of this club-house have delegated to me the important, and I may add
highly agreeable, task of showing you the world. They have noted of late
years the growth of that feeling of unrest which is becoming every day
more and more conspicuous in feminine circles in all parts of the
universe--on the earth, where women are clamoring to vote, and to be
allowed to go out late at night without an escort; in Hades, where, as you
are no doubt aware, the management of the government has fallen almost
wholly into the hands of the Furies; and even in the halls of Jupiter
himself, where, I am credibly informed, Juno has been taking private
lessons in the art of hurling thunderbolts--information which the
extraordinary quality of recent electrical storms on the earth would seem
to confirm. Thunderbolts of late years have been cast hither and yon in a
most erratic fashion, striking where they were least expected, as those of
you who keep in touch with the outer world must be fully aware. Now,
actuated by their usual broad and liberal motives, the men of Hades wish
to meet the views of you ladies to just that extent that your views are
based upon a wise selection, in turn based upon experience, and they have
come to me and in so many words have said, 'Mr. Kidd, we wish the women of
Hades to see the world. We want them to be satisfied. We do not like this
constantly increasing spirit of unrest. We, who have seen all the life
that we care to see, do not ourselves feel equal to the task of showing
them about. We will pay you liberally if you will take our House-boat,
which they have always been anxious to enter, and personally conduct our
beloved ones to Paris, London, and elsewhere. Let them see as much of life
as they can stand. Accord them every privilege. Spare no expense; only
bring them back again to us safe and sound.' These were their words,
ladies. I asked them why they didn't come along themselves, saying that
even if they were tired of it all, they should make some personal
sacrifice to your comfort; and they answered, reasonably and well, that
they would be only too glad to do so, but that they feared they might