Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-06

was a lady of quite remarkable scientific at
tainments. As honorary secretary of the
ladies branch of the local Eclectic Society
she shone with never-failing brilliance.
1t was even whispered that on the occasion
of the delivery of Prof Tomlirson's sug.
gestive lecture "On the Perigenesis of the
Plastidule" she was the only woman in the
room who could follow the lecturer even as
far as the end of his title. In the seclusioI
of the Lindens she supported Darwin,
laughed at Mivart, doubted Haeckel and
shcok her head at Weissman, with a famil-
iarity which made her the admiration of the
university professors and the terror of the
few students who ventured to cross her
learned but hospitable threshold. Mrs.
Esdaile had, of course, detractors. 1t is
the privilege of exceptional merit. There
were bitter feminine whispers as to
the cramming from encyclopedias
and text books which preceded each
learned meeting, and as to the
care with which in her own housa the con-
versarion was artfullv confined to those
particular channels with which the hostess
was familiar. Tales that were, too, of bril-
liant speeches written out in some mascu-
line hand. which had been committed to
memory by the ambitious lady, and had
afterward flashed out as eXtempore elueida-
Iions al some dark, half-explored corner of
modern science. 1t was even said that these
little blocks of information got jumbled up
occasionally in their bearers mind, so that
after an chronological lecture she would
burst into a geological harangue, or vice
versa, to the great confusion of her
audience. So ran the gossip of the mali
cious, but those who knew her best were
agreed that she was very charming and
clever little person.
1t would have been a strange thing had
Mrs. Esdaile not been popular among local
scientists. for her pretty house, her charm
ing grounds and all the hospitality which an
income of $4,000 a year will admit OF, were
always at their command. On her pleasant
lawns in the summer, and round her draw
ing room fire in the winter, there was much
high talk of microbes and leucocytes and
sterilised bacteria, where thin, ascetic ma
terialists from the university upheld the
importance of this life against round, COM
Portable champions of orthodoxy from the
Cathedral Close And in the heat Of
thrust and parry, when scientific proof ran
full tilt against infexible faith, a word from
the clever widow, or an opportune rattle
over the keys by her pretty daughter Rose,
would bring all back to harmony once more.
Rose Esdaile had just passed her Goth
year, and was looked upon as one of the
beauties of BirchespOol. Her face was,
perhaps, triae long for perfect symmetry,
but her eyes were fine, her expression
kindly, and her complexion beautiful 1t
was an open secret, too, that she had under
her fathers will $500 year in her own
right With such advantages a far palmer
girl than Rose ESdaile might create a stir in
the society of a provincial town.
A scientific conversazione in a private
house is an onerous thing to organize,
yet mother and daughter had not
shrunk from the task. On the morning
of which write, thev sat together. sur
veying their accomplished labors, with the
pleasant feeling that nothing remained to be
done save to receIoe the congratulations of
their friends. With the assistance OF Rupert,
the son of the house, they had assembled
from all parts Of Birchesrool objects of
scientific interest, which now adorned the
long tables in the drawing room. Indeed,
the full tide Of curiosities Of every sort
which had swelled into the house had over
flowed the rooms deTcted to the meeting,
and had surged down the broad stairs TO in
wade the dining room and the passage. The
whole villa had become museum. Specimens
of the fora and fauna of the Philippine
Islands, a 10-fOOt turtle carapace from the
Galapagos, the os fronts of the Pos months
as ShJt by Captain Charles Beesly in the
Thib 3tan Himalavas, the bacillus of Koch
cultivated on gelatine-these and a thou
sand other such trophies adorned the tables
upon which the two ladies gazed that
morning.
you've really managed it splendidly,
ma, said the young lady, craning her neck
up to give her mother a congratulatory
kiss. at was so brave of you TO undertake
il. ="
81 think that it will do, " purcd Mrs. Es-
dale eomplacently. "But do hope that
the phonograph will work without hitch.
You know at the last meeting of the British
Association got Prof Standerton to repeat
into 1t his remarks on the life history OF the
MedusifoTm GOnophore.
''How funny 1t seems exclaimed Rose,
glancing at the square box-like apparatus,
which stood in the post of honor on the CEN
trsl table, ''tO think that this wood and
metal will begin to speak just like human
being"
Hardly that, dear. Of course the poor
thing can say nothing except what is said to
IT. You always know exactly what is COM
ing But do hope that it viii work all
right"
''Rupert will see to it when he comes up
from the garden. He understands all about
them. Oh, ma, l feel so nervous" "
Mrs. Esdaile looked anxiously down at
her daughter, and passed her hand caress-
ingly over her rich brown hair. 81 under
stand, she said, in her soothing, cooling
voice, 81 understand"
''He viii expect an answer tonight, ma. I"
Follow your heart, child am sure
that have every confidence in your good
sense and discretion. L would not dictate
20 you upon such a matter" "
''Nou are so good, ma. OF course, as Ru-
pert says We really know very little of
Chsrles-of Captain Beesly. But then, ma,
all that we do know is in his favor"
quite so, dear. He is musical, and we'll
informed; and good-humored, and certainly
extremely handsome. 1t is clear, too, from
what he says, that he has moved in the very
highest circles
1.-THE best in India, ma He was an init
mate friend of the Governor-Generals
You heard yourself what he said yesterday
about the D'Arcies, and Lady Gwendoline
Fairfax and Lord Montague Grosvenor
"Well, dear" said Mrs Esdaile resign
cdly, ''you are old enough to know your
cwn mind. l shall not attempt TO dictate to
you. own that my own hopes were set
upon Prof Stares."
"Oh, ma, think how dreadfully ugly he
is
''But think of his reputation, dear. Little
more than 30, and member of the Royal
Society"
81 couldn't ma don't think / could, if
there was not another man in the world.
But, oh, L do feel so nervous; for you can't
thiak how earnest he is. I must give him
an answer tonight. But they will be here
in an hour Don't you think that we had
baTter 90 to Our roOInS9''
Tho +uo ladies hid r:eap 1,,ba1 iloro