The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-22
Mans =
Experiment.
By cEcILY ALLEN


ten are rotten to the core" announces
Nan, leaning forward in the grea
wicker chair to watch the progress o
thu little Italian across the velvet,
lawn.
Her brother Bob sank even NOR
deeply in his own cushioned chair an,
studied the smoke curling upward from
the tip Of his very good cigar,
u told Uncle Henry this would b
ne Inevitable result or sending You T.
q western coed college. The socia
system here Is quite good enough TO
me-"
Mans broad forehead was puckere(
An a thoughtful frown.
"Now, take that young Italian fore
man OF yours, for instancei Whal
puts him In q different class from you
The fact that his father had not
enough money to feed his big family
and your father had too much money
Cor the good Of his two children"
Really" remarked Bob, with eyes
&sncing, Il never noticed any com.
Paaints from you about superhuity OF
cash"
-Give that man a Fifth avenue tai.
hr, valet and motor car and he
would pass muster in our set shoulder
b shoulder with you"
y don't know about that" pursued
Bob. HE might eat with his knife
-Not after he had been told 1t was
wrong" said Nan, with conviction.
Suppose he were wearing corduroy
fpr shooting instead of digging exca-
vations. Suppose he were wearing
shirt sleeves on tennis court or the
links instead Of In your employ. He
would be a gentleman, one Of your
equals. He would look not a whit
different from what be does today, but
we would accept him socially where
today we regard him as our inferior"
Bob cast amused glanees at a cor
ner in the porch roof where two birds
Kere busily building a nest among the
vines. And this Is the modern wo-
man-the effect Of the higher educa-
don" be murmured.
IL might have been the birds, cooing
and contended, or 1t might have just
been the love Of mischief which some
men never outgrow even when, like
Robert Darnton, they can count iron
gray hairs by the score above each
lRmple. At any rate, be sat up very
suddenly and determinedly and regard
ID his sister quite seriously.
! Have you the courage of your con-
yictionsi Are you willing to put your
theory to the testl Will you let me
invite my foreman here as an equal,
provided, Of course, that I secure the
Stipulated Fifth avenue tailoring, the
man and the motorT
Good gracious, Bob, you move SO
guddenlyr' suggested Nan.
mo time like the present, and | In
DIST that any one who attacks our so
dial system should prove its rottenness
when she has the opportunity. | will
invite my foreman here as a guest. !
win agree that he is properly coached
Tor his part dt would not be fair to
turn him loose on our unsuspeeting
guests without some training), and then
win wager you a diamond sunburst
against a crocheted tie that you ask
ne to put him out of the house before
Ihe week is up"
Mans glance Travelled once more
zcross the expanse of green lawn. |
fhe 1.-THE figure Of the Italian was
Just disappearing behind a clump Of
lhrubhery. Well, in appearance, at
east, he could do the house of Darn
Eon no discredit. Anyhow, why should
! girl who was planning settlement |
york for the fall shrink at the thought |
1f having one cease" in her home for
! few days? She would have to live
among them-in the fall
''WeII?" inquired Bob. watching her
OyeIy, changeable expression with ap-
preciatfve eyes.
"Let him comew she answered, with |
nonchalance and-there was
10 denying it-something of pleasure
hat she was to meet again the glance
4 the Italians wondrous brown eyes.
on the lower step of the
,orch, he had looked veritable young
god. "Only you are not to tell him
hat the idea, the theory, is mine"
So did Vincenzo Pantozzi join the in
aermost circle of the social set graced |
BY the Darntons-came also a rakish |
VelIow racer Of foreign make, man
Eersed in all the mysteries of the tai
bring world, and wardrobe which
vas a credit at least to Bob Darnton's
On one point VincenZo stood firm.
7e must be permitted to leave the
house every morning in time to join
lis workmen who were building the
italian garden at the lower
md Of the estate. If the fair chate-
aine often shared his early breakfast,
her zeal as a sociological student was
10 her command.
Barring few times when Vincenzo
gripped the wrong table utensil In his