"What are we going to see this evening Mother?" asked little Damia, when that long-suffering lady had finally located their seats aad hey were' comfortably sotied in them, "I don't know, Damiu," was her response; "and you are not to begin pestering with your absurd. questions."
"But you have a programme," persisted the youngster, "D know, dear, but that's no guide to what will be pulled off" Instructed his mother, "Then why go to the bother and expense of a programme?" he want. ed to know.
"That, my son, is something of 1 problem," she answered, with sigh; "Do be quiet now, there's a dear, I shall have all' T can do, Presently, to make out what being said on the stage. ngster contented himself ig about the theatre unt suddenly the orchestra struck up, when he was once more consumed by curiosity, "What is the lady at. the piano trying to do, upset the instrument, Mother?" he ventured, after some moments of squirming' about, "No, Damiu, she is showing her temperament," was the reply; "Un= pss you show temperament by doing 4 sort of daily dozen whilst at, the plane, you are not a musician, "But, Mother, you grow very annoyed when I throw the musie about when at my plane-practices' the youngster urged.
You are too young to exhibit temperament," she admonished him; "Yours is simply temper."
Does the Indy know the dive parently not. Now do be quiet, and let _me got an iden of what's going on." there be any dan was his next query, "twill be called that, no doubt," she informed him, "What is that Indy doing, Mfother?
"She is singing, Damiu."
"ly singing a" painful process, Mother, that she makes such awful faces about it?
"It is frequently: painful to those who must listen "Why docs the gentleman reel about in that fashion?" was the child's nest poser; "Is he suddenly taken ill?"
"No, Damiv, he that he is drunk." ig pretending "But thought that drunken people wore not nice, Mother."
"Only off the stage, Damiu, Drunkeness on the stage is uproar-tously funny. Every show niust have' at least one drunkard in ity particularly if it is a performance by amateurs, so that we may. see how well the young people of the community: comport themselves, will be even more popular if the luxury tax ever comes into effect, because drunkenness will then be expensive."
"What did he' say, just nov, Mother, that has caused everyone '0 laugh so heartily?"
"You are far too young to be told, my son. Te was a very broad reman "But I understood that such things were taboo among gentlefule,* Mathe "Only off the stage, Damiu, only off the' stage. Do You sce' that lady over there why is still shaking her sides over the remark? If someone were to. make the very same remark to her on the street for in the drawing room to-morrow
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.