Sketcher.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2082, 17 June 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Sketcher.

Mr. and Mrs. BowserBy Mbs. Bowses. "I think well have • few game* euchre thia evening," observed Mr. Bo w ’ ■er, w he laid aaide hia paper the other was an observation which filled me with terror, for Mr. Bowser is, to aay the least, a singular opponent in any game of luck or chance. •• Well, if you suggest it," I replied. “ Suggest it 1 Ofcourse I suggest it 1 Von speak as if it was a crime for me to suggest a game of euchre. Maybe you want me to go to some saloon and phry cards!”

*• Oh, no, but—the last time wo played —von know—'"

I know what I I know you put a queen on my ace and claimed the trick mid came out a game ahead. That's what I know, Mrs. Bowser, and I want no more sn-li work. I play an honest j tintf. and you've got to do the same. If there's one thing I despise above another it is to see a [>eison cheating me in a friendly game of cards.”

“ I—l hope we won’t dispute either, Mr. Bowser.”

" Of course not—that is, T shan't give yon any opportunity to exhibit your violent temper. I d learn how to curb it if I were you. Violent language in a man can bo excused, but in the case of a woman no one forgives it. We ll cut for deal."

Mr. Bowser got the deal and turned up a spade, and 1 held the two bowers and ace in my hand. 1 had a point, i f course, and therefore ordered it up. •• What for," demanded Mr. Bowser. You are at your old tricks right from tiie start." “ I want it »i«dcs. ” “ Oh, you do ' Well, 111 make a very sick woman of you before you get through with this game 1" He took it up and I made two points and counted them. “ What are you counting two fur ' lie indignantly exclaimed. ” Didn’t I take all the tricks "Maybe you did, but don’t be bo anxious to count. Some folks get most of tlmir games that way !" Then I dealt and turned up a heart, and he ]tassed, I took it up, and he led the ace of clubs. Not having any suit I took his card with the nine of hearts.

“ Here you put a club on there he shouted.

“ But I haven't any.” “ Yes, you have 1 Nobody ever saw a cuchre-hand without a club in it !" "Mr. Bowser, do you think I'd tell a falsehood (" “Yes, I do! You want to win this game so as to brag over me, and you won’t stop at anything to do it 1" I showed him that my hand contained only hearts and diamonds, and lie growled : “Yes, but I wasn’t watching you, and you probably picked out a hand to suit yourself. It’s your play. ” I led for him and took every trick again and counted two. “ How’d you get four all of a sudden he shouted, as he half arose from the table. “ Why, I’ve made two twice, haven’t ir “Oh 1 Don’t you iry any of your I ricks on me, Mrs. Bowser, for I won't submit. IT! now show you that you don't know beans about euchre.

He dealt and turned up a diamond, and I pSS'ed. “ fJh, yi.u pass, do you i Wonder you didn't order it up and try to make something ! Well, in order to euchre you, I'll turn it down and you can make it. ” “ I'll make it clubs. ’ “ What 1 You can't do it 1 When you play with me you’ve got to play according to Hoyle ! ’ •‘l'm playing that way, Mr. Bowser." “ I’ll be hanged if you are ; but that’s what 1 might have expected from you ! Play to that heart !’’ I had four clubs and a spade, and I had to trump. “ You put on that heart !” “ I haven't any.” “ Don't yon attempt to nig on me ■ ” 1 showed him my hand and then led out, and the result was that I took three tricks and scored my point and the game. "What are ygu turning your counters down for ?” he gasped. " Because I'm out, and that's a Chicago on you.’’ "Not by a durned sight 1 You are only three counts !” "Six, my dear,” and I didn’t need but five.” "Ob, you didn't. There’s the jack, and you can play alone ! When 1 can't ait down to a game of cards in my own house with my own wife without bein'/ cheated and insulted it’s time to stop playing. Mrs. Bowser, don’t you never dragoon me into playing again." “ But I didn’t ask you to thia time.’’ " You didn’t V

“ Why, no ?” “ Very well I du.-t keep right on with your insults and see how you will come out in the end 1 Perhaps you’ll get opera tickets and new hats and lots of otherlittle surprises, but I doubt it 1 Mrs. Bowser, I’m going down town. You needn't sit up for me, fur I may not return in a week. Kiss the ba'-v for me, and if I never returfi tell him that his father waa driven—aye 1 driven from his home 1"

Excess of Women over Mot in Jt,ng land - There ire hi- "»iIC .. •> -e ■ , , ~.i

men in Great Britain ! At there was I this awful disparity of num)>"i- at the last census, and 1 don't suppose that the di.-pro-portion haa decreased since the,■. in fact, it seems that it is likely t . by. , me gr r.tcr and greater, for more pir.= arc born than boys, and men do not as a rule live as 1.-ng as women. This immense fact mean-, perhaps, very little to married women, unless they are mother* of a large expensive family of j daughters ; but to the unappropriated among I ns it is fraught with the direct meaning. We | an taught from our nursery days upward to ; look forward to the time when w ■ shall be , nanied “and lire happy ever after." It. | not all the nursery stories and fairy tales end with wedding bells ? And T *up|tose that it is natural for a woman to like to have a home of her own an 1 ah'.- and and children. There are women who ,r , .Id b-pi.-c us for making such a confess!. n ; but do you not think with me that au unshared life is incomplete I In the face of all this are thosu dreadful six figures, the female overplus of 9th,000. It is therefore quite apparent that •• weal hundred thousand of as most remain single, and may as well look the matter straight in the face, and. while wc hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Mar tinge to a great majority of woman means a provision. Tailing this, they must provide f.-r themMlws. So every girl should be brought up to some occupation that would bring her maintenance, fathers ought to «cc rhat their daughters are as careful!, train, d with a view . to rdf support as their sons are.