The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-10-12
drawing near I made haste to ind q
place of shelter

though it was not constructed Of cut
glass with inside shades as is our uni
versal custom. The house (if such it
could be called) was seemingly built
of painted wood with square holes in
which few small pieces of glass were
set. Attracted by the possibility of an
adventure (Which of course are very
rare nowadays) I walked at once to
the door and entered. Almost at the
threshold I met the owner, and greet
ing him cheerfully announced my in
tention Of making a brief stay with
him. Much to my surprise he SEEM
ed to demur, but soon recovering his
self-possession ushered me into room
and introduced me to his daughter. I
was rather embarrassed to perceive
that she was dressed in the pictured
costume of antiquity, but presumed
that it was merely done in sportive
mood-yet truly she looked a picture
Of loneliness. !
There was something almost pictur-
esque in the braided hair, full skirt
and jaunty, huge sleeved waist, with
czarina collar; and although for prac-
tical purposes our present universal
dress is much better adapted for both
sexes, cannot but regret that in the
bosoms oftheir families at least-wom-
en- might d2ign to wear the beautiful
costume that historians ascribe to the
Parkhurstian period. On engaging the
young person IN conversation I was as
founded to find that her name was
Gladys. Who could believe that this
| name of the past was worn by ma
tive Of the thirtieth century.
But my wonder was further increas-
ed when, still wearing the ancient
garb, she spread a white cloth upon
table and placed thereon several YES
sells of the chinaware, similar to that
now in our school museums. Instead
of receiving their portion of the con-
densed food in gluten capsules from
the public food factories, this family
had evidently returned to the old-time
custom OF preparing their food them
selves in primitive style
Much as l marveled at this, I took
my place at the table with the twain
and joined in their unique repast
Strange as it may sound, the roast
slices Of meat and vegetables boiled in
water, tasted extremely we'll; but the
trouble and time required to prepare
and eat them must become exceeding
1y mOnOtOnOuS.
After the strangs meal was over
Gladys father loft us, and l engaged
the maiden in conversation by asking
her opinion as to the proposed chang
ing of the earth's orbit for the purpose
of rendering the seasons more equal.
Il regret to say that / know nothing
about the subject on which you TALK
she answered.
Although somewhat aStOunded, de-
termined to persevere, and finally hit
upon the theme that usually interests
the feminine element.
''Whom have you selected as candi-
dates for your hand in marriage|' I
asked. 10 my surprise her face turn
ed as red as rose, and for q few mo-
ments l was fearful that she was
having an apopletic stroke. BUT be-
fore l could say OF do anything to as
sist her she hastily rose from her chair
and left the room
Although extremely perplexed by
this unwomanly behavior, the sweet
charm Of the maiden caused her image
to dwell in my thoughts in a very sur
prising manner.
She was entirely dissimilar to all the
from the wearing of such strange dra-
perry, her voice was low and even, in
stead of having the usual womanly
harshness, and her gliding walk and
composed manner bore no resemblance
to the manners Of the brasque, excita-
BILE, women who lead the van of adj
vanced thought in our world councils
10 my extreme qualification, Gladys
and her father returned together to
the room, and the former took up
violin and bow and commenced play
ing. Although her music was simply
nooturnes and rapid lingering, it was
rendered in sprightly manner, and
would have been extremely pleasing
to me if it were not for the fact of it's
harmony. After she had laid the in
strument aside I took it up and played
the q chord, with which 1 have de-
lighted many critical audiences. NV
exquisite art, in playing the same
chord for over an hour, and giving all
the distinctive phrases of expression
and modulation, was not seemingly
appreciated by her father, for in a
very few minutes he yelled to me that
If couldn't play any other note than
that had better stop, and interlarded
his words with some strange inter-
jections that were utterly incompIe-
hensible to me.
When I ventured to ask his reasons
for returning to barbarism in eating
and dressing, he turned on me tiercely
and said: young man, Pm tired of
being a machine. The government
tells me just what can and am to do
ard how to do it. My food is always
sure and no one can be any nicer than
another, no one can work more than
another, and as for employment that
is all cut and dried beforehand. With
out ambition man is contemplate, and
no man can appreciate food that never
has to worry about where he is going
IT, get the next meal. I'm a Radical
l believe the good old days were the
best, and I'm working as missionary
to endeavcr to get the people to vote
them back again.
Astounded, stupefed by this mad
mans rawlings, retired to my bed
but net to sleep. This benighted fam
lily did not use the water mattresses,
which yielding to the slightest move
ment, allow every muscle to relax and