women. the working women, realize their
glorious freedom and opportunities. Wives
often tell me they feel their burdens;
they'd follow me II they could--lots Of
them. But you free ana childless women
each Of you. every last one Of you. have
hidden in her q sentiments tradition
for the b4lr and chain
She sank down again in her place as
she spoke, her eyes dim. In none Of us at
that moment was there the slightest doubt
Of her absolute sincerity In her grotesque
point Of view.
"What-er-is your exact idea Of the ball
and chain, Mrs. Warburton?" asked the
editor. with interest DO they represent
to you matrimony and maternity"
Mrs. Warburton Strengthened herself.
Not necessarily matrimony and ma
ternity in themselves" she told him,
composedly. but the abuses to which
they lead-the shifting of all the domestic
burdens on to the woman's shoulders. My
creed Is very simple: have set 1t forth
many times: A woman and man should
marry il they love each other. and they
should have children II they both desire
| them, and they should continue faithful
to each other But-the partnership
! woman should be as free from the re-
Sponsibility for the home and children as
the father. She should be az free as hi
Is to do her work out In the world. have
dividual life. The home making and tn,
| child training should be done by womer
hired for the purpose and who have
chosen these as their especial fields. M
intellectual woman Sn0ulQ De degraded
| by waiting on a man."
| The editor looked panied.
But IL she loves him." he objected.
| feebly.
Mrs. Warburton's voice took on its
platform note.
| 'Ah, there you are again." she cried,
| with the truly masculine theory. II she
| loves him she must wait on him.. The
| proof Of women's love. in mems eyes. IL
| servitude."
| Jessica's glance met mine, and We rose
and led the way into the drawing room.
I only the other day" murmured Mrs.
| Warburton. softly. as she walked beside
me, II saw an exquisite woman, fitted
for the highest duties. sewing buttons on
! one Of her husbands garments. I cannot
tell you how inexpressibly the sigh,
panied me-"
"Bet ut would have panied him q lot
II she hadn't sewed 'em on" murmured
the editor. sulkily. 1t was obvious that
| the conversation was getting on his
nerves. Seeing this, Jessica tactfully led
him to a little alcove, whence the smoke
of his cigar soon curled forth. Mrs
Warburton, sinking into great chair
before the open fire. surveyed 1t with q
| sternly disappearing eye.
'Oh, how can your she sighed. CHOW