take a round with any little republic that don't want to
be benevolently assimilated."

But I spoke right up, and sez, "He is a good-hearted creeter, Uncle
Sam is, but needs a adviser time and agin, and not bein' willin' to
let wimmen have a word to say, I d'no what will become on him; bime-by
mebby he'll see that he had better hearn to me."

Jest then we hearn a bystander standin' nigh by us talkin' about the
last news from Russia, and I sez to Miss Curzon, "It is too bad about
the war, hain't it?" And she sez, "Yes indeed!" She felt dretful about
it, I could see, and I sez, "So do I. You and I can't stop it, Miss
Curzon; a few ambitious or quarrelsome or greedy politicians will make
a war and then wimmen have to stand it. There hain't nothin' right in
it, seein' they are half of the world, and men couldn't have got into
the world at all if it hadn't been for wimmen, and then when wimmen
has got 'em here, and took care on 'em till they can run alone, then
they go to bossin' her round the first thing and makin' her no end of
trouble, makin' wars and things." And she said she felt jest so, too.
"But," sez I, "excuse me for introducin' personal and political
matters on festive boards" (we wuz standin' on a kind of a platform
built up on the green and velvety grass). Sez I, "I am real glad to
see you lookin' so well, and your companion, too." She did look
handsome as a picter, and handsomer enough sight than some, chromos
and such. And seein' that she had so many to talk to, I withdrawed
myself, but as I kinder backed myself off I backed right into Arvilly,
who wuz takin' out the "Twin Crimes" out of her work-bag, and I sez,
"Arvilly, you shall not canvass Miss Curzon to-night."

And she sez, "I'd like to see you stop me, Josiah Allen's wife, if I
set out to do anything." She looked real beligerent. But I got her
into a corner and appealed to her shiverly and pity, and finally I got
her to put her book up in her work-bag. Arvilly is good-hearted if
you know how to manage her. I knew Miss Curzon would be tired enough
to drop down before we all got away, without being canvassed, if she
has got two hundred hired help in the house.

Well, we roamed along through the beautiful walks, sweet with perfume
and balmy with flowers, brilliant with innumerable lights, and
thronged with a gaily dressed crowd and the air throbbing with
entrancing strains of music.

Robert Strong looked noble and handsome that night; I wuz proud to