Part 26 (2/2)
Norman lifted his hand for silence.
”I antic.i.p.ate the poet's words. You solemnly protest against the further establishment of a tyranny which shall dare prescribe your food from day to day. I grieve over the necessity of these laws and mingle my tears with yours in advance. But, in the language of a distinguished citizen of the old republic, 'we are confronted by a condition, not a theory.' The council stands adjourned.”
The Bard poured his bitter protest into Catherine's patient ears and left with a growing conviction of her wisdom.
The woman with the drooping eyelids stood watching his retreating figure while a quiet smile of contempt played about her full, sensuous lips.
CHAPTER XX
THE UNCONVENTIONAL
Within a week it was necessary to appoint a commission to formulate an elaborate code of laws regulating various nuisances which had developed in the community.
A kitchen-boy insisted on playing a cornet in his room. He didn't know a musical from a promissory note but he swore he'd become a musician before he died. His efforts came near proving fatal to his neighbours before he was suppressed.
Several women had pet parrots. The people who lived near by strenuously objected. The parrots had to go.
A sailor had brought a monkey whose manners were not appreciated by any one except his master. The monkey had to go. Cats were arraigned for trial and a fierce battle raged over the question of allowing them in the building. The question was finally put to the popular vote in the a.s.sembly and the cats won by a good majority. But strict laws regulating the kind of cats, their number, and their care, were put into force.
Dogs won by a large majority when they were finally put on trial.
The commission on nuisances had finally to make a code of laws regulating table manners and the conduct of all social gatherings.
The one question which all but precipitated a civil war was the problem of dress. Inequality of wages meant, of necessity, inequality of dress.
A desperate effort was made by a large number to force the community to adopt a uniform for both men and women. It was fiercely opposed.
Every woman who believed herself good looking refused to listen to any argument on the subject.
It was necessary at once, however, to formulate some sort of code. A number of men had been coming into the dining-room in their s.h.i.+rt sleeves. Some of them apparently never combed their hair or changed their linen. A number of women had gotten into the habit of coming into the dining-room in loose wrappers of variegated colors and without corsets.
The Bard of Ramcat was particularly severe in his public criticism of these women in the general a.s.sembly of the Brotherhood.
”In the name of beauty, I protest!” he cried. ”Beauty is an attribute of G.o.d. It is woman's first duty to be beautiful, and if she isn't, at least to make man think she is. I insist that she shall have the widest liberty in the choice of dress. Only let her be careful that she is beautiful!”
The poet was heartily applauded, and a resolution was pa.s.sed which embodied his ideas, approving the widest freedom of choice in dress, approving especially unconventional forms of dress, provided always the ideal of beauty was held inviolate.
In his speech advocating the immediate pa.s.sage of the resolution the Bard urged every woman to outdo herself in the struggle for supreme beauty of appearance at the weekly ball on Friday evening.
His resolutions and speech bore surprising fruit.
When the festivities were at their height a crowd of fifteen pretty girls suddenly swept into the brilliantly lighted ball-room in tights!
The sensation was so instantaneous and overwhelming the music stopped with a crash. The orchestra thought somebody had yelled fire.
The girls in their beautiful but unconventional dress tried to appear unconcerned. But even the Bard was appalled at the results.
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