The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1914-01-06

platitude.
Mrs. Airlie's eyes sparkled with sat
isfaction as she leaned back in her
chair
1--WE long wanted to talk upon that
subject" she remarked. ut was nice
OF you to lead up to it so soon"
80 soon?" echoed her companion
blankIy.
Yes. It was bound to come sooner
or later, OF course"
WHY" demanded the major, hope
lessly puzzled
Because It's stock masculine re-
mark
Come now, | think It's generally
admitted" he returned with a tolerant
smile.
you mean it's generally asserted.
and that's very different thing" re-
turned Mrs. Airlie, with spirit.
Mrs. Airlie's expression as she CLAN
ced at him was inscrutable. She was
a charming woman, even IL she did
intend for her own satisfaction to con-
tinue TIE train of thought which his
guilelesE remark had started. you
must let me talk about It," she urged,
with her prettiest smile, because
you've really interested me in the sub
iect now
And the major succumbed patiently.
and assumed an attentive attitude.
Let me see, where was II" con-
tinued Mrs. Airlie ooh, yes! Well
now that sense Of humor isn't con-
sidered unfeminine. women have gone
as usual to the other extreme. just as
they tear themselves to pieces over
hockey and football, and all the other
horrid games they play.
Surely a sense OF humor is less
dangerous than hockey?" inquired her
guest, whose views were conserva-
tive
''In moderation-yes But women
are never moderate. They are taking
to humor madly. sayagely. inhuman-
ly. It's becoming with them sort OF
dry-rot, that's eating up their brains
and their hearts. It's fashion, a
craze. pose-and a very bad one"
What horrible state OF things"
murmured the major
MIRA. Airlie laughed Please let me
exaGgerate," she exclaimed III l
must be 4 women. it's hard that /
mayn't do a simple thing like that!
I'm not talking ABOUT. the ordinary az
ery4dny woman, of coprGe She has no
sense Of humor, and never had. But
then, neither has the ordinary every
day man
You see, in a scheme Of serious
ness, men And place. They, too. are
taken seriously, and that from every
point OF view Is so advisable. Men
don't like to be taken humorousIy II
annoys them. Their sense OF humor
very wisely stops short at them.
selves"
Major Burke looked at her suspi- |
ciously 81 believe you've got it," he
exclaimed. abiding thus fearfully to
the new disease.
How can you be so unkind" she
protested meekly. I'm speaking about
clever women"
fNnaih hN 5NNt nEA gu UNEASY
glance, but before he could collect las !
thoughts he discovered that she was
talking about Jane Austen.
ITS the Jane Austen type OF mind |
that's being cultivated by the clever
women nowadays" she said "A dry |
Witty Unconditional way OF looking a.
life is the correct thing. Ideals are
childish, enthuslssms absurd love a
folly at which to sheer Why. it's Gre
ating new type OF face" she de-
clared. Look round; look at some |
OF the women in this very room-the
women who have passed their first |
youth There's a new sort of moutt-
a hooking. ironical mouth. There are
new eyes-hard bright amused eyes
The very way they walk, the very |
way they carry their heads"
81 know what you mean" inter |
posed the major. intelligently, and |
quite agree hate that kind OF thing |
Give me gentle, sympathetic woman
I don't care twopencs about her
brains"
Precisely" said Mrs Airlie |
That's the trouble But II she's got
them" Her eyes once more travelled |
round the smoklng-room. Poor wo-
mani" she suddenly exclaimed. Il
dare say a sense OF humor helps her
through better than any other sort OF
armor after all She's quite right It's
the best way" she added deelsiyely
leaving the major gasping lie had
yet 20 learn that HOman's logic Is as
eorspicuoos as hcr sense of humpr