A CASE OF CRUELTY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19847, 16 January 1920, Page 7

A CASE OF CRUELTY.

11 hat a lot of violence is recorded in the papers! ’ remarked the sensitive fiiau. The war seems to have blunted human toolings.” Y'r suro L has,” said the burly nn ’ Ka ' v iln instance yesterday.'’ ilio sensitive man shivered. “AA r hat was it—hut perhaps you had bettor not I get awfully upset when

‘ A woman, too,” resumed tho bnrlv man. “She seized a little mite of in tiling—that big (ho stretched his- hands about twelve inches), shook it, banged it, squeezed it ”

‘•Horrible!” cried the sensitive man luisted it. threw it down on a chair, and walked aoonr. scowling and frowning at it._ Then she went for it again, pulling it about as if she would pull it in half— ”

“ Oli, don’t tell mo any more,” begged the sensitive man. The burly man ignored him. He was carried a pay by his tale- “ Then she took a piece of silk cord and bound it tightly round its middle, untied it, scowling again, and then twisted it tighter. Then she banged it again.” ‘‘Too horrible!” “ Then she took a. needle ” “Not a woman—a fiend!!” shouted the sensitive man.

“Great Scot! that wasn't the end of it,” resumed the burly man. “ Unsatisfied, she throw it down and walked round it again, scowling more than ever and muttering to herself.” “ AVhero is woman’s pity and tenderness? What’s become of it? That’s what I want, to know!” demanded tho sensitive man.

“ Then she went for it again, lugging it, about as if she would tear it in bits.”

“I can’t stand any more. Didn’t anybody interfere?”

( “Interfere? Bless your heart, no. She called another woman and they both stood glaring at it. They worked each other up and each, had a go at it.” “ Appalling.” “It lasted half an hour.” Y'AVhy didn’t you intervene, then? Where’s yonr own humanity? AVliat did yon do?” “' I .*at and smoked.” The sensitive man flamed up. “Yon ought to he ashamed of yourself- You wore as bad as the women. AVomcn! Why should ] call them women? Tigers!! Ghouls! Jezebels 1” “Hold hard,’’ interposed the burly man: “ one of them's my wife.” “ i don’t caro.” spluttered the sensitive man. “ That any woman claiming tho name of mother should ” “ She isn’t a mother,” corrected tho burly man. " Then whoso child was it?” “ It wasn’t a child. It was n bat. that she was re-shaping and rc-trim-ming.” '• You think ynn’vo sold me, don’t yon?” said the sensitive man acidly. “ Yes, I think so,” replied the burly nmn—B. T. WELLS BILEX, in the “Daily Alail.”