The sun., 1908-11-01
CHRISYEEBD THE SKELETON
NATIONAL ACADEMY GIRLS DE.
eide TO BE UP TO DATE. y

Edlhcatlon or Brother B0nes Into
EiGFleda Tart. fer Lei II Wasn't the
B'n Kind as Wss supposed Ter Years.
Just whst. the parade was ct its paradest
yesterday somebody tipped OF the news
papers that unembers Of the women's life
class at the National Academy, West Tooth
street. were engaged ct that very moment
In mysterious rites In connection with
their study Of High Art. Il happened that
all the High Art experts had been presAed
into service TO count the paraders, and
the only man left In the office was Just q
plsiD reporter. who would do very well.
thank Yen, at prizefght or a Y. n. G. A.
convention, but whose knowledge Of Art
is too Hnitei for words. There was moth
ing for II but to put him on the Job. and
what he waats 10 say by way Of preface
IL that II there is anything wrong In the
bulk. Of this report It's the fault of the
girls up at the academy who told him
about it, for he got there after IL was all
over except the banquet. and he wouldn't
have been admitted during the rites
anyway. for they we're secret and pub
lcity really isn't desired. you know
as the Head Girl said, She had left the
banquet board and come to the door to
say 1t. hastily swallowing a\macaroon
or something like that and wiping her
tapering fingers On a painter's apron as
she came, and she seemed to be quite
sinoere about 1t, but there was neverthe-
less O background Of doubt, kind Of
n dull tone of uncertainty about her
(theOe are the reporters own attempts
TO express the thing in the terms Of Art).
and rem embering that she who hesitates
is lost the man pressed his inquiries and
won out. as the sub joined viii show.
Il can't tell you about it on my own
responsibility said the Head Girl, and
she retired for a consultation into the
room whence came the cheerful olatter of
banqueting. the rattle Of spoons on saucers.
the clicking Of pearly teeth on bonbons
and all that sort Of thing, except the
popping Of oorks. How could you ex-
pect that there would be the popping of
oorks where tho total appropriation for
the banquet was $500?
The Head Girl returned presently with
another who looked severely at the reporter
through rimless glasses perched ON just
the olassickest nose, and behind her
came another, and then another, and some
more. until apparently the whole bunch
was crowded near the doorway all wiping
their fingers on painterB' aprons and
making mental notes Of the reporter for
use at the next session Of the sketch
class. His phiz and self-conscious manner
will doubtless catch it good and hard on
that occasion, but let 1t be understood
right now that those girls up at the
ell MI Gi.ni, oh alraI
Such sparkling eyesl Such q glad way
Of making man wonder IL he dropped a
bean on his necktie when he took that
hurried luncheon at Dolan's! It's safe
bet that the girl with the classic nose
can smile bewitohingly when she doesn't
think it's part Of the game to freeze tho
interviewer.
You see.' said the Head Girl -this is
our way Of bringing the National Academy
up to date and putting ii where 1t belongs,
on the level Of the famous schools in Paris.
Over there the life students have an annual
ceremony which consists of christening
the skeleton. It's never been done in this
country until to-day, and we mean to
make 1t an annual feature here. So we
just got out our skeleton and christened
it as nearly as we could according TO the
French ceremonial
beg pardon the reporter interrupted.
grabbing convulsively for his note book.
but skeleton is probably a technical
term for something-'
oh, no. said the Classic Girl. coolly.
sit's a real skeleton. We have to have il
for our study Of anatomy, you know.
How could we model our portraits IL we
didn't know where the bones were?".
Sure enough. how could she?
Our skeleton the Head Girl resumed.
'has been known as Mr.. Bones. or
Brother Bones. for more years than we
can remember. and when we decided to
have q christening we voted to give it
a proper name. Now. voting for things
suggested politics. you see. and the class
was almost unanimous in choosing the
name Bill Taft for the skeleton. So that
was as good as settled. and all this week
we have been referring to the poor old
thing as Bill Taft. and why not. con-
that students for years past
have been calling it Mister or Brother?
But yesterday an embarrassing dis
covery was made. 1t occurred to one Of
US. q perfect sharp on anato,7y, to ex-
anime the skeleton. and the Conformation
Of the bones convinced her that Bill
wouldn't do at all. Would it9' and she
for corroboration to her colleagues !
Certainly not!' said the Classic Girl |
We always supposed We were studying !
n mans skeleton. and must say 1t makes |
me feel as il we'd been imposed on; but |
of course. as things are. we couldn't !
christen the poor old thing Bill"
"We didn't have much time to reflect |
on the emergency continued the Head
Girl, sand the result was that the god
mother and the godfather decided to
name the p oor old thing 'Elfrieda Taft
and that's " hat tits from now on.
The Head Girl kindly described the
There was a chapel built
OF model screens W ith still life studies
for chanoel steps and I ont. When every
thing was ready incense was lighted In
a brass bowl with stunning Sii,ltenine
hikh lights. Chat was exa0Siy what
The Head Girl said, 30 it must be SOL
Az the blue smoke ascended scores Of
Ibe hands OF the faithful glowed upon
the gloomy cir. lstill the Head Girls
way Of describing it, L
who were the faithfulf' ventured the :
Immediately there was an excited
hutter and something like the frou-frou {
mentioned in novels as the girls smoothed
their aprons. d
sShall we give him our names. girls?T
asked the Head Girl. and after sufficient
hesitation to be seemly under the cir .
~umstapces the account OF the affair
~ - 49, rSaSV. IT,. Il. . t.I.ot, ,.ni.. |