Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-15
ROSARY OF RAMBLER



1t is the time of year when all is
busy in preparation for the Christmas
season. Guests are to be received,
gifts made and the thousand and one
little things done which make the holi-
days the brightest days of the year.
Thru it all the old legends must be re-
peated TO the children who never grow
tired of the wonderful ride across the
snow of their particular saint, laden
with his pack of good things for all the
little children. There is a growing
doubt in the minds of many people
whether they should tell the old story
or not-we are growing very serious,
and even the babies must lead strenu-
Gus lives. Is there a place for fairy
tales, or must they be put away Some
times 1T is conscience. that hard mas
ter, who has spoiled so many innocent
pleasures, who says it is not well to tell
q credulous child a pretty story winch
some day he will learn to be only nc
zion. 1t may harm some children
there may be those who are so singu-
larly unimaginative that they can not
retain the beauty of the fable, even
when it is made clear that the reindeer
and the chimney descent and the pack
of good things on the back of the saint
are Imaginary. But most children re-
arrange such things very easily. There
is one little girl at least who is not go
ing to be an infidel because she has
learned the beautiful facts about Santa
Claus. A few days ago she startled her
mother by asking, Us there a Santa
-Dyy tl,xAt sol G
thought there was. A number of ques-
tons as to the possibility OF the long
ride around the world in one evening
and the descent of the chimney places
were asked. The little girl was scarce
ly satisfied. AT last she asked directly:
"But is there a Santa Claus, mamma!
Then the busy mother took the nttie
girl on her knee and told her all she
knew about the little saint and the
gifts the tiny girl would find in her
stocking Christmas morning. The little
girl was very quiet. The mother began
to wonder If she had been unw1se, II the
disappointment was going to be TOO
great Then the little girl looked up ana
said, "Well mamma, | believe that
Christ business, anyway" And there
is reason for thinking her anything but
normal little girl.
The town which accepted library
from Carnegie and then passed by pur-
chasing his book for its shelves, be-
cause it was more necessary to pro-
cure copies of the slushmushgush, to
borrow Cowley- Browns expression, OF
the modern historical novels is in the
Ivy
society, which refused admittance to
woman, who claimed membership thru
direct descent from Benjamin Franklin,
on the ground that he was not gentle-
man. Perhaps Franklin was not gen
tleman, according to the standards OF
the well-known patriotic soclty re-
ferred to. It was as well for the early
republic, perhaps, that he was not. a
gentleman, according to their stand
ards, would probably have considered
it beneath himself to become a printer,
to have experimental with lightning or
to have evolved Poor Richards Alma
nae" Oh, well, as we have said before,
every man and every woman to his or
her taste. And after all, we can not all
be ladies and gentlemen.
It was rude to listen, perhaps, but
they were talking very loudly, and the
girls in the seat ahead could scarcely
help hearing the conversation. One man
was from New York and despite the
fact that he was riding in Chicago
suburban train. he was seeing mt to
criticise everything he could think of in
the Windy City. He glanced from the
window and here is the biggest piece
of foolishness of ALL" he said. Here is
this lake, the only natural beauty
which Chicago has. And what does
she do with it? Lets a railroad train
have the right way along it, spelling
it's beauty entirely. Smoke and engines
and bells-such an outrage! Why, New
York or any other city, except this fool
place, would make a park along the
lake shore for miles. 1t would be fine.
1t wouldn't need much done to it. 1t
would be beautiful without fountains
and flower beds and otter things which
are usually necessary in a park. Just
miles of this lake front running back
a block, say-why I never The
man was waxing eloquent and his voice
conveyed the intelligence that ne
thought his was righteous indigna-
ton. Inc S1ElS 1OOhSQ dl SS,SAA Oei'SA
and smiled. They did not know each
other, but they had ridden often on the
same suburban train, going to and from
work. What do you think! one
asked the other. ooh, suppose it's all
right from one standpoint" she an
swered. "Tt would be beautiful park,
there's no doubt of that" and her eyes
turned lovingly on the lake, which is so
dear to all Chicagoans. But I don't
know-it seems to me that perhaps you
and I enjoy it more this way than we
would Il 1t were in a park. we mlgnl
yo to the park now and then, just as
rye been a few times this year to the
great parks of the city. But now we
see It every day. I know it soothes me
and rests me more than anything else,
to see it morning after morning ana
evening after evening, in ali It's vary
ing moods, and some way tninK' per-
hans it does Just as much good TINS
way. 1t mayn't be quite so Rstheuc,
nerhaps. but I'd miss it if had to ride
down thru the dingy parts of the South
side every morning. know that -
Inst then the conductor called Ran
aolnh street! All out!" The girls took
ono last look of the lake, across the
busy space between the tram ana tne
waters. The man went on, grumbllng
at the indifference Of Chicago to It's one
ho,r+y R1t his eyes were on the