children's talk, when they interrupt grown-ups."

Agin he sot demute for a short space, and then said, "I feel that natural
human instinct is aginst the change. In savage races that knew nothin' of
civilization, male force and strength always ruled."

"Why," sez I, "history tells us of savage races where wimmen always rule,
though I don't think they ort to--ability and goodness ort to rule."

"Nature is aginst it," sez he.

But I sez firmly, "Bees and lots of other insects and animals always have
a female for queen and ruler. They rule blindly and entirely, right on
through the centuries, but we are enlightened and should not encourage it.
In my opinion the male bee has just as good a right to be monarch as his
female pardner has, if he is as good and knows as much. I never believed in
the female workin' ones killin' off the male drones to save winterin' 'em;
they might give 'em some light chores to do round the hive to pay for their
board. I love justice and that would be _my_ way."

Agin he sithed. "Modern history don't seem to favor the scheme--" But his
axent wuz as weak as a cat and his boughten smile seemed crackin' and
wearin' out; he knowed better.

Sez I, "We won't argy long on that p'int, for I might overwhelm you if
I approved of overwhelmin', but, will merely ask you to cast one eye on
England. Was the rain of Victoria the Good less peaceful and prosperous
than that of the male rulers who preceded her? And you can then throw your
other eye over to Holland: is their sweet queen less worthy and beloved
to-day than other European monarchs? And is her throne more shaky and