The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-09-18
.
THE LION
tOriginal.1

IOriginaLl
we We're assembled in the DANCING
room waiting the announcement Of
uinner. 1t was one OF the first dinner
parties to which was invited. for T
had not been out more than two
weeks. The dinner was given to a
distinguished chemist, Jared Holmes.
IN. D., and expected very slow
Time; but, looking about me. | was
much relieved to see that among the
guests there were many young neorln
was assigned as dinner companion
to young fellow apparently not much
older than myself, to my dsappoint-
ment. for | was quite ambitious to as
soclate with older men. The hostess
brought him up to me. said something
which did not hear and hurried away.
as the dining room doors were opened
at the same moment. | knew he was to
take me in to dinner.
Where is the lion?" asked as soon
as we were seated at table.
THE lion? What lion?' !
THE lion of the evening. Jared
Holmes, Phi. d. so it read on the invi-
tations. | suppose he has been study
ing so hard all his life and is so filled
with learning that he can't be depend
ed on for such frivolous affairs as dim
ners. Perhaps he's forgotten all about
this one"
is he an old man?" asked my COM
panion.
"Old? He must be. How could he
have accomplished SO much if he is not
old? They say his income is q thou
sand dollars day. wish l had some
of it."
You might marry him."
IL marry him? Why, I'm only eight
Gen." :.
Young girls often marry old men for
their money"
mo rich old man for me. thank you:
better q young one with poverty"
At that moment q tall, grizzly head.
ed gentleman of intellectual appear,
ance entered. There was a hush in
the conversation till he was seated,
when the chat was resumed.
Il suppose that's he:" | said.
"The lion you have been talking
abOut?
"Of course"
81 can't see if he has a tail, but he
certainly has no name"
This comes of being placed with d
r,.,yni,iaI tn p,vcptf | clInnDSn
the remark was intended for some
thing especially brilliant. | maintain
ed q reserved silence. | did not care
to encourage him in such talk by ap-
pearing to be amused at it. But. as he
did not appear anxious to resume the
conversation. | did so myself | have
always been fond Of talking. and on
this occasion | fiattered myself that l
talked well. first took up such topics
as would interest a boy-football ten
mis-. locomobiles. Intending grad
ually to lead him on to more suDstan-
tial subjects. When | got to automo'
biles. happened to remark that
liked the electric vehicle best, but
didn't think l would want one till they
were made lighter.
They'll not soon be lighter" he
said.
"Why not?"
.'The electricity is generated by
means of lead. and lead is very heavy.
Indeed" | remarked. my breath
quite taken away by this sudden dis
play of erudition. "Are you in col
legeY' =.
"Oh, no. What made you think
that?"
You look about the college age.
Resides. from your remark | thought
YOU might be attending lectures on
chemistry"
"You latter me as to my youthtui
appearance. | am older than looh'
.Then you must be a graduate
"Ob. YES. ! escaped from classic
walls several years ago." :,
"Why do you say escapedT' asked
"Well. colleges are impractical, the
oretical places where no one knows
ANYTHING except what he learns from
books"
Well. | never! The chattering young
idiot. TO think of the conceit Oh him'
setting himself up to know more than
the professors! -, .,o,,
"What did you learn from "heii
YOU were in college"
81 learned the rudiments from the
professors and the books The rest
oct from mingling with a promiscuous
lot of young fellows. 90 nv
"The rudiments! A number OF ms
GIRL friends are in college. ooii
think they consider what they are
learning the rudiments." NJ ,,o,
To this he made no reply ne war
us,oring very impolitely. to something