The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-04-24


u @zine, "The Cats WhiSkers," the
following short story by Mrs. Hoch
was read-and struck a note so ap-
Dealing to all Washingtonians.
j BY MRS. HOMER HOCH
I They were elected to Congress.
\ That is, he was elected, and she
6elt elected, too, as good wives
: sometimes do.
!. She was young and in the bloom
Z of vigorous health. She had read
that the Congressman's success
often took a turn for the better
over the o'clock tea cups Of a
tactful wife. She figured that the
more tea cups the more chances to
be tactful. She therefore hailed
with enthusiasm the news that as
o new Congressman's wife she had
six hundred chances to call. Four
hundred odd on congressman
tors wives. and enough to round
out the six hundred ON Cabinet
wives. Justices wives, the Speakers
wife, the Presidents wife, and SO
On.
The preparations commenced.
The stationer looked mildly sur
prised and pleased with an order
for six hundred "Mr. and Mrs"
cards, and like number Of "Mr."
cards. But he was not, however,
surprised into any reduction in the
price.
She bought six pairs of white
gloves, thinking she could be hav-
ing three pairs cleaned while she
wore the other three pairs. She
supplied herself with several call
hM
groomed while the others were be-
ing worn. But after a little expe-
rience decided to wear the same
hat most of the time so as to OBJ.
viate the necessity Of reintroducing
herself SO often.
AT first she invited a friend or
two who were making some Of the
same calls that she was, to accom-
pany her, but discovered that going
along in that pleasant manner she
could only make about five or six
calls in an afternoon. Even her
rusty mental arithmetic showed her
that If she managed to get four
calling days out of every week she
would never compass the coveted
six hundred calls in four calling
months at that rate. So she set
her face firmly against. any waste
of time in needless pleasures con-
nected with her calling. She made
her lists by streets and neighbor.
hoods. She employed a driver who
knew the city.
The taxi bills were heavy. But
could not they be considered almost
as legitimate an expense as cam.
paign expenses? Was not she help
ing to make a successful Congress
man? She set her stake at an
average Of ten calls a day for four
days in every week. That would
be forty calls week, one hundred
and sixty calls a month, or a lit
tie over six hundred calls in four
months.
Sets Face Like Flint, but
Accompanies Full Purpose
She set her purpose before her
and her face like flint to accom-.
plish it. OF course, the friends who
had been calling with her won.
0ered why they were dropped so
Slnceremoniously, and from wonder
they passed to dislike. They said
they guessed she did not care for
personal friends. She was only out
for political advancement.
One day she started out and It
fained. But there were those ten
calls staring her in the face! So
She went on anyway. Every one
was In, Of course, because she was
about the only one foolish enough
90 be out. 1t took longer, and the
block was pointing ten minutes to
and two calls were yet unmade!
She must not get behind, because
The baby was sick and she did not
Feel she could leave him again. to.
morrow. So she left cards at two
: places without asking to be re.
Eeived.
The two hostesses were at home,
Of course, and were "peeved" when
they found that she had not even
asked to be admitted. They were
SInl<ind, and said that she could
5ust keep her old cards at home If
she did not care to see them.
But that seemed easy to her and
Bhe was tempted to do it often
again, and every time some woman
resented it. How unreasonable some
women are to think call should
mean that you really want to see
them! Her quota of secret dislikers
grew.
Her husband fell Ill, but she had
no time to care for him, for there
were those awful calls!. She knew
ne needed her to make him some
special dishes for dinner, but she
always got home so late that there
was no time for that. His illness
was extended because Of lack Of
care. He missed important roll
calls.
Mrs. Constituent Becomes Offended
With Mrs. Congressman
Some constituents from home
called at her husbands office. He
tried to get her on the phone to
invite them to dinner, but she was
out calling. They looked polite, too,
but not altogether satisfied. Mrs.
Constituent hated to go home with.
out being able to tell the home
women that she had seen Mrs. Con.
gresham.
Mrs. Constituent was unreasona-
BILE. Of course, but did not see the
point In so much calling that
seemed to have no connection with
the folks at home. But she held
her peace and went her discon.
tented way. Other friends from
home came and met the same lack
OF reception, and also went their
discontented way.
Mrs. Mrs. Congressman called on!
The months slipped by. Her mend
Ing basket was full Of unmended
garments. Her children neglected
their music practice because she
was not there to urge It. They
looked anaemic ana unkept. But
she called on.
She had reached the five hundred
and nfnafv.uirtI ooSII cto -