Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-02-24
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
THE LION.

room waiting the announcement or
dinner. 1t was one of the first dinner
parties to which 1 was invited, for
had not been out more than two
weeks. The dinner was given to a
distinguished chemist, Jared Holmes,
Phi. D., and 1 expected very slow
time; but, looking about me, l was
much relieved to see that among the
guests there We're many young people.
1 was assigned as dinner comps Mon
TO a young fellow apparently not much
older than myself, TO my disapDoint
ment, for L was quite ambitious ITO as
sociate with older men. The hostess
brought him up to me, said something
which did not hear and hurriedSaway.
As the dining room doors were opened
at the same moment. knew he4was to
take me in to dinner.
Where is the lion?' I askedIas soon
as we were seated at table.
"The lion? What lhon:"
1.-THE lion of the evening. Jared
Holmes, PHI. d. so thread on the invi-
tations. / suppose lie has been study
ing so hard all his life and is so filed
with learning that he can't he depend
ners. Perhaps he's forgottenIall about
this one
lis he an old MANI" askedlmy COM
panion.
"OId? He must be. How tcould he
have accomplished so much iffhe is not
old? They say his income IS Il thou
sand dollars day. wish I!had some
of it,"
You might marry him."
81 marry him? Why, Im1Only eight
cen"
Young girls often marryIold men for
their money"
mo rich old man for me. thank you;
better Il young one with poverty
At that moment a tall, grizzly head
ed gentleman of intellectual appear
ance entered. There was hush in
the conversation till he was seated,
when the chat was resumed.
Il suppose that's he:" II said.
1.-The lion you have been talking
about"
"Of course
Il can't sec if he has aktail, but he
certainly has no name"
This comes of being placed with Il
boy" grumbled TO myself. l suppose
the remark was intended for some
thing especially brilliant. I maintain
ed n reserved silence. l did not care
to encourage him in such talk by APP
pearing TO be amused mt ii. But, as he
did not appear anxious to resume the
did SO myself. l have
always been fond of talking. and on
this occasion flattered myself that
talked well. 1 first took up such topics
as would interest Il boy-football, ten
mis-. locomobiles, etc.-intending grad
ually to lead him on to more substan-
tial subjects. When i got to automo-
biles. l happened 10 remark that 1
liked the electric vehicle best, but
didn't think 1 would want one till they
were made lighter.
They'll not soon be lighter" he
said.
why not?"
1.-THE electricity is generated BY
means of lead. and lead isIvery heavy
Indeed l remarked. my breath
quite taken away by this sudden dis
play of erudition, Are you in col
lege?"
"Oh. TO. What made you think
that?'
You look about the college age.
Besides, from your remark | thought
you might be attending lectures on
You flatter me as TO my youthful
am older than 1 look"
'@rhen you must DE graduate"
ooh, yes. I escaped from classic
walls several years ago"
"Why do you say escaped?" 1 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 of him.
setting himself up TO know more than
The professors!
"What did you learn from when
you were in college,"
81 learned the rudiments from the
professors and the books. The rest 1
got from mingling with n promiscuous
OF of young fellows"
1.-The rudimentsI \ number of my |
girl friends are in college. l don't |
hink they consider what they are |
earning the rudiments."
To this he made no reply. He was !
very impolitely, to something |
hat was said by the lady seated on his |
eft.
During the rest of the dinner 1 made |
ID my mind TO let him do the talking
[ was some time before l got him
started. but when 1 succeeded he talk
d delightfully."-. Everything he said he
made so clear and yet without making
t appear that my intelligence was not
I'D TO the mark that not only under
TODD. but was charmed with every
hing he said.
Doctor said n gentleman opposite.
will you kindly give us a brief defini-
ion of the principle of spectrum analy-
isT
"a glowing gas gives out rays of the
anne refrangibility which it ahsorbs