The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 25, 1904, Page 12

THE SAN FRANCISCO SUNDAY CALL. I was VvIsrTED ro-pmy BY = Corzrzr rrEE.. UNCLE SILAS: T note your inquiry concerning my rela- s with Aunt Sarah and Cousin Josephine. You remind me that ve not mentioned them since my letter relating the incidents ing trip to the Country Club. The undeviating deli- cacy h you have ever considered my feelings in all re- 4 pects is proof to me that you did not make this inquiry with a view to /] alling my hand of Mrs. Jack Lacquerre, which pro- ceded as a direct result of that coaching trip. Yet I am compelled to recall that incident in explaining why I have so infrequently enriched Jetters with allusions to Aunt Sarah and Cousin Josephine. fter the inauspicious misreading of my heart which impelled it to Mrs. Lacquerre—mistaking a lively personal interest in for a tenderer sentiment became evident to me that Aunt had been made aware of the incident. Something, which for lack better name we call intuition, told me that Mrs. Lacquerre had not arah of my declaration. It may be that Mrs. Lacquerre’s (whom I nearly overturned behind the portieres when I Aunt Sarah’s informant. I am told that s of slightly used gloves, parasols and ire by repeating the particulars of any scene nature of which they have independent though f our coach with wh proposal for the ese the room) was ptitious knowledge. S However, Aunt Sarah knew, and professed to be deeply incensed, de- g that she had been made ridiculous by having a nephew of hers the example of every fool boy in New York, who, it appears, has abit of proposing marriage to Mrs. Jack Lacquerre. intellectual training,” remarked Aunt Sarah to me severity of mien, “I felt safe in the belief that you would not Mrs. Jack’s flinty beauty and slangy wit!” 1t Sarah,” I responded,“your reproof may be deserved, but it based upon false premises; I was not trapped but repulsed by Mrs. e. I now hold toward her a relationship marked by amiability and confidence, not so much as tinced by sentiment. Mrs. Lacquerre’s singularly decisive, but she generously suggested the sance of our acquaintance for the purpose, as she quaintly phrased it, f ‘saving me.’” This explanation, so far from allaying Aunt Sarah’s ruf- r, seemed but to arouse it to more perplexing feminine flights. u 1 had almost written “snorted,” but should practice restraint in describine woman’s manifestations of humors. A man with your income needs no saving. Young men without incomes ¢y need saving and usually do, but worldly salvation is one of the con- ons attached to an income like vours. What that woman wants is to n you up f&r that blackfaced slip of a prig, Frahces, her daughter.” “Dear Aunt,” T cried in confusion, “Mrs. Lacquerre is as little likely to want me for Frances as I am to want Frances or Frances want me.” This earnest assertion mollified aunt, and she continued in more cable accents: rapped Dear / ssal of me was * she sneered we much “Well, Reuben, T was shocked at hearing of your silly infatuation for Mrs. Jack, but if it has all passed and you are certain that you have' no tendre for Frances little harm is done. I havgyno patience with that girl Frances! She assumes a manner. Nothing is guch bad manners as She goes about with that beak of a nose of hers tilted at the world as if she found most of it not good enough for her and didn't happen to like the rest. She has refused half a dozen good offers for the delirious reason that the men who proposed had done nothing! A man who has a good income by that fact alone has done everything on earth any sane woman can ask of any man. Now, my daughter—I refer to your dear cousin Josephine—has no such silly oddities. She would ask nothing of a man with an income. She is sane and safe. She is a girl who will make a lovely wife for some man. Even the biggest fool liv- ing could get along with Josephine. Here the dear child comes now. Drive in the park with her, Reuben, and then come back for tea. I feel as if I were going to have a headache or 1'd go with you. It gives me a headache to drive in the park in summer—trying to avert my eyes from men I know who are driving with women I don’t know. But you and Josephine will get along together nicely.” N There, Uncle Silas, is a fair report of several conversations I had with Aunt Sarah. I am not a vain man, in spite of what warrant I may have for vanity. I am, I hope, 2 man of natural gallantry, therefore I refrain from even hinting to you my sudden suspicion that Aunt Sarah had de- signs which would make me her son-in-law as well as her nephew. If T permitted myself so to hint it would explain to you why my letters have lacked allusions to Aunt Sarah. In short, I go to her house only for such periodical and formal calls as my duty prescribes. Mrs. Lacquerre, in relation to her daughter, is quite unlike Aunt rah. She has, as I have faithfully reported, said, with the frankness so_characteristic of her, that she would like to have me for a .son-in-law. But her later comments on the subject deprive her views of any shade of compliment. There is nothing personal to me in her preference; it re- lates wholly to my bank account. Recently, when I called to ask her to the ceremonies of the Reuben Larkmead Social and Outing Club banner raising, she said to me: “This political pother of yours may make you strong with Frances. She’s a queer proposition, that gal of mine is, and I hope the Lord will temper the wind to the lamb she lands. Don’t look shocked, Reuben. All T want is that she’ll marry rich so that I avon't have to support her. I'm a poor woman. Every one knows exact- ly what poor Jack left me, and it’s too shy of fifty thou’ a year to please Mrs. Jack Lacquerre—if any one should ask you ought to know. So Fran- ces must marry an income. That's about all I want in a son-in-law. ex- ept that he's lived out his footlight fancies and never calls me mother. “d do, of course, but I'm not booming Frances to you. She's cranky. She refused a hundred thousand a year last month because the man a2 manner. MANNERS O9F TWO POLITICAL: DEBUT. e attached to the tncome hadn't views on imperialism. Poor devil, he did not know what the girl meant when she asked him. Gee! What's imperial- ism when a man with a hundred thou' a year is asking you to go to St. Thomas ism? with him? By the way, Reuben, what the deuce is imperial- Mrs. Lacquerre asked the concluding question with a swift change to almost childish simplicity which convinced me that, strange as it seems, she was uninformed on the most vital problem we have to meet. I gladly elucidated the policies involved in the government of our insular pos- sessions, and informed her that she would be much improved by my remarks on the subject at the banner raising. She was greatly provoked to find that the date conflicted with an important social engagement she @® 0] 255055508, SE5GL05E § THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THOUGHT § i ) O those who have not followed the psychological side of scientific research the idea that thought may have the power to actually kill may appear as a presumption unwar- ranted by facts. Science may be said to be represented by two classes of investigators or students, namely, the physicist and the psychist. The former denies the existence of that which is not visible to his physical senses. The latter assumes the existence of forces beyond the plane of the average consciousness. There is a mistaken belief that these two schools of thought are antagonistic. Some there are who regard science as represented by the physicist alone, regarding the hypotheses of the psychist as mere speculation, if not “crankism.” This is a mistake, Science means, or $hould mean, an accumulation and applica- tion of facts. To deny facts as such is not scientific, and persons so doing should not be regarded as scientists. The psychist has merely gone beyond the kindergarten of material science into the more advanced course of psychic science. For many years past psychic science has known that thought is an elec- trical force. Until very recently this fact has not been accepted by material- istic science. Recent accounts of the invention of an Italian whereby the character of different emotions and thoughts may be detected has forced the recognition of this theory. The invention in question showed that thoughts of anger, revenge and hatred travel in sharp, jagged points, like a “two-edged sword.” Thoughts of kindness. “good thoughts,” are seen to form into curves, creating about the person who sends them forth a mag- netic aura or field, and repelling the electrical force of the angry thought- waves. Perhaps Shakespeare knew more of electro-psychology than we have realized when he wrote of the quality of mercy that it “is not strained.” Certainly it is “twice blessed,” for it reaches the person to whom it is direct- ed in waves of magnetic strength and power and at the same time renders the sender invulnerable to attack from the life-destroying current of hatred and “all uncharitableness.” i, then, thought be admitted a force, we may reasonably infeg that it is subject to the same laws that other manifestations of force are Subject to. Ore of these is that it may be used either constructively or destructively. It is positive or negative. It either creates or it destroys, because action of some kind is inevitable. It is the law of life. : HE OBJERYEYS THE A CLEVER TMOTHERS AND TMAKES HIS BY Ebpwarp W, WNSEND W could not evade, but assured me that Frances would go if I had a petti- coat in my party to chaperon her. I had, as the result of vour wish that T see more of Aunt asked her and Cousin Josephine to be my guests on ban so I inquired, somewhat doubtfully, if Aunt Sarah woul chaperon for Frances. Mrs. Lacquerre replied with much ¢ plan was admirable. “Your Aunt Sally hates Frances and Frances your aunt, so they’ll do beautifully as chaperon and maid,” she said The banner raising is this evening, and I must interru to go once more over my speech, which, as I have intima E with the auestions of imperialism and of our foreign policy as it s be directed in regard to the ultimate adjustment of the Far East prol lem. I drove with my party—Aunt Sarah, Josephine and Frances—to hall for the banner raising, and was much gratified to be received by a vast number of enthusiastic citizens, led by my manager, Mr. H all of whom received me with hilarious shouts. inquiring, “What’s the mat- ter with Reuben Larkmead?™ and the response, “He’s all right!” I cou not but observe, as we alighted from our carriage in the glare of mar electric lights, that while Frances seemed elated and “lit up.” ‘as t! saying is, by the crowd and the shouts, both aunt and J e we nervous and even alarmed. They repeatedly asked if it we be for them to go into the hall filled with s gathered to greet us, and Frances wag assuring them that so far as was congcerned she was delighted for once to be close to the comn people, and only wished that she was going to have a chance to talk them. Mr. Hogan and a young female he introduced as “Mysteady”—a for- eign name, I assume—escorted us to the hall and seated us on the stage, where there were a number of young ladies of the same nationality, pre- sumably, as Miss Mysteady. The hall rapidly filled until there was no more room for spectators, and then Mr. Hogan introduced me in terms my modesty forbids me to repeat, and instantly there were loud demands for “Speech!” I was prepared and at once began my oration. For a little time the crowd was silent, but soon there were interruptions, which I could not b feel intimated an impatience with my subject. This surp 1 me, had been informed that my audience included men who made their ing by nolitics, and my speech dealt only with topics wh every n cian should be eager to hear discussed. I overheard through all the tu mult frequent expressions of fear from aunt and Josephine, but was silent, though once when I glanced at her I saw that her cheeks eyes burned with indignant reproof of the interruptions. These be more unmannerly, and at last there were churlish demands for “Le Sarah ee t sa to 1 to print,” “Sing it to us” and other irrelevant cries. I am slow to wrath. I felt that my hearers needed just the ins tion I was giving to them and I determined to continue if possible Soon it was impossible, There were cries for me to return to the woods though there are no woods near Beetville; suggestions that my hair was powdered with hayseed and other comments which at last merged into laughter and jeers of such volume and strength that I could not even hear myself. Still, I should have persisted had not a sudden and dra silence distracted me, and, turning to follow the surprised glances o audience, I saw Frances rise from her seat and approach the front of the platform with hand uplifted and eves blazing. Out of the silence, which was now as striking as the tumult had been, her voice rose clear and de- termined. “I am the daughter of the late Jack Lacquerre, who was a leader here when you dogs had a gentleman for leader. Do you remem- ber him? Did he ever fear you?” I was as dumfounded as the other hearers, for there was absolutely no response other than the breath of low, excited questionings. “You know me.” she continued. “You recognize a lady. Why do you not recognize a gentleman when you are so fortunate as to see one. You are ignorant, yet when this gentleman comes to instruct you you act like cowardly beasts., I wish I were a man!” At this point there were interruptions, and to my surprise all of a nature which showed that Frances, instead of offending the men by her words, had pleased them mightily. “Go it, lady!” they cried. with Jack Lacquerre’s girl? and we'll listen!” I was quite overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. Here I was protected in effect by a slender girl, unable to control a mob she quelled with ease. I felt my throat swell, so that for an instant, though I tried, I could not speak. My slow wrath was rising, and I began to see red, as they say of those insane with rage. I wanted some object to vent my anger upon and it was given to me. While nearly every man in the hall was cheering and encouraging Frances a little group near the stage showed that the beer they had imbibed had made them sullen instead of joyous. One of this group shouted at Frances, “We don’t want no swell rag like you to come here and lecture us. To Newport with the other monkeys for yours!” Then I lost control of myself. T jumped from the stage and had that ruffian’s throat in my hands almost before I landed on my feet. A man of my temperament needs much shock of opposition before he is physically aroused. I was struck in the face by one of the man’s com- panions, and then for the first time in my life I exerted all my strength. 1 struck out madly and soon had a cleared space about me, and at my feet lay my assailants. Others came in to assail, but ahead of them was Hogan, with some companions, and they fought for me. There was a few minutes’ uproar, and then Hogan announced that I would continue my remarks unless there were any more gentlemen who needed attention. Although I was conscious that I had acted most unwisely, to my surprise I was now frantically cheered and encouraged to go on. However, I abandoned my prepared speech, and in my passion I talked fiercely about the rights of free speech, and was soon as enthusiastically cheered as I had been jeered. At the conclusion of my remarks I looked about for my party, and found them gone. Hozan explained that aunt and cousin hysteri- cally demanded to be taken away and he had escorted them to my car- riage, with Miss Lacquerre, and sent them home, the latter protesting that she wanted to see the finish, and going reluctantly. 1 supposed that I had made an utter and dismal failure of my entrance into politics, but to my surprise I was visited to-day by a committee con- sisting of Hogan and the men I had thrashed, and they answered me that 1 had made a genuine hit and could get the support of every man in the district for anything I wanted. Hogan as good as confessed that he had started in to confidence me out of what money he could, but now he really saw a future for me. “Ah, then,” said I, “my remarks on imperialsim made an effect after all.” “You are the real thing. What's the matter She’s all right. You write Reuben’s speeches “No, boss,” replied Hogan. “What makes you strong with my gang the man you first choked last night—this gent with his throat tied has been the champion and unlicked middleweight of the district.” “That’s right, boss,” hoarsely whispered the man with his throat tied up. It was comprehensible enough that I had made a good effect upon such men by a display of physical courage and strength, but what am I to judge of the world, Uncle Silas, now that I have this minute received this astonishing note: “Dear Mr. Larkmead: That reall was a very stupid speech you tried to make last night, but the way you thrashed those ruffians was quite too beautiful. Mamma is dying to hear all abont i you mav come to tea at five. Sincerely, RANCES LACQUERRE Really, Uncle Silas, have all my studies been labor in vain? Do T & nothing of man—or woman? Affectionately, REUBEN.