The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-30
ON SECOND THOUGHT
MAKES A I4AMPSHADE
A Domestic Tragedy in Three Acts.
By JAY e. HOUSE.
tFroa PhiIadelphia Public Ledsse.l


A Domestic Tragedy in Three Acts.
SCENE-,A living room.
TIMETSeptember, October, No
vember. 1920.
CHARACTERS Us.
ACT
Adelaide Choking back tears)-
They've ruined my beautiful lamp
shade.
Us-Who are they?
Adelaide-The men.
Us-What men?
Adelaide don't know; whoever
packed our stuff. or unpacked it.
Us-Well, we're pretty lucky at that.
They didn't ruin more than half of
the furniture and one of the dining
room chairs hasn't a scratch on it.
looked it over carefully. And I had
enough money to pay the men for
moving it; 1 didn't have to sell my
liberty bond 1 was sure I'd have to
sell that bond. 1 think we're well off.
Adelaide-You'll sell it, all right.
The first person who offers you some
thing on the installment plan will get
it. 1t doesn't make any difference
what it is.
U.s. don't know; I think I've done
pretty well with that bond. I've had
it since 1917 and I paid cash for it
when I got it. That's more than a
lot of them did.
=
wedding.
Us-Why can't yeu go to Louise's
wedding? I'm a pretty smart fellow,
but 1 am frank to say the connection
eludes me.
Adelaide-Tve got to stay at home
and make a lampshade.
Us-Pd like to see the lampshade
that would keep me at home.
AdelaideTSo should I; I'd like to
see anything that would keep you at
home. The only way to keep you at
home is to quarantine you.
Us-Seriously, tho. 1 shouldn't try
to make a lampshade if 1 were you.
Why not buy lampshade? Here's
my liberty bond; that's. enough to
pay the first installment on one, isn't
it?
Adelaide can save at least $50 by
making it myself.
Architectural good would it doy
Us-Yes, what good would it do?
Us-Yes. what good woul it do?
You've been saving money for us ever
since We were married-$25 here and
$50 there. Sometimes you've saved
as high as 500, and we haven't got
anything yet. I could have had the
fun Of spending all you've saved and
we'd be just as well off.
Adelaide-You're good spender;
I'll say that for you. You can come
nearer initiating a millionaire on 500
than any other man l ever knew. But
one thing is certain: you never spent
any money on me. l never even had
an engagement ring.
U.s. wanted you to feel free:
didn't want you to feel as tho you
were in bondage to me.
ACT II
Cs-How come I have no clean
linen? Didn't the laundry wagon
call?
Adelaide sent your laundry three
weeks ago, but you know I've been
downtown working on my lampshade
every day for the last two weeks. and
I suppose the delivery wagon called
in my absence and found nobody
home. You look awfully funny in
that collar. You know you can't wear
a batwing collar; no man with
prominent Adams apple can.
Us-Go ahead and laugh your head
off. The reason I am wearing this
collar is because it's the only clean
one 1 have It's all right probably to
wear a soiled shirt, but you practically
have to have clean collar. It is pos
sible for a man to be shaved in a bar
Der shop and still be a gentleman. I've
proved that. But no gentleman wears
a soiled collar.
Adelaide-rm sorry, but you know
I can't neglect my lampshade to wait
for laundry wagon.
Us-Another thing. I ordered a
shipment of cigars weeks ago. I got
the bill for them ten days ago, but
they've never been delivered. I sup
pose the fellow took them back be-
cause there was no one to receipt for
them.
Adelaide-Very likely, but you know
I can't sit here waiting for cigars. AS
it is, I was late yesterday morning; I
didn't get to the store till $3.50 o'clock.
Us-You talk about saving money.
Do you know that every time 1 buy
T a,o4f
three cents away? Do you know, on
account of me buying my cigars from
my brother-in-law, who is in the bust
ness. that save SO on every 100 cigars
I smoke?
Adelaide-The idea of your saving
money is a very interesting one, I'm
sure. It's the first time I ever knew
you to go in for that sort of thing.
You smoke a good many cigars Where
is the money you saved buying them
from your brotherin-law?
Us-How are you getting along with
your 1ampshade? Is it pretty nearly
finished?
Adelaide-Tm getting along fine. 1
think It is going to be perfectly lovely.
But I haven't started it yet.
Us-You haven't started it yet?
Adelaide-No, you see we have to
wait until the woman who shows us
how to make them gets ready to do it.
We have to take our turns. She has
q good many customers, and she hasn't |
got to me yet. I've met some per-
fect1y lovely people.
Us-When do you think she'll get
to you?
AdeIaide-I think she'll get to me |
next week. There are only fifteen or |
twenty ahead of me now.
Us-After she gets to you all you'll |
have to do will be to learn how and |
make 1t.
Adelaide-That's all
ACT III.
Us Gas Adelaide comes in out of the !
gloom of late evening)-Has the lady |
got to you yet?
Adelaide-Oh, yes; she showed me |
how to wrap the frame yesterday. I |
am going to work tonight and finish |
that part of it.