Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-18
Comb Honey
By EDWARD BLACK.

Henry Leffingwell was sitting in a
quiet sector of his habitat, muslng on
the time when he returned home for
the first time with a new set of teeth.
He recalled that he felt like digging
himself in to avoid the scrutiny of
some of the neighbors, who were al
ways ready to abandon their essen
tial activities to discuss the comings
and goings of their communal asso-
ciates.
He decided he would take the fam
lily for a picnic, and he convinced his
conscience that out-of-door prandial
functions were not in the category of
onessentials. He summoned the
members of the family to appear in
his presence forthwith, while he an
nounced the eventful time and place.
Mrs. Leffingwell could not read in
the light of her Henry's face just
what might have been in his mind.
She could not recall any domestic in
advertence, which would warrant
chastisement from the inside Office.
She had placed Henry's coffee on
the righthand side at the table and she
had set the alarm clock and had
otherwise contributed to the social
welfare of the house. What direful
prospect impended, she asked her
self, as she remembered that during
the day she spilled the salt which
she regarded as an omen of adverse
happenings.
Choke With Emotion.
"The Lefingwells are going to
have picnic and we are going to
invite the neighbors," announced the
guardian of the Lefingwell dormitory.
An air of fnaity flashed across his
face, as if he had~ said something
worth hearing. Mrs. Leffingwell and
the children looked at their leader
with mute admiration. They did not
know just what to say to adequately
rise to the occasion. Willie wanted
to say: "Pa. you have said a mouth
full" but he did not say it. Mrs. Lef-
fngwell almost choked with emotion,
while Mary was inclined to make
leap to the top of the piano in her
Yes, we are going to. have a pic
MIC" Leffingwell repeated, leaving no
doubt in the minds of his subjects as
to the full import of his original
declaration.
Did you say that we are going to
have "a picnic!" Willie inquired,
I'VE must rningle more with our
fellow beings lest we get into a men,
tal rut. We must appreciate the
value of mass psychology, the bene-
hts OF the common touch with our
neighbors, and there is no better way
IN which to get out and know each
other than at picnic" Lefingwell
continued in his philosophy of the
picnic.
Are you going to invite Mrs.
What's -HerName" Mrs. Lefing-
we'll asked, wondering what sort of
mass psychology this neighbor wo-
nan would contribute to the ensem-
,le. She wondered whether Mrs.
What's -Her-Name would chatter
bout cher man," and whether she
would pick the other women to pieces.
She had vivid recollections of how
his woman maintained a five-foot
mental library of the genealogical his
ory of everybody in her block.
Spirit of Homogeneousness.
We will issue general call of the
leighborhood, because this will be a =
democratic affair, representative of
he Lefingwell spirit of homogene-
,usness," Lefingwell went on, while =
Willie got out the family dictionary
Ind Mary raised window.
Lefhngwell retired to the kitchen,
where he gathered up lot of proven
Ter which he started to prepare for
he outing. He was busy making
sandwiches when his wife appeared on
he scene with a quizzical look.
Henry Lefingwell, you rescutting
hose sandwiches as large as a cows
oot," was the censorious comment of
he charge d'affaires' of the Lefing-
velfkitchen.
There you are again, Sarah Lef-
ingwell, always finding fault with
what others are doing. I believe the
,eSt thing you could do would be to
10 this work yourself and then per-
laps you would be satisfied" he re-
orted gingerly.
At this juncture Mrs. Whats-Her-
Name hoated in like a breeze from
somewhere. She looked over the sit
lation and airily suggested that the
-efingwells might be picnic bound.
Mrs. Leffingwell told her that Henry
-efhngwell had promoted the happy
lffair and then proceeded to descant
lpon the prodigality of Henry's sand
vich making.
II just think that you have one of
he most thoughtful husbands in the
world. II my man should suggest
picnic / would not know how to act.
He is too lazy to suggest anything
except that | shall make some cold
emonade every evening. And what
,ome-like sandwiches, they are so
I just know that your man
made them, because none other than
man with a large heart would cut
with such liberality," Mrs.
What SIBERIAN remarked.
Mrs. Lefingwell retired from the
sitchen, leaving Henry in full charge.
She began to think that, after all, per-
laps Leffingwell had larger cardiac
.egion than she had believed.
Say. pa, do you believe in mass
Willie asked as he ap-
,eared in the kitchen and observed
lis sire busy with the picnic propa-
yanda.
Il know that I have the best hus-
,and in this block" Mrs. Lefingwell
old Mrs. What's-Her-N Name as the y
vain parted after a confidential chat.
mounted an a snrin rhnard at the 16-