Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-03-08
An Antidote
1t Was Based on the Prin.
ciple That Like Cures
Like.
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

one morning my wife received let
ter that seemed to paralyze her.
On, my goodness graciousl she ex-
claimed with a gasp.
Bottom dropped out of the universe,
dear?" asked.
Worse. Aunt Abigail will have to
live with us. She's written that her
friend with whom she has had a home
Is to give up her house the 1st of MAY.
and that throws her out. 1 am her
only relative, and, of course, she ex-
poets me to take her in
"She's bit cranky, isn't sheY'
Cranky is no name for it."
well, We'll have to make the best
of it,"
Aunt Abigail arrived. We had preyi-
ously considered our home entirely our
own. With the coming Of our relative
we saw at once that all this was chang
ed. She settled herself down with an
appearance Of permanency that made
my blood run cold.
WELL" she exclaimed, looking about
her, show did you ever come to build
this house down in hollow-it must
have been swamp once-when you
could as well have put it up on that
hill, where you could see something?"
I'VE live here winter and summer,
Aunt Abigail. Up there we would
freeze in cold weather"
Freeze! Nonsense! Some people are
always afraid they'll breathe a little
fresh air. I'm not. l sleep with my
window open, and like to have gale
blowing in right on me. You should
have fronted your house to the south"
Il can't stand this. We must get rid
Of her. said to my wife.
ITO turn her out would be awful"
''We needn't do that. We can fix it
so that she will go of her own accord"
''FOr heavens sake explain
You know the homeopathic princi-
ple-like cures like. Well, my Uncle
Robert is more disagreeable, if that is
possible, than your Aunt Abigail. He
is a dictatorial old curmudgeon, with
no respect for any ones opinion but
his own. He Is as poor as a church
mouse, living In a miserable room in a
rookery by himself. He amuses him
self abusing his neighbors from his
window and shying anything he can
get his hands on at the cats. Now, 1t
has occurred to me to bring him here
as foil for your aunt. She can't pos
sibly endure to stay in the house with
such man, and when she's gone I'll
Gv,I 30 I'D -
Perhaps they may both go to get rid
of each other"
Your plan seems rather impra ctica-
bic to me, Billy, but have good deal
of confidence in those roundabout ways
Of yours. Suppose we try it?'
So l wrote Uncle Robert offering
home temporarily and, if he liked it,
as long as he lived. He accepted eager
ly, and it was not long before he was
down upon us bag and baggage.
my dear boy" he exclaimed, pat
ting me on the back, chow you do re-
mind me of your father! He and 1
were inseparable as boys, and I've car
ried you on my shoulder often. And
to think that I'm to have home with
you! Put me anywhere. A garret is
good enough for broken down old
codger like me. Phew! Somebody's
been smoking here. Do you smoke?
How l hate tobacco! 1t makes me
sick.'
Il won't smoke any more in the house
since you've come, uncle" said.
"Oh, don't mind me. / can stand
anything; got to stand it. I've made
a dead failure of life and don't deserve
anything else. You don't mind my
opening the window, do you-just to
let the odor out?'
Fanny has bad cold, you know"
Just the thing to cure her. Let her
breathe the cool air of heaven"
Up went the window, and out OF the
room went Fanny. Half an hour after
my uncle arrived dinner was announc-
ed. l was watching our guests when
they entered the dining room. 1t was
like dog and cat at first catching
sight of each other Both seemed to
crouch for an encounter. Neither spoke
to the other for some time after taking
seats at table Then remark of I'm
Gle Roberts ruffied Aunt Abigail.
"This women's voting craze he
was beginning.
''Voting what, sir?"
"Craze, madam raising his voice.
I'm not deaf. I heard you well
enough. l object to your calling wom-
ans suffrage craze
''Are you an advocate of woman's
suffrage, MADAME?
Il most assuredly am
Il believe in any one who advocates
a principle standing by that principle
and not attempting to straddle'-
"Sir.''
THAT is, to equivOcate or knuckle
down, defending the cause with all |
his or her strength. Per contra, re-
serve the same privilege for myself
Woman's suffrage / consider the most