Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-02-02
THE BOTKINE BATH.

THE B(yIklNE BATH.
In the morning of su:try July
day, Prof. Botkine of the University
Of California was sitting on his front
steps at Berkeley. He was delight
edly watching the etfo. ts Of his pet
toad to capture q very large angle.
worm. aud his enjoyment. WIS en-.
hanced by the fact that his BEAUTIFUL
German wife, who usually declined
to interest herself in anything which
she even suspected Of connection
with science, was seated beside him,
giving eager little pfessures to his
hand aud uttering q pleased exclama-
ti0n, in her pretty foreign accent
whenever the toad made an extra
effort.
The fact was that she, while cut
ting roses, had been the one to see
the beginning OF the contest, and
felt the ploper pride Of a discoverer.
The toad had been sitting still, look
ing as IL carved by japanese artist,
and giving no sign that 1t saw any,
thing. The worm gave Q little wrig-
gle as it began to come out of the
ground, when. quick as flash, the
toad made leap and seized the end
Of the worm In its mouth.
Then began q tug.of.war. Every
time that the toad gave pull, the
worm drew back. But the toad
was not to be discouraged. 1t tjerked
and .erked, until it fairly stood on
its hind legs. Still, it could not dis
lodge the worm.
At this interesting point a train
whistled.
"Why, Selma" said the professor,
''there is the train already. I had
quite forgotten that / must go TO the
city to-day. Where is my hate"
''Do wait an instant, dear; just see
what this toad is doing" she an
answered, holding him back.
He glanced down and saw the toad
twisting its leg about until the worm
was wrapped twice around it, then
the toad gave q hop, and out came
the worm.
This had been too fascinating a
spectacle to the unwarry professor.
He dashed into the house and back
again, kissed his wife, and, with a
regretful glan-e at her rippling hair
and soft blue eyes, started of.
Suddenly he rushed back.
why, dear, he cried, III forgot
to tell you that Mr.. Smith, the Can
alian who wrote the paper on
bacteria. will he here this afternoon
to stay a day or two. He may come
before am back"
She clasped her hands in mock des-
rair. ''But what shall do with
him?" she walled; ..you know 1 can
not talk science and pollvwogs!"
s'Oh, don't be alarmed. He isn't
SO very drie up. just let him have
a good soaking in bath-tub Then
he will come out perfectly human and
happy. He's an EpRlishman, you
know" and the professor, with
laughing glance at his little wife's
rue ul exp ression, threw dignity and
his coat-tails to the winds as he
matlly ran down the street. Choking
like q great black bird of prey," as
Mrs. Botkine laughingly remarked to
herself.
But she grew sober as she thought
how ruthlessly science and scientists
seemed to dog her unwilling foot
steps Her husband certainly loved
her, but he had a way of becoming
utterly absorbed in his studies, and
then bursting into her reflections
with remarks which sounded posi-
lively ghoulish. He had appeared
only yesterday in her own private
sanctum carrying 'shorrid snake'
by the tail, and, although he had not
yet reached the pitchof Prof. Agassiz
who was said to have consigned In
FAINT serpents. for safe.keeping over
night to his wite's boots she did
not know where his enthusiasm
might lead.
s'l'm half afraid to 60 to sleep"
she had roguishly said to him one
night. "Tm afraid TINT your deep
est interest even In me is only
scientific, and ] believe you are capable
0f cutt ng me open tn see what queer
thing there is In my heart that / love
such lookish old bear with"
s'N0w here was this, Canadian COM
ing! And how; was she to be properly
interested In his old I acterta aud not
disgrace her husband BY betraving
her ignorance on the subject?" she
asked herself.
Manifestly, he must take q. bath,
everything possible must be done to
make that bathroom attractive, 80
that he should stay there as long az