Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-02-07

rect, S.
" w %44<*xAtt Y y J,
regiment was playing. and a large
crowd had gathered. Many people
were sitting on the chairs provided for
visitors for the modest fee of two sous;
others were promenading round and
round a great circle having the must
clans in It's center. The dense foliage
Of the trees overhead afforded a per-
feet shelter from the hot rays of the
sun, and the place was SO inviting and
interesting, so cool and SO full of sweet
perfumes and sounds, appealing to and
satisfying the senses. that Shirley
wished they had more time ITO spend
there. She was very fond Of good
brass band, especially when heard in
the open air. They were playing
Strauss Blue Danube, and the familiar
strains of the delightful waltz were so
infectious that both we're seized by a
desire to get up and dance.
There was constant amusement, too,
watching the crowd, with Its many
original and curious types. There
were serious college professors, with
gold-rimmed spectacles, buxom nou-
nous in their uniform cloaks and long
ribbon streamers, nicely dressed chill
dren romping merrily but not Mostly,
more queer-lookink students in shabby
frock coats, tight at the waist, trousers
too short. and comical hats, stylishly
dressed women display the latest
fashions, brilliantly uniformed army
officers strutting proudly, dangling
their swords-an attractive and inter-
esting crowd, so different, thought the
4 two Americans. from the cheap, evil
smelling, ill-mannered mob of aliens
| that invades their own Central Park
the days when there Is music, making
| 1t a nuisance instead of pleasure.
Here everyone belonged apparently
to the better class; the women and
children were richly and fashionably
dressed, the officers looked smart in
their multi-colourei uniforms, and, no
matter how one might laugh at the
students, there was an atmosphere Of
g. od-breeding and refinement every
where which Shirley was not accus-
toned to see in public places at home.
A sprinkling of workmen and people
Of the poorer class were to be seen
here and there, but they were in the
decided minority. Shirley, herself a
daughter of the Revolution, was a
staunch supporter Of the immortal
principles of democracy and of the
equality of man before the law. But
all other talk of equality was the
greatest sophistry and charlatanism
There could be no real equality SO
long as some people were cultured
and refined and others were uneducat
ed and vulgar. Shirley believed in IN
aristocracy of brains and soap. She
insisted that no clean person, no mat
ter how good democrat, should be
expected to sit close in public places
to persons who we're not on speaking
terms with the bath tub. In America
this foolish theory of democracy
which insisted on throwing all classes
the clean and the unclean, promis
cuously together was positively re
voting, making travelling in the pub
lie vehicles almost impossible, and Il
was not much better in the public
parks. In France-also Republic
where they likewise paraded conspicu
ousIy the clap-trap "Egalite, Frater
better. The French lower classes
knew their place. They did not ape
the dress, nor frequent the resorts d
those above them in the social scale
The distinction between the classes
was plainly and properly marked, ye
this was not antagonistic to the idea
of true democracy; it had not prevent
ed the son of peasant from becom
ing President of the French Republic
Each district in Paris had its owr
amusements, it's own theatres, its owr
parks. 1t was not aquestion Of capita
refusing to fraternize with labor, bu
the very natural desire of persons o
refinement to mingle with clean PEG
pie rather than to rub elbows with tn,
Great Unwashed.
!, isn't it delightful here?" said shir
ley. II could stay here forever
couldn't you?"
s with you-yes," answered Jeffer
: son, with significant smile.
Shirley tried to Loo, angry. Sh
strictly discouraged these conven
tional. sentimental speeches whlcl
constantly flung her sex in her face.
Nov, you know don't like you t,
talk that way, Mr.. Ryder. It's mos
undignified. Please be sensible"
| Quite subdued, Jefferson relaspe,
into sulky silence. Presently h
said:
| 81 wish you wouldn't call me MI
| Ryder, meant to ask you this be
| fore. You know very well that you'v
no great love for the name, and
| you persist you'll end by including
me in your hatred of the hero of you
book
Shirley looked at him amuse
/ curiosity.
! "What do Won mean p, she asked