The herald., 1912-09-19
Cyniic and
Siren

earnestly for some moments, finally
came to a stop and looked at the
Siren expectantly.
after ALL" she murmured dreamily,
what is lover"
Lover" repeated the Cynic vaguely.
ooh, love-love 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 spasm round the
heart"
I'm afraid you really are a Cynic,"
said the Siren regretfully.
"a Cynic," said he gloomily, 'is 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
love?"
THAT" sighed the Cynic, "is 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.
"Ah, but 1t is. Though ignorance
may be bliss, when 1t becomes knowl-
edge it's tragedy"
But knowledge" argued the Siren.
SIS 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 said the Siren
pathetically. Il wish you wouldn't
be. You're so deep, it's like talking
to a coal mine"
There was silence for q few mo-
ments.
you haven't given me my answer
yet" urged the man.
I'm trying to think Of It," answered
the woman.
IF one only knew what love vast"
said the Siren plaintively. Does it
lead to a union Of hearts or dissolu-
ton Of marriage?"
Neither" replied the Cynic. Love
is footpath leading to everywhere;
or, If you prefer 1t, 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, them" 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 I know
everything"
Him." said the Siren doubtfully.
well, let's take marriage.
Had we got as far as marriage?"
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. OF 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-
f1ectively, that marriages are made
in heaven; I'm afraid they're mostly
made for export, though"
"On the contrary" objected the
Cynic, "all true marriages are lived In
heaven"
"But marriage is $3.50 definite, |"
she said nervously; zone word, and
snap-it's just trap"
quite as often it's the bait"
do you think SO? Why is It PEG.
pie do marryf"
"The modern GIRL" said the Cynic
living up to his reputation, appears
to marry because she wants to learn
how to cook; the young man because
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 both
doomed to Disappointment; in a few
months it's the man who gets taken
care Of, and the woman who gets the
respect"
DO you mean," demanded the Siren,
that a woman never respects her hus.
band?"
mot II she loves HIM"
"Not?" Her voice became almost
shrill. mot, did you say?"
Eyes. A woman may sometimes
love. or sometimes respect her hus.
band, but she can't do both. It is
weakness We love, strength we only
respect. 1t is one Of the compensa.
lions Of nature that the weakline
should love everything in the fight
OF life-except the one thing worth
winning. The strong man may found
a nation, but not a family; may de
fend million hearths, but never one
OF his own. To one, the sweetness OF
defeat; to the other, the bitterness OF
victory"
There was silence for a moment.