Central High School - Almanac Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

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Platonic Friendship vs. Love. BY ISABELLE WHEELER, ,00. S Miss Wilson at home, Kate? No ma'am, she has just gone to a neighbor's, but I think she will be back soon. Won't you come in and wait for her? replied Miss WilcoX's maid. Yes, I think I will. Come, Beatrice, Margaret won't be long. We'll go up into the study. The speaker, Amy Rodgers, entered the house as if she was quite at home. She was apretty girl, a decided blonde. She and her friend Beatrice Lawton had just returned from doing some errands, and as the day was exceptionally warm, they had stopped at their friend's house to rest. How Margaret Wilson can ever sit in this pretty room and write such dry things on Woman's Suffrage is more than I can see, said Amy as she sat down at Margaret's desk. She has everything she wants, even a pretty face. Why doesn't she stop this nonsense and marry Eugene Baldwin? Don't worry, Amy, she will before long. I think they're engaged now, replied her friend. You know platonic friendship is such a farce. It always turns into love. Not always girls, Eugene and I are going to be the exception. Amy and Beatrice looked at each other in astonish- ment. They were glad, however, that Margaret came in before they had said any more.

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Said the maid, My good man, what you say is quite true You are worthy of help-here's a drachma for you. Now pray, while I stand here and wait for the car, Sing the typical tune of Zanzibar, Or whatever it is that you sing so well. So he opened his mouth with an awful yell And began his Immortal Song. Now, the crowd got thin, and the hour late, And his legs got cramped as alone he sate And sang his Immortal Song. So he shouldered the lyre and the rickety chair, And he called the dog with the curly hair. He groaned as he lifted his money box And exclaimed, By Zeus, here's a load for an ox! A pretty big lift for a man that is old. Now, confound them, why don't they pay me in gold For my grand, Immortal Song? Then he slopped along through the drizzling rain Till he came to his humble hut again. He wondered, as he lay alone, From whence his morning meal would comeg And he thought, Though my song shall immortal be, It can live on air-not so with me- I'm not an immortal song. WK

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H Well, said Margaret, as she took off her hat and sat down, ready for a chat, I am Writing an article now for the Sun which you must read. I am sure it will convince you that I am right in this question. I have studied it so long-she was only twenty-four-and learned so much about it. Eugene is such a help to me,-Now, girls, stop looking at each other in such a significant Way. I am not in love With him, nor does he love me. Weire very good friends, that's all. I-Ie says that I am as good as a man to talk to because I can talk on so many subjects. And he isn't afraid to speak his opinion. Why I Wouldn't change such friendship for the World. Isn't it strange he is here most of the time? Youill marry him yet, Margaret, just see if you don't.U Marry? Nonsense! I never intend to marry any man. I haven't time. My Work is to free Women from slavery. Slavery is just What it is. When I think of the Way in Which- '-' Wait a minute, my dear. Remember you are not on the platform. It's too hot a day, and besides, your face gets so red, you aren't nearly so pretty. NOW, Amy, that's just like you. But I'll make you think of other things beside pretty faces and clothes. Don't Worry about me, dear. I can cook and sew now, better than you can. But when the thermometer is up to ninety in the shade, I believe in being comfortable. You see I'm not such a slave as you try to make out. Besides, I think it,s your duty to make some good man happy and not try to free Women when Women are contented and vvouldn't be free for the World. I suppose you even Want to reform their clothes. For my own part, I think my lavvn gown is a great deal prettier than your tailor suit and much more comfortable. No, thank you, I prefer frills to neckties.- But, really Beatrice, We must go. We're going out to lunch. Well, Beatrice, said Margaret, I hope I haveu't bored you so, you'll never come again. It is needless to ask