The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-25
BOWSER SLIPS up
He Starts to Shear Mrs. Bowser, But
Is Shofn.


forty.
A second party had told him that
he was being mentioned as a candi-
date for the next governor.
A third party had mysteriously
limited about q certain cabinet posi-
ton at Washington, and:
A fourth had asked him why he
didn't write book and title it: The
Life of Mr.. Bowser."
Each of the four had borrowed a
couple of dollars on the strength OF
their flattery. but 1t had been balm
to him nevertheless.
He had an important air as he
reached home, and Mrs. Bowser real
lied that she must be on her guard.
It was with much hesitation. when
dinner had been finished that she
said:
ut has been about three months
since we were at the theater, and
didn't know but what you'd want to
go this evening"
ut is very kind and thoughtful Of
you to suggest it," he replied, but
have made other arrangements for
this evening""
Are you going out to club?"
"No I am going to sit here and
play schoolteacher to you"
But thought your school days
were over"
he got his cigar alfght, ''the ignorance
of the average woman on some mat
tiers is an awful thing to contemplate.
You are no exception. As the days go
by 1 am more and more astonished
at your ignorance, not to use q harsh
er name for it,
what is that am ignorant about?"
she asked.
ITO begin with. the globe on which
you live. You have been told that this
is globe suspended in space. but
that is all you know about it. 1t is
simply a great big chunk Of real es-
tate to you. If was in such dense
ignorance on this vital subject as you
are would not talk about the theater.
Here is a mighty world. 1t has passed
through mighty changes, and mighty
changes are to come. Its history Is
SO stupendous that men are awed as
they realize it, and yet If you find
sale of 5O-cent stockings marked
down to rs cents the event is greater
thing to you than the age OF the
earth!"
.Of course, am sorry for the de-
partment store when they get hard
up and have to mark their goods
down, and 1 feel 1t my duty to go
down and buy and help them avoid
bankruptcy, but when went to school
1 learned something about geology"
You have never spoken to me
about it before, and can hardly
credit it, We will soon see whether
you did or did not. / propose to de-
vote an hour or SO this evening to the
subject, and I wish you to pay close
attention"
Mrs. Bowser at once realized what
| had happened. Mr.. Bowser had picked
| up a work on geology somewhere,
| SKINNED over a few pages and then
made ready to crush her. She fold
ed her hands for the crushing, though
| had he taken notice Of the faint smile
at the corners Of her mouth he would
have looked ahead for squalls.
mo, them" he said, as he swelled
out his chest and got ready, Il sup
| pose you know that there were several
| periods during the formation. OF this
earth?"
Il had heard that there were"
There were four ages"
Five. Mr.. Bowser."
What. I say there were four ages
the silurian, the devonian, the car
boniferous and the reptilian."
And you add to that the mann
malian."
MADAM, do you in your total ignor-
ance of geology, assume to contradict
me?"
/ Il. won't contradict you." she re-
piled, "but I will prove that you are
wrong. We have a work in the IL
brary There have been. four periods
of time, but five ages. Just wait a
minute and 1 will get the book.
was looking at 1t only the other day.
You need get no book. When my
word don't settle a case OF geology its
time to STOP And what were you do
ling with a book on geology instead
of looking after your house? ?"
Trying to educate myself. Mr.
Bowser. a few minutes ago you were
complaining of the ignorance Of my
sex
She had boxed him up. and he real
lied 1t, and took It out in glaring al
her for a minute before he said:
1T Is just barely possible that there
was brief period called tho mann
lmalian period, but It couldn't have
Iamounted to much. It was probably
the period between the huckleberry
and the alligator. OF course. you
ldon't have the slightest idea what TIN
FIRST age was? How should q woman
who Is gadding about after bar.
Igains?"
THE first il known as the age Of
mollusk. and there were two eras In 1t
the lower and upper siluriAn-"
"But-but what business have yot
to know IT." demanded Mr.. Bowsel