what diantha did-第17章
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Dankshire； shaking hands with her warmly。 〃We have at heard so much of
your beautiful work here； and we admire your attitude！ Now would you be
willing to give a paperor a talkto our club； the Home and Culture
Club； some Wednesday； on The True Nature of Domestic Industry？〃
Mrs。 Ree took Miss Bell's hand with something of the air of a Boston
maiden accosting a saint from Hindoostan。 〃If you only would！〃 she
said。 〃I am sure it would shed light on this great subject！〃
Miss Bell smiled at them both and looked at Mrs。 Porne inquiringly。
〃I should be delighted to have you do it；〃 said her employer。 〃I know
it would be very useful。〃
〃Is there any date set？〃 asked Miss Bell。
〃Any Wednesday after February；〃 said Mrs。 Dankshire。
〃WellI will come on the first Wednesday in April。 If anything should
happen to prevent I will let you know in good season； and if you should
wish to postpone or alter the programshould think better of the
ideajust send me word。 I shall not mind in the least。〃
They went away quite jubilant； Miss Bell's acceptance was announced
officially at the next club…meeting； and the Home and Culture Club felt
that it was fulfilling its mission。
WHAT DIANTHA DID
CHAPTER VII。
HERESY AND SCHISM。
You may talk about religion with a free and open mind；
For ten dollars you may criticize a judge；
You may discuss in politics the newest thing you find；
And open scientific truth to all the deaf and blind；
But there's one place where the brain must never budge！
CHORUS。
Oh； the Home is Utterly Perfect！
And all its works within！
To say a word about it
To criticize or doubt it
To seek to mend or move it
To venture to improve it
Is The Unpardonable Sin！
〃Old Song。〃
Mr。 Porne took an afternoon off and came with his wife to hear their
former housemaid lecture。 As many other men as were able did the same。
All the members not bedridden were present； and nearly all the guests
they had invited。
So many were the acceptances that a downtown hall had been taken； the
floor was more than filled； and in the gallery sat a block of servant
girls； more gorgeous in array than the ladies below whispering excitedly
among themselves。 The platform recalled a 〃tournament of roses；〃 and；
sternly important among all that fragrant loveliness； sat Mrs。 Dankshire
in 〃the chair〃 flanked by Miss Torbus； the Recording Secretary； Miss
Massing； the Treasurer； and Mrs。 Ree； tremulous with importance in her
official position。 All these ladies wore an air of high emprise； even
more intense than that with which they usually essayed their public
duties。 They were richly dressed； except Miss Torbus； who came as near
it as she could。
At the side； and somewhat in the rear of the President； on a chair quite
different from 〃the chair；〃 discreetly gowned and of a bafflingly serene
demeanor； sat Miss Bell。 All eyes were upon hereven some opera
glasses。
〃She's a good…looker anyhow；〃 was one masculine opinion。
〃She's a peach；〃 was another； 〃Tell youthe chap that gets her is well
heeled！〃 said a third。
The ladies bent their hats toward one another and conferred in flowing
whispers； and in the gallery eager confidences were exchanged； with
giggles。
On the small table before Mrs。 Dankshire； shaded by a magnificent bunch
of roses； lay that core and crux of all parliamentry dignity； the gavel；
an instrument no self…respecting chairwoman may be without； yet which
she still approaches with respectful uncertainty。
In spite of its large size and high social standing； the Orchardina Home
and Culture Club contained some elements of unrest； and when the yearly
election of officers came round there was always need for careful work
in practical politics to keep the reins of government in the hands of
〃the right people。〃
Mrs。 Thaddler； conscious of her New York millions； and Madam
Weatherstone； conscious of her Philadelphia lineage； with Mrs。 Johnston
A。 Marrow （〃one of the Boston Marrows！〃 was awesomely whispered of her）；
were the heads of what might be called 〃the conservative party〃 in this
small parliament； while Miss Miranda L。 Eagerson； describing herself as
'a journalist；' who held her place in local society largely by virtue of
the tacit dread of what she might do if offendedled the more radical
element。
Most of the members were quite content to follow the lead of the solidly
established ladies of Orchard Avenue； especially as this leadership
consisted mainly in the pursuance of a masterly inactivity。 When wealth
and aristocracy combine with that common inertia which we dignify as
〃conservatism〃 they exert a powerful influence in the great art of
sitting still。
Nevertheless there were many alert and conscientious women in this large
membership； and when Miss Eagerson held the floor； and urged upon the
club some active assistance in the march of events； it needed all Mrs。
Dankshire's generalship to keep them content with marking time。
On this auspicious occasion； however； both sides were agreed in interest
and approval。 Here was a subject appealing to every woman present； and
every man but such few as merely 〃boarded〃； even they had memories and
hopes concerning this question。
Solemnly rose Mrs。 Dankshire； her full silks rustling about her； and let
one clear tap of the gavel fall into the sea of soft whispering and
guttural murmurs。
In the silence that followed she uttered the momentous announcements：
〃The meeting will please come to order；〃 〃We will now hear the reading
of the minutes of the last meeting；〃 and so on most conscientiously
through officer's reports and committees reports to 〃new business。〃
Perhaps it is their more frequent practice of religious rites； perhaps
their devout acceptance of social rulings and the dictates of fashion；
perhaps the lifelong reiterance of small duties at home； or all these
things together； which makes women so seriously letter…perfect in
parliamentry usage。 But these stately ceremonies were ended in course
of time； and Mrs。 Dankshire rose again； even more solemn than before；
and came forward majestically。
〃Members…and guests；〃 she said impressively； 〃this is an occasion
which brings pride to the heart of every member of the Home and Culture
Club。 As our name implies； this Club is formed to serve the interests
of The Homethose interests which stand first； I trust； in every human
heart。〃
A telling pause； and the light patter of gloved hands。
〃Its second purpose；〃 pursued the speaker； with that measured delivery
which showed that her custom； as one member put it； was to 〃first write
and then commit；〃 〃is to promote the cause of Culture in this community。
Our aim is Culture in the broadest sense； not only in the curricula of
institutions of learning； not only in those spreading branches of study
and research which tempts us on from height to height〃（〃proof of
arboreal ancestry that；〃 Miss Eagerson confided to a friend； whose
choked giggle attracted condemning eyes）〃but in the more intimate
fields of daily experience。〃
〃Most of us； however widely interested in the higher education； are
stilland find in this our highest honorwives and mothers。〃 These
novel titles called forth another round of applause。
〃As such；〃 continued Mrs。 Dankshire； 〃we all recognize the
difficultthe well…nigh insuperable problems of the〃she glanced at
the gallery now paying awed attention〃domestic question。〃
〃We know how on the one hand our homes yawn unattended〃（〃I yawn while
I'm attendingeh？〃 one gentleman in the rear suggested to his
neighbor）while on the other the ranks of mercenary labor are
overcrowded。 Why is it that while the peace and beauty； the security
and comfort； of a good home； with easy labor and high pay； are open to
every young woman； whose circumstances oblige her to toil for her
living； she blindly refuses these true advantages and loses her health
and too often what is far more precious！in the din and tumult of the
factory； or the dangerous exposure of the public counter。〃
Madam Weatherstone was much impressed at this point； and beat her black
fan upon her black glove emphatically。 Mrs。 Thaddler also nodded； which
meant a good dea
