Question

Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

What tone do these lines convey?

a formal and reserved tone
a conversational and inquisitive tone
a dissatisfied and pessimistic tone
a hopeful and idealistic tone