Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-12-28
A Common
Sense Decision
The Story of One Born to
Society
BY MARTHA v. MONROE


|. ;. \ :. !: !.
David Bartlett, from the day he be-
gan TO talk, showed that he would be
a sufferer. AS soon as he grew old
enough to be taught anything his par
ents made every effort to overcome
blemish that was sure to seriously in
terfere with his career. But despite
the fact that they placed him under
the care of various persons who pre-
tended to be able to cure him. the de-
feet remained.
The greater the loss from an imper-
lection the more aggravating the case.
From early boyhood David gave prom
Use of future prominence could he be
freed from his unfortunate impedi-
ment In schools he showed an orig
inality that surprised his teachers. In
college it was admitted that were he
able to speak easily he would be
leader in debate. He made one at
tempt to address his fellow students,
but so lamentable was his failure that
he never tried again. On graduating
he was assigned one of the principal
parts because he was entitled to the
honor. but the college authorities well
knew that his defect would compel
him to decline it.
BY this time Bartlett was a man
among men and received from them
the fOrbearance and sympathy due
him. In his childhood it had been diff
ferent. Children who do not realize
the miSfOrtuneS of others are cruel to
one another. From the time David
was old enough to have playmates he
received now and again jests and
laughter upon his misfortune Boys
are more unsparing of one another
than girls, and, though David's imme-
diate companions learned to pass his
defect unnoticed, no sooner was he
thrown in with Il strange boy than his
first failure of utterance was received
with laughter.
This drove him from playmates of
his own sex. and, being a boys boy, he
did not care to be relegated to the
companiOnship of girls. There was
one girl however, whom he favored
because she was not favored by girls
of her own age. Mildred Swayne suf
fered from Il misfortune similar to
that of David Bartlett. She was born
with contraction of Certain muscles
of the face which. when she was
pleased or amused. brought a cOntor-
ton instead of a smile
Those persons who have similar de-
fects are apt to Shun one another.
The reason for this may be more cas-
lily understood than expressed. 1t is
enough to say that it springs from
SenSitiveneSS. David must have over
come this sensitiveneSS so far as Mil
dred was concerned. At any rate he
rose above it and showed his sympa-
thy for her by juvenile attention to
her He was not ashamed in chill
dren's gatherings to pair off with her.
though he knew that his doing so sub
jected him and her to being considered
two unfOrtunates whom others would
standing her boy friends impeachment,
was very proud of his attentions and
always stopped him for chat when
they met
Nowhere do we find more pure self
| ishness than in that society which con-
siders itself the elite and into which
| those who are without its pale are
| striving to enter FavOrS are not be-
slowed simply from liking or admira-
ton. but for an expected return, the
returns usually being invitations. Da
| vid Bartlett was not in a position at
| the age of twenty-five to entertain his
| friends. He was also handicapped by
| his speech impeachment. Nothing re-
manned but intellectual and moral
| worth. a very poor stock with which
| to shine in what is called society.
| David'S parents had occupied Il social
| position in their younger days and eX
| pectcd him to do the same. His man
| ner would have entitled him to such
| even without his briliancy, but he
| found that his inability to return ia
| vOrS gave those who were really his
| interiors an advantage over him. and
his defect of speech caused him to be
| stunned wherever it was possible
| without gross rudenesS. Therefore,
! Notwithstanding the desire of his
mother that he should occupy that So
cial position to which he was born, he
one day resolved that he would not
|
| function.
David disappeared from society with
out being missed Indeed, his drop
| ping out was rather a relief to ladies
who were old friends of his mother
and who felt obliged to invite him to
their houses. This is not surprising.
Charity there is in the world. but there
is always a well defined dividing line
between it and sacrifice Soon after
David began to decline invitations he
| disappeared from the scenes of his
childhood and youth and was forgot
ten by all except his parents, a few
intimate friends and Mildred Swayne,
who. having finished her education for
a teacher. entered upon her duties in
| a grammar school
"Oh, heavens" exclaimed a girl at
an evening social function. there's
that David BARTLETT I haven't met
him anywhere in an age. l must slip
out or III have to speak to him. and
y do I shall have to endure him for
the whole evening unless some one
comes up to take me away from him
Its two years since he left home.
1 understand that he has been cured
| of his St,1ttorinr"