The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-13


were an immaculate cloth. the white
and gold china, a platter Of pink boiled
ham from the store, a dish of store
pickles, another dish of timed baked
beans, a glass dish of canned peaches
from the store, some OF Mrs. Smiths
delicious graham bread and plate Of
cake that was undeniably Mrs. Smiths
production.
James washed his face and hands
and brushed his hair; then he sat
glumly down TO supper. Mrs. Gray
had put away the pamphlet and was
sitting behind the teapot when he en-
tered.
There were only two of them, for
their daughter. Annibel, was married
and lived across the way with her
husband, Oscar Wren.
Good breadw muttered James dark
ly, as he helped himself to a second
slice.
Isn't it," asked his wife eagerly.
Lizzie Smith can make the best bread
in town."
"She can hold the championship so
long as none of the other women COM
pete with her." limited James mo-
rosely.
Mrs. Gray regarded her husband with
calm surprise.
when Alonzo expressed his opinion Of
the Ladies' Suffrage society?" she asked
curiously.
Susie PiHkham been here?" he coun-
tered.
"WhyT
"Oh, recognize the signs. Please
pass me some of Mrs. Smiths cake"
he said pleasantly.
Mrs. Gray frowned and was silent
during the remainder of the meal.
After supper James put on his coat
and went to the lodge meeting. Mrs.
James put on her hat and went to a
special meeting of her society.
Three weeks later Alonzo Dibble
entered his store one evening and
found his plump little wife in posses
sion of the bookkeeper's desk.
Where's Ida Jones" asked Alonzo.
II sent her home-paid her Off and
discharged her." responded his wife,
making an entry In the daybook and
carefully blotting 1t. I've got plenty
of time TO do this work"
what? You r've up that fool soci-
| ety." demanded AiOnzo.
mo. can do both n you don't both
er me by talking too much." she smiled
mt him.
"Oh. / amt got any time to talk" he
said hastily. You know I've got my
hands full looking after this store. You
can't do more'n one thing at time,"
he added as he moved away.
Mrs. Dibble looked at the three clerks
nimbly waiting on customers. She
glanced at the stableman standing by
the barn door She thought of herself
in the bookkeeper's cage, and little
smile curled her LIP.
"AlonZo certainly has plenty of help, y
she unused. dipping her pen I'm the ink.
For number Of weeks Alonzo Dib-
BILE was silent on the question Of wo
mems votes. He noticed that Mrs
Smith omitted her usual order fol
-four, and he told his clerks that she
was probably buying from his com
petitor.
On the tables of the members Of the
suffrage society continued to appear
delicious home baked bread, toothsome
pies and cakes, and the town rang
with the praises accorded Mrs. Del
Smith as a model wife and mother and
gave credit to the fact that she was
not member of the society.
"a woman can't be a good wife and
mother and tend to her baking and
brewing and do mems voting toow de
clared Alonzo Dibble to his usual audi
ence.
From the back door leading to his
house came the calm voice of AlonzC
Dibble's wife. Behind her, twenty
strong, were the members of the SO
ciety.
"Fiddlesticksp' said Mrs. Dibble
Just because q man can't attend t.
more than one thing at a time it's M
indication that a woman may not b.
able to do two or three things well!'
prove itw barked Alonzo. Jus
look at all Mrs. Smiths bread ant
cake and pies we've been eating, al
because our wives amt got time to d.
II and run their blamed old society
Poohw
A ripple of feminine laughter came
from the back door.
you tell them, Mrs. Smith," urged
Mrs. Gray's voice.
well" began Mrs. Dell Smith IL
her brisk manner, "I'll confess
haven't done any baking for any on,
outside my family for over thre'
weeks. If you men folks have enjoyed
your bread and cake and pies l guess
it's all to the credit OF your wives.
think they patronized my home cook
ing more to help me pay or the mort
gage than anything else" Her voic,
broke, and she hid herself among he
friends.
Mrs. Dibble finished the argument.
$50 you see" she said, "the womeI
of Roseville can attend to their house
keeping, do their sewing and bak
their own bread and organize a SUI
frage society and vote when the TIN
comes"
Alonzo Dibble was filing glasse
with sweet cider.
Let US drink to the success Of tn
Ladies' Suffrage society,"" he said sol
EMMY.
And so ended the discussion o
loaves and ladies, it having been prov
ca that the ladies were quite capabl