The Marshall republican., 1912-07-05
Complex
Problem

CIV
In a low rocker before the FIRE sat
the dostor's wife darning stockings.
Somewhere back In the room sat the
doctor, reading his Newspaper. .
The doctors wife addressed the
IRE, but the doctor answered. He
knew II was useless to try TO read
when bis wife had something OF her
mtad.
Il wonder what's going to become
Of u.s." said the doctors wife.
"of whom7" asked the doctor.
"Of us Americans"
whats the matter nowY" ques-
toned the doctor.
I'm wondering where our Ameri-
can ho~usekeepers are coming from.
This afternoon, Just as ! passed a big
once building. three girls zane out
and walked ahead OF me. You should
have seer how they dressed and
how they acted"
Young girls1"
"Of course"
well, how we're they drcssedT"
"You know. Il was the usual way
hair pulled out. short skirts. low
necks. I don't object TO all Of that.
You don't want them to dress like
back numbers. But you should have
seen their shoes and stockings"
Don't I known You needn't tell
me about the astonishing lack Of
sense that some women display"
And men. too"
"Oh. well. men. too. I suppose. But
you started the conversation about
girls"
Yes, I was going TO tell you. Those
three girls were dressed a. thin as
could be. Not one OF them had on n
wrap. and you know how cold and
damp It's been today. But that wasn't
the worst. Two bad on velvet shoes
and the other girl had on satin ones
that we're all run down at the heels
and the satin torn. All OF tho three
had on such short skirts that you
could nee their thin. fimsy silk stock
ings. In fact. ! thought had on
black and white stockings till ! nc
ticed that the white spots we're places
where the stitches had given out"
We'll. what about all that7"
II walked back OF them TO the cor
ner Of the next street. They crossed
the muddy. dirty pavement. and I
know they must have got their feet
wet. watched them for . few min
utes and saw them 90 into q cheap
ice cream parlor. and then
And then what
well. I've been thinking. How can
such girls keep house and have homes
that give n nan n chance to make
something OF himself"
They can't"
Then what's going 70 become OF us
AmericansY"
ASK the university professors. I'm
only n doctor"
"oh. I know what the university
professors say. They tell you that
u hope lies In the immigrants. the
people from the country. and all that.
But, ten "a one. these were daughters
Of immigrants or country girls them
selves"
DO you know. madam. that I sat
down here to read my newspaper"
yes. I know. But I'm thinking.
Anyway. ! didn't ask you to answer
You don't have to answer II you don't
want to. You see, ! don't believe In
darning and mending as much a. my
mother did. We don't have to. Times
are different and things don't have to
last so long; but girls should be
taught TO take ARE Of things to . rea.
sonabie extent"
The man laid down his newspaper,
"I'm surprised At you" he said.
why" e,a
Don't you know that the majority
Of people are abnormaif"
Il really never thought about that.
Maybe you're right. People arc kind
Of crazy nowadays. I believe. It's
very unstyiish to dress warm and com
Portable when the weather's cold, and
women surely r crazy about their
hats and shoes--from their heads tc
their feet"
Il tell you It's a fact" said the doc
tor. I'm not joking. Don't ! see Il in
my business every day."
IT suppose you do. Doctors ought
to understand people. II anybody does
But II we think most persons are sb
normal. what are we?' Aenisty ~
Don't know" ~
Il think we're normal"
Maybe"
Then II everybody else Is abnorma
and we are the only ones who are nor
NAL. suppose all the others thini
we're crazy"
Maybe we are"
Well" said the doctors wife, slow
ly. after thinking It over. ''you ma,
be. but ! know I'm not-'LChioagl
Daily News.
Dangerous Reptiles.
Contrary To the beliaf NJ mat DNC