Evening journal., 1917-03-21
TIMELY TALKS
MOLLIE AND Rob DISCUSS THE HIGH COST OF LYING

Bob" said Mollie, solemnly, I.
want $3.50. please"
Bob started perceptibly and looked
up quickly from his evening paper.
lie tried not 10 appear startled as he
stammered:
"W-w-what for. HUMP"
Mollie smiled TO herself al the very
solemn and almost frightened look on
Bobs face.
why. I Want TO 60 to market to-
morrow morning. dear she said. at
the same time squeezing herself into
the big reading chair beside him, and
looking up al him with laughing eyes.
You see," she went on. very SOL
emnly and counting on her fingers as
she talked, Il want TO buy a porter
house steak, a slice OF veal outlet. two
pounds OF sugar. a head OF lettuce,
some celery. three onions, a few po-
tatoes and ono or two other little
things. and ! want TO be sure that
take enough money with mo"
Rob laughed spontaneously. 80
that's the game, is it?" he asked
Mollie nodded Then suddenly be-
coming very serious. she said Really.
Bob. marketing these days is almost
as serious a proposition as deciding
whether or not TO fight Germany. And
that reminds me- We had a most in
teresting meeting AT the club today
Honestly, It was too interesting for
words"
rs that so?" asked Bob. well. tell
me some gossip. do and he smiled
down indulgently upon the little fg-
ure squeezed in the chair beside him
"Moaneyi reproved Mollie. giving
him playful punch: then added
/ loftily: You men make me tired.
/ just reckon we women have as
weighty problems 10 solve as YOU
have And now. mister, I don't in
I tend TO tell you single, solitary
! thing, although II was awfully in
teresting, and know you'd just love
TO hear about IT," she concluded
Bob glanced slyly At his wife and
smiled
"Why, OF course. Hun 7 was only
/ fooling. We men would hardly know
how TO get along without your clubs.
We'd never get invited to hear Janet
Richards or asked 10 make addresses
IL Il weren't for YOU all. But. come
dear. tell me the weighty problem
which you discussed today"
We'll 10 you really want to know. "
said Mollie, I'VE talked about the high
cost Of living" Then. becoming en-
thusiastic. she burst out, And you
know, Bob. It is outrageous the prices
We housewives have 10 pay for things.
and no self-respecting housewife
should put up with IL another day. 7
! said as much at the meeting this
morning. too" she added, somewhat
Bob smiled. $50 your discussion
had 10 do with the II. c. L., did it?'
Did it?" she repeated. with blazing
ewes. We'll 7 should Just say 1t did.
why we talked and talked and talked
about t. Mrs. Stetson. you know the
woman whose husband is president Of
something OF other, well, she and a
Miss Sylvester, the home economics
expert. and oh, ] don't know. a lot
of others. all got up and expressed
their opinions about the awful prices
which peopla are paying, and most OF
us agreed that il was outrageous and
that something ought TO be done
about IT.
"Well. what did you all decide to
do7 Boycott the market" asked Bob.
with true masculine foresight born OF
quick decisions.
"N-n-no." said Moilie; I'VE didn't
really decide 10 do anything"
"Umph!" said Bob, putting az his
pine Just like lot OF women;
they're always ready to talk but they
don't very often do anything"
well. you men needn't talk.
don't see YOU doing anything so very
wonderful except plunging the coun-
try into war" Mollie blazed out indig-
nantly
"Now don't get hufy, little girl, :"
said Bob quietly. 'T admit masculine
faults are numerous, far more so. in
iac'' than feminine ones are. but at the
same time there is lot which vou
Women ~ can do if you will Just hand
ourselves together into one body and