New-York tribune., 1920-04-25
ne Clegg" Is an English Drama of Drab Matrim0n

( he'd have lost it all. He's good trav
eler, but he couldn't control business
of his own. He's not that sort. made
up my mind when got the money thar
l would spend it on Johnny and Jenny
I want to give them both good chance
You know how fond Johnny is of play
/ ing with engines and making things
l want to spend. the money on making
an engineer Of him, If that's what he
wants to be. I couldn't bear the thought
of him becoming one Of those littl,
clerks! (She makes q shud
dering gesture.) Oh!
Mrs Clegg (stiffly)-Therc's worse
than clerks.
Jane Clegg-1 daresay. But why
should give my money to Henry?
Mrs. Clegg - 'E's your husband, is
MT 'e?
Jane Clegg-1 don't sec what that'e
got to do with It,
Mrs. Clegg-Well, that beats all. i
thought you was Christian, Jane.
Jane Clegg (wearily)-Oh. I don't
know what 1 am. only know Pm made
to do things I can't understand for no
earthly reason whatever. l must do
this and I must do that, and no one
tells me why. 1 wish I'd been we'll
educated
Mrs. Clegg-Thank goodness. you're
not. I don't believe in all this educa-
tion for women. 1t unsett!es them
I've never been educated, and I'm 'appv
enough.
Jane Clegg-So's worm, 1 suppose.
Mrs. Clegg (bridling)-Of course,
If you're going to insult mei-
Jane Clegg-No, I don't want to do
that. only mean that being content
isn't everything want to know things.
have been told to do things without
knowing why I should do them. 1t
doesn't seem right, somehow, to have
mind and not use it.
Mrs. Clegg-Well, don't know wot
you mean. believe in bein' 'appy, no
matter wot 'appens. That's good
enough for me. don't want to know
things. I want to be let alone an be
'appy.
Jane Clegg-Mebbe you're right
(They are quiet for q moment.) Oh
isn't it just awful to think that shall
sit here always, mending things and
waiting for Henry to come home!
Mrs. Clegg-No, 1t isn't awful at all.
It's nacherl. It's always bin like that,
and it always will. It's no good f1yin'
in the face Of Providence.
Jane Clegg--I never see anything or
go anywhere. have to cook and wash
and nurse and mend and teach!
And then I'm not certain Of Henry.
That's what's so hard. I give him
everything, and he isn't faithful
Mrs. Clegg-'E was always man for
women. There's lot like that. They
don't mean no arm, but some'ow they
do 1t. I card tell once Of some one
that said 1t was silly Of women to COM
plain about things like that and
mcbbe e was right. They're not made
like US, men aren't. I never wanted but
one man in my life, but my husband.
bless i'm, e was never satisfied. e
used to say 1t near broke Is 'eart to be
Christianl e 'ad great respect for
Turks and foreigners. 'Enry takes
after i'm. (She pauses for momcnt.)
dunno! Mons q funny lot wotever
way you take them, an it's my belief
wise woman shuts 'er eyes to more'n
al
be unhappy if she didn't, an It's no
good bein' unhappy.
Jane Clegg-1m not like that. I de-
mand as much as give. 1t isn't fair
to take all and give nothing.
Mrs. Clegg Gmpatiently)
Jane Clegg-Oh, know what you're
going to say. l don't care what men
say or what anybody says. Henry
must give me as much as I give to him.
That's only decent.
Mrs. Clegg-Well, I'm. sure I 'ope
you get it. There's few women does.
Men is guilty sinners. You can't get
over that. If they amt sinnin' one
way they're sinnin' another, an you
can't stop 'em. The Lord can't do it
an it amt likely you can.
(The street door Is opened and
slammed to-
In moment Henry Clegg, a COM
monplace, carefully dressed man,
enters, after hanging up his coat on
the rack in the. hall beyond the liv-
ing room door.
Henry Clegg-Well, old girl, feeling
anxious, eh? (He goes to his mother
and kisses herr
Jane Clcgg-I thought you were
probably working late.
Mrs, Clegg-You diden ought to be 80
late. Enry, you know you oughtnt.
Henry Clegg-I had to go into the
country this morning about big order.
Hadn't time to look around or do any,
thing. Gle goes to the table.) Is this
my supper?
Jane Clegg-Ycs.
Henry Clegg-Any letters?
Jane Clegg (taking letter off the
fireplace and handing 1t to him)-Yes,
this one was brought round from the
office this afternoon. by boy. I've not
seen him before.
Henry Clegg (taking tho letter and
opening it)-Thanks. Oh, yes. thew
got new boy in a day or two ago.
u IL