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Literary
May 26, 1916
The Tacoma Times
Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington
What is this article about?
In 'Confessions of a Wife,' Mollie shares a joyful letter from Mary about her happy marriage to Max, their passion for collecting rare books, and a shocking encounter with Jack Waverly's conventionally proper mother dancing in a Paris cafe with henna-tinted hair, shattering ideals of maternal propriety.
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OCR Quality
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Excellent
Full Text
Confessions of a Wife
"I too have a letter from Mary?" asked Mollie eagerly.
'Yes, and I am sure you will rejoice with me in her happiness.
She also tells me some rather startling news which, taken in conjunction with your letter from your mother, will probably make you smile.
"Mary says: 'I cannot express to you, dear Margie, how unhappy your continued state of ill health makes me.
Of course, you know, dear, that to me you have always been nearer than a sister could possibly be.
'Margie, I did not know it was possible for any one to be as happy as I am. Max is the dearest boy on earth, and his constant and loving care of me is balm to my bruised soul.
'We have been buying books, such books! And to think that they are mine; that I am not buying them for anyone else; that I am going to handle them and love them! Only a confirmed book fiend can realize the joy that is Max's and mine in being able to buy these lovely copies of uncut first editions. Yesterday we found an exquisitely illuminated Book of Hours. Max surreptitiously hugged me and the book which was in my arms as the clerk went out in the other room for a box for it.
'Of course, we took it home ourselves.
It was much too precious to trust to other hands than ours, although we allowed a complete set of the Kipling pamphlets to be sent.
'But I must not rave about our book fad. I am only doing this to show you how happy we are and that our tastes are alike in every particular. Sometimes, Margie, I think that counts more than love for happiness in marriage even
'Max's ambition is to have the finest private library in the United States, and I'm going to help him get it.
'You know how simply I like to dress. Well I am more abstemious in frocks than ever, but I never miss them and Max says I am the prettiest woman in Paris when I stand in a book shop with a rare edition clasped to my breast as though it were a child.
'However, we are not always hunting book auctions and shops.
The other evening we went to one of the cafes where they dance. At first I could not believe my eyes, but at last I knew I was looking at Jack Waverly's mother dancing among the habitues of the Latin quarter.
"The good-natured, bald-headed man who was dancing with her had eyes only for her, ad, truly Margie, she was "a fine figure of a woman.
"'She has grown thinner and she has tinted her hair with henna.'
"Can you beat that!" exclaimed Mollie in horrified tones.
"No but just try to think of your conventional mother doing these things that she would have cut you or Mary dead for doing
"Which just goes to show that your Mother is one of those conventionally good women who believe in doing in Rome what the Romans do."
Then I laughed, little book.
The idea of mother Waverly-Trent with henna-tinted hair was too funny.
Mollie looked up with wet eyes and I truly felt sorry for her.
It must be heartbreaking to have one's ideals of "mother" shattered, and yet I am not sure that I do not like Dick's mother
"I too have a letter from Mary?" asked Mollie eagerly.
'Yes, and I am sure you will rejoice with me in her happiness.
She also tells me some rather startling news which, taken in conjunction with your letter from your mother, will probably make you smile.
"Mary says: 'I cannot express to you, dear Margie, how unhappy your continued state of ill health makes me.
Of course, you know, dear, that to me you have always been nearer than a sister could possibly be.
'Margie, I did not know it was possible for any one to be as happy as I am. Max is the dearest boy on earth, and his constant and loving care of me is balm to my bruised soul.
'We have been buying books, such books! And to think that they are mine; that I am not buying them for anyone else; that I am going to handle them and love them! Only a confirmed book fiend can realize the joy that is Max's and mine in being able to buy these lovely copies of uncut first editions. Yesterday we found an exquisitely illuminated Book of Hours. Max surreptitiously hugged me and the book which was in my arms as the clerk went out in the other room for a box for it.
'Of course, we took it home ourselves.
It was much too precious to trust to other hands than ours, although we allowed a complete set of the Kipling pamphlets to be sent.
'But I must not rave about our book fad. I am only doing this to show you how happy we are and that our tastes are alike in every particular. Sometimes, Margie, I think that counts more than love for happiness in marriage even
'Max's ambition is to have the finest private library in the United States, and I'm going to help him get it.
'You know how simply I like to dress. Well I am more abstemious in frocks than ever, but I never miss them and Max says I am the prettiest woman in Paris when I stand in a book shop with a rare edition clasped to my breast as though it were a child.
'However, we are not always hunting book auctions and shops.
The other evening we went to one of the cafes where they dance. At first I could not believe my eyes, but at last I knew I was looking at Jack Waverly's mother dancing among the habitues of the Latin quarter.
"The good-natured, bald-headed man who was dancing with her had eyes only for her, ad, truly Margie, she was "a fine figure of a woman.
"'She has grown thinner and she has tinted her hair with henna.'
"Can you beat that!" exclaimed Mollie in horrified tones.
"No but just try to think of your conventional mother doing these things that she would have cut you or Mary dead for doing
"Which just goes to show that your Mother is one of those conventionally good women who believe in doing in Rome what the Romans do."
Then I laughed, little book.
The idea of mother Waverly-Trent with henna-tinted hair was too funny.
Mollie looked up with wet eyes and I truly felt sorry for her.
It must be heartbreaking to have one's ideals of "mother" shattered, and yet I am not sure that I do not like Dick's mother
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Epistolary
Dialogue
What themes does it cover?
Love Romance
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Marriage Happiness
Book Collecting
Social Conventions
Maternal Ideals
Paris Cafe
Henna Hair
Literary Details
Title
Confessions Of A Wife
Form / Style
Narrative With Embedded Letters And Dialogue
Key Lines
"Margie, I Did Not Know It Was Possible For Any One To Be As Happy As I Am. Max Is The Dearest Boy On Earth, And His Constant And Loving Care Of Me Is Balm To My Bruised Soul."
"Only A Confirmed Book Fiend Can Realize The Joy That Is Max's And Mine In Being Able To Buy These Lovely Copies Of Uncut First Editions."
"The Other Evening We Went To One Of The Cafes Where They Dance. At First I Could Not Believe My Eyes, But At Last I Knew I Was Looking At Jack Waverly's Mother Dancing Among The Habitues Of The Latin Quarter."
"She Has Grown Thinner And She Has Tinted Her Hair With Henna."
It Must Be Heartbreaking To Have One's Ideals Of "Mother" Shattered, And Yet I Am Not Sure That I Do Not Like Dick's Mother