Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-07-30
What Other
People Do

Woman in Gray-Please do not call
them my friends. I think so much OF
that word that hate to hear it used
in such connection. Wasn't It dread
full? You know, they say that he spec
ulated terribly And really believe
she knew all about 1t all the time.
Would you believe 1t? She is such
smiling creature! Here's Mrs.
Prentice.
Mrs. Prentice-How do you both do?
Ny only reason for coming to teas
like this is to get chance to see my
friends. Nobody ever calls any more.
Or, at least, nobody ever comes to my
house. I'll wager cooky that you
were talking about the Burrs. Do you
know, Pm not surprised bit. I've
said SO right along. Why, Mr.. Burr
used to sit on the porch without col
lar on! He did! You can ask any
body. And the tales they tell! Dear
me, wouldn't repeat them for mil
lions of dollars, even to dear friends
like you Her hats!
Woman in Brown never knew her,
but when / moved into this neighbor-
hood first was told about the woman
who wore the queer hats.
Woman in Blue-Oh, yes, indeed.
Why, she never seems to consult the
fashions at all. Just wears what she
thinks Is becoming, that's all, and it's
always the same sort Of hat every sea-
son. l don't wonder that her husband
got tired Of her.
Woman in Gray-They say that
when the Diapers moved away You
could have taken wagonload of rub.
bish out of their basement alone. They
didn't pretend to clean things up. The
janitor told me he meyer had SO much
work. He wouldn't come up and do
anything for me until offered him
double the usual amount because he
was so tired carting out the trash.
Woman In Brown-They threw away
such good things. too. Ny little boy
found lots Of things to play with there
Ian almost good egg beaten, a flower
pot and lot Of other things. They
were both of<them SO extrayagant!
I Mrs. Prentice-Oh, dreadfully. But
even they did not hold candle to
that young widow on our street, Mrs.
Duvall.
Woman in Blue-Is she widowf ]
was wondering.
Mrs. Prentice-She said SO. That's
all know about It.
Woman in Gray-You can't tell by
what people say about themselves.
Isn't she just back from the westl
Reno or somewhere?
Mrs Prentice-She has niece out
west whom she was visiting, SO she
says.
Woman in Brown-It must be con-
venient to have relatives all over the
country that way.
Woman in Blue-Aren't you dread.
full? That makes me think. ! saw
Miss Lane downtown Monday. She al
ways goes down bargain days, you
know. She was in the tea room.
couldn't see that she had anything but
toast and tea. SO wondered whether
she had lost her position again. She
said that she had headache.
Woman in Brownie. she resigned
this time. She's going to be married.
Mrs. Prentice-How romantic!
Woman In Brown-No. 1t isn't bit
romantic. It's man she has known
for years and they're Just making up
an old quarrel. suppose she thinks
he's better than nothing now. Do try
one Of these little cakes. They are
positively the worst tasting things
ever knew.
Woman in Blue-They never have
anything very good to eat here. II
Isn't worth coming far for. You'll no
tice that every body here has come
from just around the neighborhood.
Woman In Gray-She calls 1t a neigh.
borhood party. believe. Is that Miss
Vance over there? How thin she is!
Why hasn't somebody taught her to
hold her shoulders back 20 that she
won't look 80 dreadfully awkward?
Mrs. Prentice-That makes me think
Of your aunt.
Woman In Gray-My aunt Is not
awkward. assure you she IL quite
graceful.
Mrs. Prentice-Oh. my dear. you
misunderstood me. meant the shawl
that woman over there is wearing
white crepe, isn't III What Is your
aunt busy with now? She Is always
doing something Interesting.
Woman in Gray--She has been work.
ing on our family tree and has only q
few more branches to look up, She
has been reading me some old letters
written from small towns over hun.
dred years ago.
Woman in Blue-They must be in.
teresting.
Woman in Gray-They are. But you
have no idea how narrow people were
then.
Woman In Blue-They were dread.
fully narrow. Yes, indeed. And SO
petty,
Woman in Gray--Oh, yes. And SO
critical! How they picked people to
pieces and criticised them! Dreadful!
Woman in Brown-Oh. indeed. yes.
Nothing was too severe for people to
say behind other peoples backs.
Mrs Prentfce--Oh NV daars aren't