The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-08-31
 THE GIRL PHILOSOPHER.

II - I
 There is moment of tragic intensi- ty in the social affairs of every giri'' the girl philosopher observed.
 Marriage or divorce?" asked the sal- low young woman, fippantly
 "Ifer debut, or the first engagement ring?" inquired the fuffy-haired girl. Nothing so commonplace as any of those things, !" returned the girl philoso- lpher, coldly. "The realness of life, the earnestness of existence, the poignancy of ethical efforts appears when poor, unknown, everyday girl is asked to say a few words to some celebrated person. Take it home to yourself. We've all experienced the gentle encouragement | of an elder who whispers to us after some wonderful music lecture: Go up land speak to him. This is an opportu- Unity you must not miss
 "Those few words!'' The philosopher clasped her hands about her knees. Every time think of them am seized with fit of horrors.
 For weeks she continued, you have heard of the wonderful Chinese llady who speaks English perfectly and lectures about anatomy. | Chinese lady with scientific mind and social graces attained through the patronage of Icrowned heads-how fascinating! All through her lecture before the Daughters of Strife Association you have sat and tried to listen. You are miserably conscious of the reception to come, wherein you can see yourself gently urged through the throng about the platform to shake the hand of the wonderful person with whoEs Sou have nothing on the face of the globe in common.
 l Shall you speak to her about the weather in the tWo-iuinute interval Or would 1t be we'll to quote something you tread about the Chinese from that new book of travels? Quote from the book, of course, But now you cannot recall a single word of 1t.
 "'Let me think, you plead There was that about the Chinese throwing ldead babies out of the house without burial you tell yourself. But that will hardly do. It Is all you can think of, however, except that the eoolies often Trent the food they offer to their dead Ianeestors. In two nlinutes-no, about a Ihalf minute-over a conventional hand Ishake, these flashes of erudition will never do for a greeting. They do not lstrike you as being altogether polite. l At this moment a stir among the Iwomen announces the close of the lec- lture and the beginning of the reception
 Are you going up to speak to her?' a woman back of you is asking.
 Go up, dear, by all means your mother commands.
 You feel the accustomed pressure if your bache. Your back always begins Ito ache at the mere mention of a cele' brity. You wedge and squeeze through 1.-the crush of women, always egged on lby the point of mammals fan or the Iclutch on your elbow of the kindly ma Etron who has taken you out to meet ths T fight sort of people. Of course your
 ace is shiny with precipitation. Youl
 mind is blank. Your nerves at the point
 f collapse. You keep repeating to your
 elf insanely, We enjoyed it so much
 hank you Once you vary the formula with the polite remark: Women O 
 China have much to teach us Ameri leans, I see.' Yes, that's what you vii lsay.
 Nov you're almost in line. You turn has come. The celebrity is holding Iout her hand. Limp and exhausted you make a clutch for it-and hold il You are tongue-tied. The celebrity look at you and lifts her eyebrows slightly Then, calmly looking over your head Ishe withdraws her hand, to which vol have been clinging with the, grasp of drowning man, and beckons to som
 one back of you. Again you sink int 1.-the crush of women and happy oblivion
 You have met a celebrity. May yo, Inever meet another
 Were you ever asked to meet an ar llecturer?" the philosopher suddenl
 asked ''Who had been featuring on dr
 points for an hour racking your brai Ito determine whether he alluded to Ivariety of oyster Or to pastel effects?
 T was she asserted, wiping he
 brow. T was "! Sll a, man who, un
 fortunately knew the speaker and h