Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1903-04-04
A Vi.citor

In the morning of a sultry July
day Professor Botkine of the Uni
versity of California was sitting on
his front steps at Berkeley.
He was deightedly watching the
efforts Of his pet toad to capture a
very large angleworm, and his ell
ioyment was enhanced by the fact
that his beautiful German wife, who
usually declined to interest herself
in anything which she even suspect
ed of connection with science, was
seated beside him, giving eager lit
| tie pressures to his hand and utter
ing a pleased exclamation in her
pretty foreign accent whenever the
| toad made an extra effort.
The worm gave little wriggle as
it began to come out of the ground,
when, quick as a flash, the toad
made a leap and seized the end OF
the worm in it's mouth.
Then began the tug Of war. But
the toad was not to be discouraged.
1t jerked and jerked until it fairly
stood on it's hind legs. Still it could
| not dislodge the worm.
At this interesting point train
whistled.
"Why, Selma" said the professor,
there is the train already! I had
| quite forgotten that must go to
the city today. Where is my hat !"
''Do wait an instant, dear. Just
see what that toad is doingp she
answered, holding him back.
He glanced down and saw the
toad twisting its legs about until
the worm was wrapped twice around
it. Then the toad gave hop, and
out came the worm. This had been
too fascinating spectacle for the
unwary professor. He dashed into
the house and back again, kissed his
wife and, with a regretful glance at
her ripping hair and soft blue eyes,
started off.
Suddenly he rushed back.
"Why, DEAR" he cried, 81 forgot
to tell you that Mr.. Smith, the Ca
madam who wrote the paper on bac-
terra, will be here this afternoon to
stay a day or two. He may come
before I am back"
She clasped her hands in mock
despair.
ooh, don't be alarmed! Just let
him have a good soaking in bath
tub. Then he will come out perfect
ly human and happy. He's an Eng
lishman, you know"
She grew sober as she thought
how ruthlessly science and scientists
seemed to dog her unwilling foot
steps. Her husband certainly loved
her, but he had a way Of becoming
utterly absorbed in his studies and
then bursting into her reflections
with remarks which sounded per-
fectly ghoulish.
Now here was this Canadian com
ing! And how was she to be prop
erly interested in his old bacteria
and not disgrace her husband by be-
traying her ignorance on the sub
ject ? she asked herself.
Manifestly he must take bath,
and everything possible must be
done to make the bathroom attrac-
tive, so that he would stay there as
long as possible. She went upstairs,
and her own dimpled hands got
down new cake of perfumed soap
She eyed it critically. Perhaps
his severe scientific mind would be
disguised with such effeminate lux
ury.
She would place beside it cake
of white CASTLE. Then, whatever
his tastes, he must be pleased.
She put the alcohol and a cologne
bottle within easy reach, got out
smooth and rough towels and bath |
blanket, saw that the shower bath |
worked and, with a sigh of relief,
went downstairs to impress the cook
that during the entire afternoon
there must be plenty of hot water in
the boiler.
Suddenly happy thought struck
her. She went into her husbands
study and brought out every book
on bacteriology that she could find.
These she ranged on a shelf at the
foot of the bathtub. Standing out
a little beyond the others, as if but
just showed in, was Mr.. Smiths own
on bacteria.
Mrs. Botkine pinned on the wall
some colored illustrations of various
forms of bacteria and then surveyed
the effect with the calm satisfaction
Of general who foresees the success
IF bic