The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-24
CLEANED BY A GIRL.

o. ST. Paul there Is a village devoted
chiefly to numbering Industries. The peo-
pie are of the class usually found in such
place-the majority of them Of foreign
birth, Industrious, eager to acquire, with
out culture. but anxious to learn.
One spring when 1t was yet too early
to begin the yearly house cleaning, and
too late to be yet busted with the winter
sewing, some Of the women made the
startling discovery that what the village
had long needed and should have was
a literary society. Just what proceedings
to take in order to form one none of
them knew. but they were persons of
energy and hope, and felt sure that once
having gotten the feminine portion of the
community assembled and Interested in
the proposed society they would probably
IND way to form 1T. A few days later,
one Of the ladies gave a very informal
tea party, to which were hidden all the
women. young and old. who were consid-
cred eligible to membership. Among those
invited were three who were looked to
as the salvation Of the scheme-a pretty
college girl from Michigan and two
bright girls whose people had moved to
the village from Southern Minnesota
town.
The invitations TO the tea were prompt
ly accepted. When the,company had ar
rived the hostess at once made her an
nouncement concerning the formation of
the club. All eagerly agreed to her prop
ostt1ons. and before the party was over
the society had been formed and officers
CHOSEN. one OF the Minnesota girls having
been elcted president, with her sister as
secretary, and the college girl as treas
urer.
1t was decided that the study of Long
fellow should be taken up "You know
said the college girl to her two friends
on their way home that night. sit would
have been lovely If we might take up
fnor hI1f A.
with slight tone Of contempt-"cannot
appreciate anything but simple poet like
Longfellow, and I think he will be quite
too deep for some of them
The next day the president received q
note from her friend: Come over" 1t
read. II want to talk to you about the
society. fell to making plans last night
after leaving you, and became so en-
Unused that I could not sleep, for dream
Ing of 1t, and how we may civilize the ma
tlves through the gentle poets influence"
The girls planned to invite g. few of
thelr friends, among whom were four or
five rather nice young men, which plans
they Immediately executed.
AT the next meeting the names Of the
new members were brought up, and the
girls were terrified at the frowns which
Immediately appeared on the faces Of
those about them. At last, the hostess
OF the tea party informed them that It
had been the original intention of the
society that no men should be admitted,
and that was still the wish of the ma
Jor1ty OF the members. The girls were
silent with chagrin, but yielded with as
good grace as possible, and then came
the rather embarrassing duty of inform
Ing the young men of the state of affairs
The Minnesota girls were girls OF re-
surces.
we shall give little card party" the
president said Invite the boys and tell
them then" That was the beginning of
the end for the literary society, for the
very small card party proved so enjoya-
BILE that 1t was often repeated at one
home or another. After three meetings
the literary society was discontinued and
all for lack of interest not, however, on
the part Of the well-meaning women for
whom Longfellow promised to prove "too
deep" The indifference manifested by
the president, the see :etary and the
treasurer was most depressing and dis
couraging, for always, on society nights
they had some other engagement or
stayed home to plan for another 'at
home" And this happened in this end
Of the century, this age Of higher educa-
ton, Of bachelor girls and purely platonic
friendships.
Last summer I went down to Dubuque
from st. Paul, and during the eight hours
which the trip consumed I could not help
hearing the conversation of two women
who occupied the seat directly behind
me.
The failings, vices and idiosyncrasies
Of their servants was the subject which
occupied three or four hours time, then
some personal gossip, and after that their
worries and troubles concerning their
children, followed by elaborate accounts
of their own ill-health. And such peevish,
fretful, complaining tones! Meanwhile we
passed the most. beautiful portions Of
Minnesota and Wisconsin, but these
women were so intent on the recital of
their miseries that they had no eyes for
the wonderful beauty of nature l Won
dered what effect this habit of com
planning must have upon their own spir-
it's, when the mere listening to them had
such a depressing effect upon me that
even now I cannot think pleasantly of
that journey.
Who is it that says so we'll, "The cup
and saucer is broken in the morning, and
we go around with the pieces Of broken
china In our face and voice all day?"
Beth.