Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-05

SSIAiliS DeWty Gay IN SnlcdSO, winch
Courier readers will remember having
| seen in this paper. Miss Montague
writes entertainingly, is close obser-
yer and holds attention. She is study
ing art in Chicago, and if she models
as well as she writes, the world win
yet hear from her. The Courier has
received another entertaining letter
from her, concerning her woeful trials
| on a trip that was never, taken. This
may seem strange, but Miss Montague
explains the matter in her own charm
ing way:
| Chicago, June "a, 1900.
| Verify, the day of the pratty girl
graduate is upon us, Every seat OF
learning in, our land is opening its
doors. and swelling the tide of intel
lectual brilliancy that once. year
sweeps over the country.
! Even the art schools are not To be
outdone in this matter, as was attest
ed by last weeks gathering of the
fashionables at the graduating exer-
cises of the Art Institute. A class Of
forty-four, each one an embryo Sir.
Michael Angelo, or Miss Michael
Angelo, receired their !. sheep
skins and hoquets of posies, smiled ana
bowed, and amid great applause again
took their seats. Then somebody got
up and made a "few closing remarks
4 (also few blunders) and everybody
was invited upstairs to view the open
ing of the annual students exhibit.
Each pupil had his own little circle
LOT cnriling, adpiripg. friends, at his
4 heels.si" Now, dear, do take us to see
lyour work the very first thing" How
| it makes as doubt human nature when
our friends go into raptures over our
own miserable little effort, when We
know well that the. picture CT figure
Tin statuary standing alongside our
own is far superior. But they wonll
hbe .'menn old things" if they Didn't
.khestow: their praise rather layishly; af-
ter we had been so kind as 10 Invite
them to see-itaall., 1850.
But there's a matter of far more
moment to me just at present. than
4 those "A graduates. I feel tonight IS
| tho l had been stepped on; crushed in
/ to the earth. For weeks have been
Hooking, forward to few days outing
down in the wilds of northern In
diana, and why am not there S 4 sad
and tragic tale.
! IL What plans. we have been making.
/ Our instructor, Mr.. NJ has been prals-
ing. the beauty aud charm of the studio
OF. Skull Point, on, the banks Of one of
! 1ndiana's beautiful little, lakes, far out
and away from civilization, till we
i could all see. the place in our mind.
i can. see it tonight: as | am. writing
tie studio building and it's two or
-E.thres, little. cottages about, nestled on
4 the bankssef the; silyeryg lake, hemmed
in by great stretch of forest, per-
haps. | can. see the ma mmoth skull
mounted above. the studio entrance, all
glaring and grinning with the light
within. : Il imagine old Luna las on
his broadcast grin tonight as he cooks
down on that usually caln., quiet scene
and, sees the fifteen or twenty young
/ people just. free from sc6ool, enjoying
themselves, as only young people can.
But I, am not there, and thereby hangs
la tale. Last night, weary With the
days excitement, retired rather late.
! i did not set my alarm clock. / hate
1 the thin,gs-for who could not get up
I in time to catch 6:45 train, especially
to go on such trip | fell asleep and
Il between that time and morning my
tmind took most wonderful journey.
i It was morning and was busting
around getting ready. AZ a critical crit Ga
moment button OF my shirt WAIST
became 'obstreperous and as ! gave it
q desperate twist IT slipped out OF my
4 fingers and went careenmg across the
room, under, the bed and lodged behind
j the castor: When | pnliteda.fne ped
I Quito secure the thing the castor pass
ed over the button and crushed +.
4 Then ensued wild search thru my
4 belongings Tor another lhutton. l
found one several sizes larger than
the Others, but into place it went and
l found myself all ready.
j ] am at the station; with the jolly
crowd. The train pulled in and we
all scrambled on, hand boxes, umbrel-
las, yalises and all. The other occu-
y pants of the coach smiled, knowingly,
{ and the conductor had but little trou-
} BILE in finding out all about our trip.
i, Each one was glad to add his little
word ofexplanation. Our train carried
) us merrily away from the smoke, The
i dust and the din Of busy Chicago, out