The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-10-05

Eliot had been married seven years
and he was bored; not bored with
the temporary languur that came over
him Of n Sunday afternoon when he
wished fer enough energy to go and
play golf--but actively bored so TINT
every action of his life ms far ms he
could see was ugly and lusterless. And
vet he loved his wife and his two good
little girls. Mary WIS pretty, good, de.
voted. and--though his mind hesitated
. little over the last step-intelligent
Her mind was as alert and vigorous
and quick 10 understand his thoughts
as It had been when. the autumn after
he left college he had married her
II was mah,imony, he told himself
not Mary, that bored him; hut he was
aware that the line was a fine one
Nevertheless he had been careful 10
draw It, when, the evening before Sam
Francis and he had been discussing
the advantages and disadvantages Of
the married state sam was n bachelor
He had come over TO dine. and after
dinner the two friends had gone to
moving picture Mary was busy put
ting the children 10 bed The picture
as II happened. dealt With the life of
young married couple; and though
ell the walls were of rough plaster, an
the doorways We're arches, and an the
trees eucalyptus, breakfasts and babies
and bills seemed to he much the same
on one coast as on the other
ITS dun picture" said sam the
bachelor, lightly.
ITS a dull subject" said Eliot, the
married man bitterly.
This opened the door 10 discussion
none the less franl and intimate be.
cause It was carried an in generalitics
Eliot began by quoting that terrible
sentence from NHddlemarch II never
loved anyone well enough to put my
head into a moose for them-lt Is II
moose you know Sam agreed, hut
wondered whether every man MS he
grew older (Sam was twenty siXl did
not want a home Of his own. and ut
this point an Irresistible desire for
self-expression came over Eliot. He
remembered how he had once been
free-free not for evil things but for
adventures that were often nothing
more than intelectual--flee 10 miss
dozen suburban trains it he wanted
to finish book ut the club free to "a
to the theater without asking himself
whether the money would not have
been better spent on the children
shoes-free to wander all ntght on the
bridges. thinking Of some futile para
doxlcal philosophy without owing any
one an explanation Of his irregular
hours-free even to give W his job II
Il became intolerale to him-frce to
hazard his future In any way he felt
inclined. This was the aspect Of mat
rimony that no one explained to you.
You were told about giving up your
club or your favorite cigar. and per
haps a good tailor but no one made Il
clear that your privacy and your
leisure and your liberty 10 choose must
go. too.
"And to some people" Eliot said
judlcially, as if he had nothing in
common with people Ike that, so some
people life becomes an intolerable bore
when those things go. OF course that
does not apply to us. because Mary Is
an exceptional woman
"oh, very said Sam smiling 70 him
self IN the darkness Of the theater,
over the fact that anyone could call
Mary exceptional.
The conversation made little impress
sion on him. but in Eiiot's mind 1t ere
ated a clear mental picture Of his
situation that he could not forget
Never. it seemed 70 him the next
morning at breakfast, had his two
daughters asked why and when 50
often. Mary, neat and pretty at the
head Of the table, smiled and poured
nut coffee.