New-York tribune., 1919-07-26
A Perfectly Regulated
Family
To the Editor Of The Trihuna

Sir: I am writing you in regard n
cartoon that appeared in your paner =.
Wednesday, July %. l reside in sr.n
suburban town not far from New yorl
purposeiy selected quiet and select stree.
upon which to build my home, having tirea
Of the frivolity of the city and its peon,.
who seemed only to care for foolish amuss.
ments. 1t was with great Joy that ,s-
moved myself and my wife to the cuietnes.
and peace Of the country, for I felt tb..
even she showed signs of wishing n IN
dulge in idle pleasures
Shortly after settling in the little tovr
l, of course, joined a church, and was asked
to speak in meeting. This was deIeh,aa
to do, choosing for my subject "The Frivol-
tiles Of the Present Age" | took naios -
impress upon my hearers the great beap.v
of we'll ordered life utterly free from
idle pleasures. | handled my subject with
great skill and at some length. SPEAKING
steadily for one hour. l could tell by tho
exchanged looks and mods among thoss
present that I had made deep imnres-
sion on them, and left the meeting mildly
eiated. 1t seems strange that none of tha
congregation has called to thank me for
my helpful words, but until this morning
have noticed certain careful restraint of
manner that is most becoming whenever
have mingled with them. say until this
morning.
1t is my custom to take the s:07 train
to the city. l avoid the smoking-car. As
do not smoke, and the smell Of tobacco
nauseates me. | am also annoyed in NV
reading Of the daily paper by the noise Of
boisterous men, a great many Of whom play
cards. But this morning failing TO reach
the station at the proper time, ! was
obliged to run for the last car. which. q.
you know, is the smoking car | found an
empty seat near the door and sat down in
1t. A Mr.. q need not mention his
name) came and sat beside me ] noticed
that he had purchased a copy Of your
paper, The Tribune. | will stat here tha.
1 never read your paper. It is not always
sober In thought, containing much material
that one might describe as facetious.
Mr. - suddenly became hysterical
with laughter and thrust under my eyes
cartoon by Mr.. Briggs. captioned at
Happens in the Best Regulated Families"
could not avoid looking at it, Incidents
in sequence portraying a man IN bath
tub suddenly hearing the telephone ring
and being obliged to wrap himself in a
towel and answer it were most inartistical-
ly drawn by the artist. The man, nearly
naked, speaks into the telephone to LADY
at the other end Of the line, suddenly hears
footsteps, and hastily retreats 10 the bath
room. I want to tell you now that this sort
Of thing does not happen in the best regu-
lated families 1t has never happened in
my family, and 1t never will. I would not
think of going to my telephone improperly
garbed.
Mr.. - asked me If I did not think the
cartoon Was the funniest I had ever seen.
I replied that considered It extremely in
decent Whereupon he gazed at ne in
amazement, and uttered a sacred word
Just across the aisle, another man, men,
Der Of my congregation, who was also read
ing The Tribune, gave vent 20 shrek q
laughter sprang from his seat and called
the attention of others 70 the cartoon. The
uproar that followed was disgusting, and
l left the car as quickly I could.
These facts l think you should know. as
editor, and / take It for granted that you
will severely reprimand this man Briggs
and cause him to be more discreet In ina
culture. Hereafter l purpose 20 buy your
paper and watch his cartoons most care
fully. JOHN c. RRONNFLL.
New York July %, 1919.