Life — September 7, 1905 — page 37: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OO: POPOOLOOI 9909000000000 00 0020 OG OD OOO OOOO OOO ae ~ work that we have begun can be car- ried out in the future. We are alive But as for these lins- must #0 at once.” ver!” to the situation sics, they said the Mayor, feeling in- stinctively in his breast pocket for a certainlace,sweet-scented handkerchief that he had aptured the night before. muttered the Town Clerk, y of a certain pair of tender eyes came to him cn it is war to the death!” is!” ver !" as the mem The Committee withdrew with their noses high in the air The Mayor and ¢ Town Clerk looked at cach other disconsolate Well, my friend, what next? we keep it up?” “We must! Let us find Paul. He has got us into this delightful fix. Maybe he will have something to sug- gest The Mayor glanced at his watch. “Well,” he said, “if that is the case, we must hurry. I have an engagement this afternoon to go on an old-fash- ioned buggy ride—f I was a young Can st I've taken since man.” “And I'm going to take a little row on the lake—thank heavens we have a lake.” They hurried out in President of the Borough rch of the . They found him manicuring his nails in his private offic “Come now, state of things. Paul, here’s a pretty We are—up against it —I believe that is the correct: term. What's to be done? All our business women have deserted us—all the sal- aried female officers of the city are out on strike. They announce as their ulti- matum that we must go back on all our- “Peaches,” said the Town Clerk, "Yes—peaches and —_lalapaloosas. ow, Paul, your suggestion is respon- sible for this, What do you say?” Paul smiled calmly. “Gentlemen,” he said, “I never yet knew an unjust strike to win. We will, of course, stick it out. I under- stand that the enemy have offered a slight compromise cs, they've offered to introduce a lot of foreign babies. But we won't stand for it, will we? “Not on your life! portations for us No foreign im- Home industries or TISUEAES nothing! While you have been having a good time, however, I have not been idle.” “What have you done?” Paul mechanically arranged his neat cr: Well, I've done this: I've thought it best to acquaint our frivolous vis- itors with the truth. ent, while th You see at pres- are an enthusiastic body, they are small—they are all I could raise at one summer resort. But I've told them to send word to their friends. Why, think of the lonesome girls along the coast. This is going to be a knock-out fight. We need rein- forcements. We're in to st The Mayor and the Town Clerk clasped him by the hands. “Good for you! Splendid work! But I suppose,” said the Mayor, “we should be moderate. We should con- sider the other side a little. You have heard the arguments.” “Certainly. The enemy claims that we can’t get along without them. They say that Besum is the model town it is because the women have been such a large element in its political growth. They say that when their chastening influence is withdrawn, we'll get cor- rupt, and fall into the same state as all the other towns. Well, that may be true. But, gentlemen, just wait and see. All we have to do is to stand to- gether. Don’t weaken.” As the three men went out into the street, signs of disruption were every- where. Groups of corkscrew curls could be seen on every corner, waving wildly. Orators were busy. Oceasion- ally some manly citizen of the town, dressed up in his best clothes, would pass with a lovely creation in pink and white, and dark looks would be cast upon them on every side. During the next week events were crowded together as never before in the history of the town. The new recruits were constantly arriving, every incom- ing train bearing its quota, and the Mayor and his little body of patriots and lovers were taxed to their utmost resource to provide suitable accommo- dations for their visitors. The fame of the town spread. In the meantime there were confer- ences in the ranks of the enemy. No open violence was shown, but to the out- ward eye they presented a firm front One morning, however, as the Mayor sat in his office idly reading a light novel—for business having been prac- tically suspended, there was little else to do—the Town Clerk burst in, his face radiant “Well,” he exclaimed, aul was right. He knew a thing or two.” What's up?” om wait and see Here they come now. There was a rustling of gowns in the outer office—a peculiar rustle that the Mayor had never heard there be- fore. He walked rapidly to the door. The same Committee, that ten days before had faced him and announced war to the death, once more stood be- fore him. But, oh, how different! The leader, Miss Peasbody, was dressed in a pea-green silk. She had ona hat that, as the Mayor afterwards jocularly stated to the Town Clerk, was a “dream.” She carried in her hand a white feather fan, imported from Paris. Every detail of her costume had been carefully considered “Ah, good morning, your Honor. Declighted.” “Delighted, madam. What can I do for you?” “IT have come to ask you to attend our ball.” “Your ball!” “Yes, In the public school building. It is given by the influential ladies of the town. There will be dancing until four o'clock in the morning—or later. Music by an imported orchestra from the metropolis, Supper at eleven.” She advanced, and in a light kitten- ish way tapped the Mayor on his aston- ished chin. “You will be there,” she said. “I know you'll come—you and all your friends, We will have a grand time.” The Mayor thought of the widow. from Memphis, who was crowding him very close. “But—" he stammered, “I have an engagement for to-night.” “With— “Yes, with——” So I thought. But she is coming, too, See, here is her charming note of acceptance She held out a dainty It was in the widow's handwriting. vote. comicbooks.com