The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-01-13
THE BOTKINE BATH

OF California was sitting on his front
steps at Berkeley. He was delight.
edly watching the effO Is of his pet
toad TO capture a very large angle.
worm, and his enjoyment was ell
HANGED by the fact that his beautiful
German wife, who usually declined
10 interest herself in anything which
she cven suspected OF a connection
with science. was seated beside him,
giving eager little pfessures TO his
hand and uttering "A pleased eXclama.
tlon, in htr 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 proper pride of a ~discoverer.
The toad had been tting still, look
ing as if carved by a japanese artist,
and giving no sign that IL saw any
thing. The worm gave a little wrig-
gle as il began TO come out OF the
ground, when. quick as a flash, the
toad made a leap and seized the end
OF the worm in its mouth.
Then began a tug-of-war. Every
time that the toad gave a pull, the
worm drew back. But the toad
was not to be discouraged. 1t jerked
and erked, until it fairly stood on
lis hind legs Still, il could not dis
lodge the worm.
At this interesting point a train
whistled.
Why, Selma" said the professor.
"there is the train already. 1 had
quite forgotten that i must 60 TO the
city to-day. Where is my hat?"
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 ii, then
the toad gave a hop, and out came
the worm.
This had been too fascinating a
spectacle TO the unwsrry professor.
He dashed into the house and hack
again, kissed his wife, and. with "A
%regretful glance at her ripping hair
ana loft blue eyes, started of.
Suddenly he rushed back.
Why, dear, he cried. Il forgot
10 tell you that Mr.. smith, the Can
adian who wrote the paper on
bacteria, will he here this afternoon
TO stay a day or two. He may come
before | Am back"
>he clasped her hands in mock des-
pair. But what shall 1 do with
him." she walled: you know l can
not talk science and pollywogs."
''Oh, don't be alarmed. He isn't
50 very drie up. Just let him have
a good soaking in a bath-tub. Then
he will come out perfectly human and
happy. He's an Epglishman, you
KNOW" and the professor, with a
laughing glance at his little wife's
rue I'll exl r~ession, threw dignity and
his coat-tails to the winds as he
madly ran down the street, 'ldbking
like a 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 a "horrid snake
by the tail, and, although be had not
yet reached the pitch Of Prof. Agassiz
who was said to have consigned in
FAINT serpents, for s~afe-keepiDg over
night, TO his wife's boots she did
not know where his enthusiasm
might lead.
I'm half afraid TO 90 to sleep"
she had roguishly said L him one
night. I'm afraid tn II your deer
est interest even in me is only
scientific. and / believe you are capabl,
OF cult n me open To see what queer
thing there IS in my heart that / love
such "A tookish old bear with"
Now here was this Canadian COM
ing. And how was she 10 be properly
interested in his old acteria and not
disgrace her husband by betraying
her ignorance on the %subject?" she
asked herself.
Manifestly. he mast take a bath.
everything possible must he done 10
make that bathroom attractive, SO
that he should stay there as long as
possible. she went upstairs, and
with her own dimpled hands got
down a new cake OF perfumed soap
She eyed IL critically. Perhaps his
severe scientific mind would be dis.
gusted with such efeminate luxury.
Perhaps-who kne~?-ne might dis
owe even In it the presence 81 bac.
terra. she had heard IL said that a
mar with a theory finds examples OF
It's truth in everything about him
Never mind She would place be.
s.de IL a cake OF white CASTLE and
one Of tar soap. Then. whatever his
tastes he must be pleased. She put
the alcohol and the cologne bottle
within easy reach, got out smooth
aud rough towels. and a bath blanket:
saw that the shower-bath worked: