Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-19

CThe customer is seated on cha1r in front of the mirror in a millinery shop. Her husband is poised, as though meditating flight, upon the extreme edge of a chair at her left A perfect 36" saleswonan is ad- justing a gayly decorated hat as a coquettiSh angle on the customers head. The customer addresses the badgered creature at her left hand as she turns and twists her head in her effort to get different views of her self in the mirror).
 "Now, Henry, dear, I want you to tell me just exactly what you think. I don't want you to take my feelings into consideration at all. All l want is your frank, honest opinion. Do you or do you not think this hat Is suit able and becoming?
 Now, Henry, if you speak in that perfunctory way I shall know that you're saying you like it merely be- cause you think I'll buy it if you say you like it, but you're quite mistaken if you do that. For you know, Henry, that know you too well-and besides think it's very i'll judged thing for you to do because if I should buy it and then we both hated it.
 No, my dear, I didp't say that you ever did exactly say you hated any of my hats. but can always tell from your expression how you feel about things, and it would really be a re- lief to me if you would come right out and say what you think.
 But, Henry, really I don't see how you can be so cold and indifferent. That's what is so hard for me to bear. If you only seemed to care at all-if you would just say. That's wh& l wanted you to come with me to-Hay. It was only that I wanted you to be pleased, Henry. I wanted to be sure | to get something that you really like Now, Henry, I think that's posi- | you look at the matter from a purely selfish point of view, you must real l ize that it makes a great deal more | difference to you than it can possibly make to me, for I'll have the hat on | you know, and really won't have to | look at it at all, you might. say, while | you'll have it staring you in the face. | Now, Henry, dear, I'm sure I'm | asking very little, indeed. All I want l is that you should take the most cas- ual interest in the subjec: merely l want you to tell me in just a few
 words-I think if you'd just come
 around to this side and look at it-
 But, Henry dear, it looks entirely I different from this side. Pm quite
 sure if you would just step around l for moment
 | Henry, it would be the greatest
 comfort to me if you would stop look
 ing so uncomfortable and come around 1 here and give me your real opinion | Of course, the women are looking at youl What else did you expect? Wo-
 men will look at anything. Why can't you manage to look simply dignified land-and-aloof?
 "Henry( really, dear, I think it's most pathetic that I have to beg you | almost on my knees like this to take | an interest in such a simple thing as my hat. It's positively ungratefuI oi you when you know what an absorb ing interest I take in yours. Why last summer when you had that aw- full hat that made you look like a | Hindu idol, I never gave you a mo- | mentS peace until you gave it to the
 janitor. Even you won't attempt tC
 deny that I made you utterly wretch
 ed every minute that you insisted up
 on wearing it.
 'Yes. I know you'd like it I'm sure
 you nearly drove me frantic by in
 sisting that it was the most comfort.
 able hat you ever had. You didn'
 seem to appreciate in the least how
 Srotesque you looked and I suppose
 you'd be wearing it yet if I hadn't | Henry, I'm quite sure from the way
 you look that you don't want me tC
 buy this hat
 But, Henry, if you won't say wheth, CT you like it or not, what can dC
 but take 1t for granted that you don | AAFNS T.. III sure Ne gwen yOu eN'
 cry chance to express an opinion. Do you know, Henry, I'm not st sure that I like it very we'll myself } Now watch, while I turn very slowly l It seems to me-now, Henry, tell, me , do you think it looks entirely suitable Do you think it looks a little, just
 very little, perhaps, too youthful? Well, Henry, really, I hardly thinl it was necessary or nice of you t come right out and say so. I assur you I could tell from your expression all along what you thought, and l should think you would have had suf ficient regard for my feelings not t
 have come out, and put it in so man, plain words
 Well, never mind, dear I woul not consider buying it for an instan 3 now. You know perfectly that 3 there's anything I loathe utterly it's