Norwich bulletin., 1912-08-10
MRS. WOODBURY'S PREJUDICES

(Written Specially for The Bulletin.)
 We are told we should never be con- trolled by prejudices but always re- member the greatest good for the greatest number. Ali else is selfish ness. Please tell me what prejudice is Often it seems only a well-formed opinion based on what appears to be logical reasoning. It is hard to lay such aside for fear of being termed selfish. For instance, the 1dler has a prejudice against the smell of crude oil or tarvia, and when that odor greeted her a few mornings since, she knew that the streets in her vicinity were receiving a coat of tar, but @ knowledge of it's benefit to the commit nity at large was not equal to the de- mand made upon it, and l am really afraid she was ruled by selfishness. Only short time before the air had been so pure and fragrant with the perfume of the nearby honeysuckle vine, 1t was surely disagreeable to ex- change it for the pungent. overpuw- ering smell from the street dressing. How, l should like to know, is my pet humming bird, daily visitor to the honeysuckle, to know where to find his breakfast? That long bill of his is plunged deep into each fragrant cup until the entire vine has been rifled of it's sweets. But they tell us the re- pulsive odor from the street is not an unhealthy smell, and that the mix ture is used for good reasons and for the best good of all, and that it is sell fish to make any such matter a grievance.
 Prejudices, we are assured, make people forgetful of the rights and pleasures of others. That last state ment I beg leave to contradict, for my friend and lifelong acquaintance, Mrs. Woodbury, was a person of strong prejudices, and not selfish thread in her entire makeup. Her pre-con- ceived opinions on prejudices, if you will, were always such as resulted in a kindness done to some one else less favored than herself
 I've a prejudice against baker S cake" she would say, "so I've brought you some of my own, which I made this morning" Don't you like home made pickles? I must be prejudiced, for I do not like those obtained in the market" and a bottle of her own preparation is left in my hand Come to my summer home in the woods for the coming week, I'd love dearly to have you come! Every one is run ming to the seashore, but 1 like the in land country better All a prejudice on my part, 1 suppose" Nothing sell fish about all these things, 1 am sure.
 She was always accusing herself of being governed by her likes and dis likes and considered herself unrea- sonable in that respect, but declared she couldn't help it and that she was too old to change. Her niece, Madeline Moves, who lived with her, declared that she thought her aunt needed no change in that direction, and the lady'E many friends fully agreed with Made line.
 Madeline had been brought to her present home when a mere infant and there she had remained. All her life had been shielded from hardship and surrounded with all things desirable for her happiness, and had developed into a charming young woman, we'll educated and devoted to the aunt whose loving care had provided for her during all these years. The girl had shown unusual musical ability and