Waterbury Democrat., 1902-06-25
PROVINCE OF THE FAN.

He was a soldierly looking man with a gray imperial and nearly white hair, and he looked proudly after the tall girl with the clear gray eyes as she quilted the supper room. He drew an honest puff on his cigar, allowing the ash to accumulate, and turned to the young man at his side
 '.Yes,' he said. 'sshe is a fine girl, a fine girl, indeed, and I don't say this because she happens to be my daugh- ter. I believe am too much of sol dier to be silly sentimental, even on the subject O. my own family. But bthis girl is a good one, my boy. She is an all round good girl She can dance all night and be fresh III the morning. l appreciate good dancing, although l do not do much of it, myself now. It was part of my education at the Point, just as drill and tactics and put ting my shoes beside my bed at night were parts. Then, she can row ] boat and bowl. and embroider a cen terpiece for table with any girl of my or her acquaintance. She is an alTround good girl.''
 The tall young man murmured some thing about the all'round good girl being an entertaining conversational-
 
 led until it sounded like the spirit of good humor finding expression. He puffed till the ash of the cigar was dangerously near the falling point, then said, My boy, if you will swear never to tell her I'll let you into the secret of her success"
 The tall young man duly swore
 She told me this herself" said the fond father, apologetically, and suppose I may tell it again, though you mustn't let her know I've been peaching. When she came out of school year ago to enter New York society, she was an all-round good girl but not quite such an all-round good girl as she is to-day. For example. she was in danger of being embarrassed in conversation. At the end of her first reception she confessed to her mother that she was frightfully self conscious, and furthermore at a loss to know what to talk about. That worried her most, the lack of topics.
 But she oyercame this defect almost immediately. was delighted to listen to such remarks as What q brilliant conversaltionalist your daughter is, and How well informed your daughter is upon current topics, Colonel, and the like. One day 1 got her in corner and made her 'fess up. How do you do it?' I demanded. Then she told me it was the fam
 'The fany' repeated the young man in wonder
 'The fan said the older man. ssThis was the way she did it: She carried a very handsome fan of red vellum. Be. fore going to a receptsoa, a tea or a ball, this young hopeful would read up on the news of the day. She would take the book of the week, digest it and make mental notes. She would read the theatrical news She would read the foreign news. She had a good memory. and the help given by a single line, written on the fan. was sufficient to set her going at an enter taining gait.
 When she had exhausted one topic she would. apparently idly, flick the ran till she came to another suggestion. In this way she was able to attain such reputation for conversation. And. as the marks are easily erased with rub Der. the fan is good for as much of the season as she cares to employ it. It's . great scheme. but don't you tell her informed on her, or she'll be writing suggestions for curtain lectures and reading 'esa og to me when we are alone"