The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 5, 1896, Page 26

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JULY 5, 1896 A BIT or GARDENING ON A NorRTH BEAacH Hirn. Flower Gardens in the City Superintendent McLaren on San Francisco's Floral Opportunities One evening at the recent flower show an amateur gardener from San Mateo, with an assumed air of commiseration, re- marked: *“You can't grow flowers to any degree of perfection or with any satisfac- tion in San Francisco. Only some few hardy things can stand the winds and fogs. You must get out of town, somewhere around the bay, for flowers.” Now, this is a strange belief, and yet it exists even among people who should know more about the wonderful flowers and flower-gardens of the City by the Golden Gate. The fact is, San Francisco for many a long year has been justly cele- brated as a city of beautiful flower- gardens, in which may be seen a variety of blooms sabsolutely impossible in most other cities of the world. John Mec- Laren, superintendent of Golden Gate Park, declares that if the taste for flowers were cultivated, San Francisco would be vastly improved in appearance. Most people imagine that it is enough 10 go into the garden now and agam, and then grow tired of attending to the flow- ers. Again, people who can afford to em- ploy men will not engage a competent gardener. They leave all in the hands of a man who knows nothing of the work he is performing, and the result is about as far removed from the ideal as one can im- agine. In a conversation about flower culture n San Francisco Mr. McLaren gives many valuable hints which amateurs may study with profit and pleasure. And then, with the horticulture of Golden Gate Park as an example, following it from month to month, really pleasing results can be reached by even the veriest tyro in the City. The digging and *‘playing” round the garden for an hour or two daily in the fresh open air and sunshine will well re- pay in health the little distraction from worldly cares. “Flower gardening means work,” was Mr. McLaren’s rather depressing opening remark, ‘“‘not a month and then grow tired of it. You must keep it up all the year round, for if once neglected the garden goes behind, One thing against San Francisco :s the shortness of the evenings, that gives no time after the day’s work to puddle around in the flowers. It is differ- ent in other cities. People have their iit- tle gardens, window-gardens and flower shows, and great interest is taken by ama- teurs. Here, of course, we have a horti- cultural society that holds exhibitions, but there is not the general public interest in it. A little more of that would bea good thing in this City. “I know of no city where such a variety of tliowers can be grown as San Francisco. People told me when 1 started in here You can’t grow chrysanthemums; you can’t grow violets.” We have grown some of the finest chrysanthemums in the park, and violets will grow anywhere in San Francisco. Still you very rarely see them in the gardens. Over on Devisadero street, the west side, near Turk, is an old cottage where there are rows of pinks along the entrance walk. I have noticed them par- ticularly, because they are as fine pinks as Isaw anywhere. , “Roses. You can grow them as good here as anywhere. If I take a month’s notice here I will guarantee to do it—that is, these large hybrid roses.” He was asked what varieties he deemed best suited to the local conditions. “‘La Reine, La Marque,” he replied. *No- where in the world are the La Marque better than here. I have seen porches covered with it—the finest white rose of its character that grows. Other varieties for San Francisco are Captain Christy, Her Majesty, General Jacqueminot. The Gen- eral is 8 fine deepred. Also the Bourbon, adeep dark red rose, free from mildew and easily grown—a free bloomer. The Magna Charta, another very fine rose, does better here than I ever saw anywhere else. Bnt these require good stiff loam and generous treatment. “It does not do to starve roses. Yon want good old rotten manure and lig guano or fertilizers during summer. You can'’t cut roses off a bush twelve months in a year without feeding. Soot in water is good; a little suiphate of ammonia isa good thing. Any of them with a little ammonia is good. “Hosing roses once a day, as most peo- le do, will never give you good roses. g‘ha great trouble, I find, is people pay for taking care of their gardens and don’t get the right men. Thoze feliows don’t know enough to cut the grass. For instance, I know a lady who bought 200 asters in pots. They looked pretty, but in the hands of one of these fellows they died in a week. They are working cheap but ruining the gardens. They don't know the names f plants, much less the treatment neces- sary. “Now for tea-scented roses, the hybrid China rose. They do well in a light soi but must be enriched with decomposed manure. You can no more starve roses and have fine flowers than you can starve a fine dog or horse and expect him to look well. *Pansies. They have a longer season in San Francisco than in any of the outlying districts, where the sun i# hotter. .Fog and cool weather suit them admirably. A small garden ought to get & fine variety, the best named, for they are cheap enough, and they should always be bought from a reliable seedsman, who is in the business to stay, not those Eastern fellows, who send flower advertisements out here. I speak from experience, and most emphatically advise everybody to buy seeds from the reliable seedsmen right here in San Francisco, and not mixed seeds, either. Pansies grow so well here that with a good variety of seeds ama- teurs can get exceilent results. “The cineraria. This flower does bet- ter here than anywhere I know out- doors. There is less frost in San Fran- cisco than elsewhere in California, and that gives this generous bloomer a chance to live in the garden. In other places itis a house plant, but here it comes in when flowers are scarce—about Christmas—and itis in bloom now. It seeds itself from under the old plants, but it must have shade, as the sun is not good for the cin- eraria. No special varieties are needed, as they all give such a grand d lay of color. **A very fragrant flower that luxuriates here is the pink. It does as well as in the country. I can give that lesson of the Devisadero-street cottage, where there are great bushes of pinks in all colors—from white to dark red. It is better to grow them every year from young piants. To get a finer bloom, of course, you must al- low fewer flowers to a plant. They ought to be grown from cuttings, not from seed. Root them in sandy soil, in a shady place. “Everybody ought to have a row of violets, everybody. I don’t care bow small the garden, even if it be only a box in the window. Violets ought to be trans- planted every year, throwing the old roots away and planting the young shoots after blossoming and before growth commences, that is about March, depending on the season. “Take the bulbous roots—tulips, hya- cinths, anemones and ranunculus; they do splendidly here. They ought to be planted about November 1 in light, rich soil, the top of the bulb three inches be- low the surface and with an inch of sand below o keep it from the manure. Anem- ones should not be covered more than one i nch. “A beautiful bed can be had by vlanting hyacinths and then carpeting the whole with pansies. The hyacinths shoot up and the pansies cover the ground. Pansies can be grown from seed about August, under glass, though they will come up in a sheitered place. They should be watered regularly, planted out when an inch high in soft soil, about an inch aparr, and afterward put into their permanent quar- ters and thrown away every fall. “The hydrangea, a perennial always in flower, is another plant that luxuriates in this atmosphere. One or two plantsina shady corner is quite enough for a small garden. They don’t need much sun, and grow without spading, only a little manure peing needed about them in spring, and they are.very easily raised from cuttings. “Fuchsias. Where can you grow them like here? Of course, they have to be kept out of the wind, for they must be shaded if the flowers are to be good. Ail varieties do well here from the old Castile. I've seen old Venus de Medici here grow- ing six feet in a season. This is their home along the coast. ‘‘Asters, marigolds and the marguerites. Where can you see finer specimens of these flowers than in San Francisco? They are grown without trouble in any soil. “Dahlias do very well also, and are ily grown. You cannot kill them. This includes the hollyhocks. All the gerani- ums thrive in San Francisco, and are very effective in small gardens. “The pelargonium also, but it won’t stand water from overhead. It does not like cold water every night, neither does the geranium. They prefera dry, warm situation. Any old woman can grow them from cuttings. Ferns grow splendidly in the shade. There are three ferns in the park rockery that would be worth $500 each in the East. ““There is nothing prettier than that pink flower to be ‘seen ail over the park and out on Strawberry Hill. It grows in the poorest soil with very little water, and nothing can surpass it, the number of its flowers. You can plant it any time of the year—stick in a little piece where you want.it to grow, on a dry, barren hillside, sand or loam. 1fs name is the only thing against it—Mesenbryanthemum. “With some trailing plants—the clematis and passion vine for walls—you have a fair list for a garden in San Francisco. If more attention were given the gardens, the appearance of the Cjty would be much improved.” Batoum harbor has now been deepened to twenfy-six feet at the point where naphtha is loaded. ‘The mole will be run outtoa length of 1750 feet, so that the harbor may be used by the Black Sea fleet in all weathers. Kussia has aiready spent 5,000,000 roubles on the port and has just appropriated 750,000 roubles more, STl i Tt It is stated that four hundredweight of sealingwax per month is used by the great seal, of ‘'which the Lord Chancellor is the official custodian. THE NEW WOMAN'S GORSETS ““When women come into power,” the suf- frage advocate was saying, “there won’t be so many round pegs in square holes.” “Youmay be sure of that,” commented Portia, pausing in her club-swinging. “There’s too much in. justice in the world as it is—too much forcing of the man to fit the position,” and she re- sumed her club practice. We were in Portia’s room and the suffrage advocate had been rejoicing in our approach- ing emancipation, Portia is devoted to ath- letics. She hase horizontal bar in her room, & stand of clubs and dumbbells and acon- trivance for exercising the muscles of the back of her neck. She ‘“‘bikes” and “boxes” and does quite wonderful things with a wand. She took this wand down from its rack, having concluded her gyrations with the clubs. “Here's 8 new wrinkle,” she said, and pro- ceeded to pass it over her head and behind her back. {oot. Do you suppose the owner of such a foot is going to have a ‘good understanding’ of the laws of health or of anything else? The body is so accommodating. It responds delight- fully to our attempts to improve it, and it is fatally responsive to our persistent determina- ton to injure it by improper dressing. There ;- too much forcing of the body to fit its cover- ngs.” I was startled at this phrase in the profes- sor's mouth. Portia had said, “There is too much foreing of the man to fit the position,” ond we are promised that there will be less of this when woman has the ballot. Is it pos- sible that that magic bit of paper is going to alter human nature, as exemplified for genera- tions by womankind? To be sure, this is aside from the question. There can be no doubt, however, but that the friends of physical culture are right in the main proposition. Good blood and healthy bodies among our women are going to do more for the race than any other physical or intel- lectual force. The trouble is that, like all new ideas, there is danger of the pursuit of health and & sym- metrical development of the body becoming a fad—at least among women. The question of how and when to exercise is largely an indi- vidual one; but, as is usual, many wholesale solutions of the problem are offered us, and we have ‘“systems” and “no systems” galore. Some of these advocate all sorts of apparatus, others deery apparatus as of all devices most BAIRD'S ADVIGE ON HURDLING Let us talk now about “hurdling.” To be & hurdler one must have a variety of accom- piishments; it is necessary to be & quick starter, a fast sprinter, a good broad jumper, & good high jumper, and to possess greatstrength and endurance. Since writing about “sorint-running,” in which I represented four different methods of starting, the great intercollegiate games have been run off in New York; and 1 was much struck with the fact that every man of conse- quence in the sprint runs used the crouch start. As before explained, this is performed by placing the left toe on or a little behind the seratch line; place the knuckles of the first two fingers and the tip of the thumb of each hand on the mark, which will bring yon intoa crouching position, the right toe about eight- een inches in the rear. Precision must be the successful hurdler’s watchword. 'So many steps are taken from the gt l(\ v “WE WERE IN PORTIA’S ROOM.” Then she executed some sort of mysterious maneuver by which she seemed to step over herseif and finally crawled out from under har own arms flushed but triumphanc. “I can do it backward, too,”” she explained, and she | bent over until she resembied u picture I once | saw in adoctor's book. It was labeled Apis- tholonos and made a deep impression upou me, even after the doctor's expianation that it was the picture of & womar in a 6t of hys- terics. The reversed performance Was as su | cessful as the initial one. Portia came up smiling but breathless, and as she.appeared under the wand a loud snap sounded through the room. Every woman of us knew what had haopened, but Portia looked annoyed. “Tkat’s the third corset steel I've broken ina week,”” she said discontentedly. ‘“Why don’t you wear a patent waist?”’ asked the suffrage advocate; hey’re quite as much support as the corset.” “I've tried them,” was the reply, “but the buttons fly in every direction when I exercise, and then one’s dresses never do sit quite so well over them.” “But,” I continued to say, “isn’t it rather inconsistent in a devotee of athletics to wear corsets at all?”” “Oh, I don’t wear them at all tight. Ican put both hands in mine after they're laced about the waist. 1couldn’t get along without them.” How many women have I heard make this triple assertion? I sought a well-known gymnasium in- structor. “Oh, yes,” he said, “women are coming to me every day for practice. Some of my pupils 'are doing splendid work. Talk about the | emancipation of woman—there’s only one way leading to it. Give a woman a sound body and & bicycle and she'll emancipate herseli and all the rest of the race.” The professor was waxing enthusiastic. “Why,” he exclaimed, “if the last three gener- ations of women had been healthy, athietic specimens of their kind, we should never have had the present spectacle of a discontented, complaining sex, demanding their rights and wanting to do everything that men do. Women don’t need the ballot half as much as they need good blood, heaithy bodies and weli- developed ems. Physical culture is giving them these. “Then I suppose you agree with Rabbi Voor- sanger,” I said, “that three menerations of women without corsets will do as much as the bellot, for woman and the race?'" The professor’s face clouded. “Do you know,” he began, confidentially, “that's the greatest trouble I have with my pupils? They come to me full of enthusiasm, and seem to think physical culture will work wonders for them, but while they’re willing enough to put on bloomers they want to swing clubs, climb ropes, go up ladders and fence and box while they are wearing corsets. 1 tell them gymnastic exercises cannot be successfully, or even safely, taken in the things, but they do not believe me. Why, I know a teacher of what she calls ‘harmonic gymnastics’ who actually wears them, and advises her pupils to do so. Now, I believe that, even handi- capped by corsets and toothpick shoes, our women are the better for exercise, but— why, look here,” and he produced a picture. “I wish,” he said, “that the Roetgen ray could give us a picture of a ‘corset Liver,” but we're not far enough along for that. But see what ourmodern shoe is doing to the bones of the | omnipresent wheel. dangerous. Amid the clamor of many voices she is a wise womsn who pursues a medium course. Naturally the woman who would take exer- cise, in these days, thinks first of all of the Seeing the hundreds of happy riders who throng our roads and path- ways these summer evenings, oné cannot blame her. But in the very fascination of the wheel lies its danger. For ninety-nine yomen out of a hundred the tendency isto overdo; to ride too fast and too far; to ride until arms are numb and spines grow sensitive from the vibration inevitable even with the perfected poeumstic tires and saddles. Wire and steel in rapid motion will maintain & steady vibra- tion. As well say water will not run down hill as to affirm the contrary, and the tendency of too-long-continued endurance of this vibra- tion is over-stimulation, and consequent ex- haustion of nerves. We are apt to forget, in the sense of power and freedom we get from the “silent, shining safety,” that the motion which seems so easy, so much & part of our own natural power, is, after all, foreign to us, and therefore to be induiged in moderation. Perhaps of all modern physical culture fads for women the one that in & few years will have resulted in the most mischief {8 running. It is1n great vogue just ngw, and advocates of this form of exercise for women meet all criti- cism by triumphant aliusions to the fleet- footed females among the lower animals. But, beyond a certain limit, which is soon reached, analogies drawp from this source are danger- ous. Those who are wont toattempt to regulate man's life by laws that work for good among the lower orders forget, among other essential differences between the human and the brute creations, that man, in the course of the ages, has acquired an upright position. This ac- quired habit of standing erect has given him transcendent power among the creatures, but it has also modified all other habits of his life. The wonder is not that he does it so well, but that he does it at all. Mechanically con. sidered, running for the human creature is a continuous falling. It is a severe strain upon the human physique, ana women are even less fitted to endure it than are men. Most of us know it. We run under protest, not be- cause we do it awkwardly, but because we can- not do it eomfortably, and the undoubted hampering of our skirts is not the only reg- son. Itis well to know the principles of run- ning; how to perform the feat with the least waste of torce and with the greatest degree of skill; but it isa form of exercise that women should use sparinely. As a matter of fact moderation is a quality that should enter into all exercise, but per- haps the first essential to a successful search for herlth through physizal culture is rational dress. There is no better form of exercise known than deep, systematic, frequently prac- ticed normal breathing, but itis the experience of physiciansand of gymnastic teachers alike that the average woman does not know how to breathe normally; in fact, is unable tc do so while wearing the almost omnipresent corset. But by the intelligent observances of a few simple exercises even the average woman, if she is inciined, may arrive at a very fair de- gree of physical development without ever heving been inside & gymnasinm. PENELOPE POWELLSON. start and the first hurdle is reached. Then two things must be accomplished: the jumper must not catch his toe on the hurdle, neither must he rise so far above it as to waste his strength. Here the happy medium must be attained to perfection or the other man will win. Now, to take a hurdle properly is a great art, and 1t is a combination of running high and running broad jumping. The foot must touch 1n exactly the right spot, so many feet and inches from each flight, and there | maust be just so much vital energy expended. There are very few healthy young men that cannot clear 3 feet 6 inches with emse; but todo it ten times with an aggressive com- petitor at your shoulder is quite another thing. Fifteen feet for a broad jump is not much, but & succession of them is quite an- other thing. To clear s hurdle under full speed requires a rare combination of the ut- most caution and the greatest daring. ‘When the leap hes been taken the land is not made as in a broad jump—all in a heap; on the contrary, the utmost exertion must be made to strike on the left foot, and instantly get to running. There must be no jerk, no halt, no weakness. Everything depends on the run- ner resuming his stride as though he was in a hundred-yard race. Having resumed his stride there are usually three steps taken be- tween each hurdle, and of course they must be put in with all dispatch. The position of body and limbs while going over the gate is alsoa vital point. The arms should keep with tne legs, end be given such a violent swing and jerk as to be of great as sistance in helping the jumper in his flight. Of course the hurdle must be taken face on, as any deviation would throw the body out of true and lead to serious consequences. The right foot is under the body and kept as close to the thigh as possible. The left foot is ad- vanced and considerably extended; the body almost erect, the arms in such a position as to best assist in the flying motion. Most hur- dlers use the right foot to spring from and tke left to alight on. Up to balf distance the race is usually easy, but at the fifth or sixth hurdle the strain be- gins, and it s in this part of the race that en- durance is useful, mot to say Decessary. Therefore, an ambitious hurdler should en- deavor to acquire endurance as one of the es- sentiais in the class of race in question. IiI were to take up hurdle-racing I wonld not begin by running over the flights. I would first acquire the quick start, and learn to get into running with all possible speed. I would jump frequently on the springboard at the gymnasium, to gain strength in my calves practice high jumping, taking pains 10 clear the bar with a straight bound and anerect body, watching my feet to keep from striking. Then I would practice a little broad jumping, butavoid landing in any other way than on one foot, continuing the running at once, If you find that your speed is greater than your endurance, then practice to “stay.” It is not an uncommon thing to find an athlete who is a superior hurdler but whoisa third-rate man in short-distance runnirg and starting, so do not be discouraged if your neighbor runs right away from you at the short distance. You may find that before the race is far along you may be creeping up to his shoulder, Many persons are doubtless under the im- pression that to be a successful hurdler re- quires a trainer, an instructor, and the very best facilities in existence. This is not so in fact; for some of the best athletes this coast ever produced were seli-tanght and self- trained. This, however, is particularly true in regard to hurdle racing; and enthusiastsof a few years ago can remember how & young man from the University of California,aimost alone and almost unaided, established a best on record in the world at the coas: championship games—153( seconds. This illustration is ad- vanced to show athletes in general, and hurdlers in perticular, that, after all, ambi- tion and industry are the great forces in the world of athletics; and properly applied great results can sometimes be obtained from the most anpromising materials. Let us see what is to be gained by being a ®ood hurdler. First of all, if you become a quick starter it will impart & quickness of thought that is inspiring, transforming a de- liberate, not to say poky, boy into a prompt, active man. The mind as well as the body will feel the effect in greater alertness. To be brisk in body without nervousness isgreatly to be desired; and 1t 1sthis very guick starting that assists in curing nervousness, for the pis- tol-firer will not permit any unsteadiness on the mark if he understands his business. Then the last few hurdles, the test of en- durance. How it does cali upon his muscle and his vitality to hold out under the strain! How the limbs get loggy, and how the sinews ache! Not only is it a test of physical en- durance, but mental as well. Let it be dis- tinctly remembered that if a boy is wanting in pluck there is no school for curing him of that aeficiency, or correcting the habit of giving up, like a race. Tosee & man passing you, to feel & prize slipping awey from your very grasp, the cheers or the frowns of friends—as the case may be—and above all the anxious eyes of ome in particular, and the desire for her approving smile, is any experience quali- fied to put grit and nerve into a man more than a hard race? A case of great improvement occurs to me. I once knew a young man who had trouble with his eyes—so much so that it became neces- sary for him to wear colored glasses. More- over, when I saw him he did not look well; his complexion was not healthy and he moved about languidly. The trouble spread to his mental faculties, for his look was downcast and his voice subdued. I met him on the train going out to the grounds, ana I was struck with his appearance. He said he was going to try running to see 1f it would do him any good. Ilost sight of him for about three months, until one day Iattended a set of games. To my surprise this young man won the 75-yard handicap over a field of twenty-five or thirty, and when I met him aiter the games I scarcely knew him; his eye was clear and bright; his head erect and his step elastic and vigorous, and all this was accomplished by three mont!.s’ exercise. GEORGE D. BAIRD. A. F. COPELAND, CHAMPION HURDLER. RECORD: 120 YARDS, 16 SEC.; RUNNING BROAD JUMP, 23 FT. 3 1-5 INCHES. THE BOY AND L The Boy and I have grown up together. I had quite a head start, which has given m&'a better opportunity to watch the Boy develop. We've been pretty good friends. All through the time when I wheeied him out and quar reled with the other girls over the beauty ol our réspective charges, the days when I had to stand his little boy-tyranny end pick up his playthings, the time I shook the nonsense out of the larger boy who harassed his path to school, through the period when he would swear, the time he turned white and sick from looking at a cigar, the epoch of leaving school and beginning work, up to the present day, all the time that I have carried him about in my beartand in my head, waking and sleeping, the Boy and I have had a kind of liking for each other. The Boy thinks I’'m a pretty good sort of big sister to have around; & nice person to get & tellow out of & tight place without preaching too much, and handy to have on general prin- ciples. He often asks my advice, and I have known him to act upon it. Iknow he thinks there is no girl brighter than his big sister in 108t things, but I've iately found out some- thing I don’t like. The Boy won't give a fig for my political opinion, Perhaps it is partly my fault. I've never argued with him much, because I didn’t think it worth while. When he aired his cal- low ideas I smiled and went on frying my own fish, - He was only a “kid.” Now it has dawned upon me that next year the Boy will be 21 and his youthful opinions will influence his country’s weal or woe 10 the extent of one vote. Next year I will bg 21 (snd then some), with opinions as strong and I hope more mature than his, but I can’t vote. My country must somehow shift along without my ballot, and & poor shift it is too. = T've paid taxes ten years. ,The Boy never paid a cent. Ihave studied the constitution of the United States and that of California until 1 can repeat whole sections. Iknow the Boy can’t do as much. I've read history, au- cient and modern, a hundred to his one, and I have all my life kept up with the current events. Maybe I have neglected baseball, racing and prize-fighting, but I know about eyen them. Icando every kind of work the Boy can do, and besides I can extract the cube root of a polynomial and make good bread. I have to obey every law that he obeys, but I am not competent to help make them. It isn’t any use to tell me that the Boy repr: sents me and the other women of the hous he doesn”t do any such thing. I won't be represented by the Boy. Not be- cause his vote will not be an honest one and fairly intelligent, but because it is his vote, and he will have all he can do to represent himself. The Boy likes a good dinner; still enough for him and me, too, would be more than he could digest. I wonder if when the Boy is judged for his sins he will have to represent mine, too. Poor Boy! Suppose he marries and has his wife to represent, besides his sisters and his mother and then the possible daughters. Could you jecommend a tonic for the Boy? Idon’t think with the Boy in many thingse He lacks the ten years of labor among the people that have changed my 1deas materially. He lacks the sorrows and the losses’that have taken the gloss off much that was bright and thathave shown new beauty in what was dark. He will grow, I grant, and step for step; so will L One night the Boy was doing & little spout- ing. He thought I didn’t care to vote because 1 badn’t said.much in his hearing. “Nice women didn’t want to vote,” the Boy said, “and {he rest had no business. Things wouldn’t be any better if a lotof them voted as their husbands told them.” “Well,” I said, ‘“Boy, we'll admit for the sake of "argument that things would be no better if women voted—even say things would be worse. I tell you in the face of that, if woman wants to_vote it is her right. 1f she doesn’t want to no one will make her, but the right is hers just the same.” The Boy was thunderstruck. He never thought I cared so much. Ido<sre,and from that time on I talked it up on all occasions. [ think the Boy sees both sides of it now, though he is stilla benighted male. The Boy and I are the average man and woman, and here are some of our arguments. “Women have a house to attend to.” Sure. And men have a business to attend to. Women, with housework to do, have oceans of time to think. 1f they haven’t sensible things to think of, they will think of foolish things, Much of the labor of housekeeping is mechani- cal. I can wash dishes, make beds, sweep, hang up clothes and iron, all without any deep thought for the work itself; my hands know how without my head. Peeling potatoes is not a work that requires concentrated atten. tion, and I think I could wash the front steps nicely with my mind on political economy. There are times when I can’t divide my facul- ties thus—for instance, when I make jelly or boil eggs. The Boy doesn’t mix politics with the figures he adds. Then think of the long hours most women spend sewing and mending in the quiet after- noon. They can do wore thinking than a whole session of Congress. I have gone to every political meeting this year, and the Boy canvot say his meals are ever late or hurried, When the Boy said women were not strong I looked into his eyes and laughed. He knew without words that I was laughing at the weakness of & woman who had supported a home all these yearsand could walk and wheel and eat right along with him. As far as brute strength goes he could break me in two with one hand. If that is the qualification, Mr, Sharkey must have two votes. “‘Women are ignorantof the affairs of the Nation.” Many of them are. Why should they care? They don't study what they cannot use. Give them a nation ana see them dig into it< affairs, deeper mayhap than their brothers wish them disturbed. “Some women will always be ignorant.” Now, isn't that too bad! Poor, lonesome mortal. Of course we can neve: find & man to mateh her. All men are wise—born so. They don’t have to learn—none remain ignorant or bigoted. When a European pauper takes out his naturalization papers he is straightway transformed into an American of education and culture. But you can’t do that with his wife. “Women are impressible—easily influenced by the talk of another. Oh, Boy, Boy, I fear it is s0. Why conld we not be independent thinkers like men? The stump-speaker never influences a man (he must be talking to women); crowds are never swayed as one man; men never follow their party leaders blindly; but we might, poor gelatinous creatures. With diminished head I pass on to the next. “Women are not practical—they are extrava: gant; they do not look deep.” Right there, Boy, I object. Thereisn't & minister of finance in the United Statesor Great Britain that is equal to your own mother. There isn’t & male eye can look work over 0 swiftly and point out the dirt left in corners. There isn’t one man can give ons glance and say “'shoddy” with her certainty. A man would never take time to gooverac- counts to see where that extra 10 cents or 10,- 000,000 went, nor would he have the firmness to demand that it be put back. She’d happen around tosee what sort of stuff a contractor was putting in, and what a noise she’d make if she found she was being cheated. No, no, Boy, her whole life is a lesson of economy. In fact she’d be an awful bother to some men with her habit of looking into things, and her femininecly unreasonable expectation of get- ting something for her money. “S8ome women do not want to vote.” I know of some men who don’t want to smoke, Boy, but wouldn’t you object vigor- ously if they tried to abridge your cigar ? The ‘woman who doesn’t want to vote vexes me. Not because she doesn’t want to, but because she thinks it is any of her business if I want to. It is no use argning. I know I am as gooda citizen as the Boy, and I want to fill my pluce. 1do not wantit as a favor granted by the Boy. It is my right. Oh, how I detest the man who says in a pa- tronizing way ““he’d be willing to let women vote if they wanted to—poor things, they would soon get tired of it.” One average woman would make three of him mentally and morally. It is ‘“no fair.” OLIVE HEYDEN.