Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-21
Ethel w albert


ming with the authors" replied Helen, with a
noncommittal smile.
ANY preparation necessary?"
"No; that is, nothing in particular. Just
refresh your mind with the names of books and
authors, that's all.
Helen always prescribing new medicines
for faded appetiteS and tonicS for mental
debility, and her affairs" were generally
novel enough to make them worth while. SO
her rather indefinite invitation brought out
a full meeting, curiosity and expectation being
the chief magnets to attract.
Helen was at her best, and received her guests
with a winning smile.
"You must be labeled" she said pinning
card on my dress. There! 1t is very be-
coming to YOU
l looked down at my badge of honor. 1t
a small dried currant attached to white
card, with the single word THE" printed in
ink under it.
What could it mean? The others were
similarly labeled. One Haunted the picture
of cracker box with man astride of it.
Another had a pen and ink drawing of a girl
studying her features in mirror, and third
showed Mephistopheles with bowed head
You have the evening to guess the mean
ing of your labels" said Helen, handing me
a score card. Meanwhile, talk to everybody
else, and see what book she represents
Each label thus had a meaning, and the
work of guessing each one soon led to general
sociabity.
Helen, who in the absence of any placard
had two flags stuck in her hair.
Why, certainly" l murmured; Under
Two Flags"
And yours?" queried another, regarding
my card doubtfully. Let me see a currant
and Why, that is Robert Grants The
Undercurrent.
The cracker box card came in for scrutiny
next. What could that mean? A dozen voices
asked the question, but only one demure
little maid murmured under her breath,
The Man on the Box
The guessing became general, and one tally
card after another was being filled up. The
picture of the bowed head of Mephistopheles
was correctly interpreted as THE Sorrows
of Satan
but what can that mean?" asked several.
1t was plain white card, with two silver
dimes and four pennies pasted on it. 1t was
a bright eyed guesser who suddenly shouted
in glee, Why, No Quarter !"
"Oh how good How simple!"
Thus for half an hour we studied labels,
Cricket on the Hearth" "Helen's Babies"
"A Bow of Orange Ribbon" Red Gauntlet
and 'Frenzied Finance" pictured with bull
and bear eagerly studying the stock market
ticker) As fast we guessed the name of the
book we wrote it down on Our numbered card.
I'VE will collect these cards later in the
evening" announced our hostess: Mean
while, we must have blackboard exercise"
one uncovered CltFSlly
by large picture on the wall. You must
take turns in writing answers to the ques-
tions," Helen continued. Each answer must
be the abbreviation of State. Half minute
is allowed each one, except the first, who may
have minute
This was written on the blackboard:
I. From what State do the most egotistcal
authors come?
2. What State do the religious writers
choose for their field?
g. What State do the maiden writers
prefer
4. What is the best State for those who are
never discouraged when their manuscripts
are repeatedly returned?
5. Which is the most unhealthy State for
writers?
6. Where should untidy authors go to live?
7. Where do the writer's of the explanatory
school hail from9
s. What State is the most popular for
making hay while the sun shines?
9. Which State is the father of them all!
One after another walked up to the black
board and toyed with chalk, eagerly wrote
down the answers to the questions. When
completed the blackboard exercise revealed
to our astonished gaze these answers:
I. Me. 2. Mass. 3. Miss. 4. Kan. (can).
S. Ill. E. Wash. 7. o. 8. Mo. 9. Pa.
The blackboard exercise broke up in general
merriment, and everyone exclaimed, How
clever Helen is!
Helen turned the board back to the wall,
and said: You think I'm clever. Well,
I'm going to let each one prove how clever she
is. | want everyone to write an essay. Here