Mexico Missouri message., 1909-07-01


ence of SO much OF the unbeautiful,
Finally he rolled into place hamper
80 huge that It looked capable OF ac-
commodatlng the horse of Troy.
The instant Mrs. Blander saw It she
exclaimed, gracefully: THAT is an
exponent of a most charming type!
Pray rest from your labors, while ]
mediate upon it. See, Clarissa, how
noble are its proportions, how chaste
its design, how Doric its atmospheric
Do you know what It suggests to me.
dear"
Clarlssa couldn't guess, so Mrs,
Blander cried, joyously: The Par
thenon, Clarissa. 1t really does. It's
strange how these suggestions come
to me, transcendent Nominations that
open wide the windows of my being,
and register ineffaceable Impressions.
That's just the way Self when l saw
this splendid hamper. Parthenon!'
something seemed to whisper; and
Parthenon 1t will always mean to me.
So austere, yet so satisfyingly beauti.
full How does 1t appeal to your"
"Of course, dear" modestly re.
sponded Clarissa, I'm not clever like
you, and never have occult intima
lions, so, to tell the truth, 1t merely
seems to me the biggest and baldest
hamper / ever saw. You'll forgive
me, Appolonia?" she concluded,
humbly.
I'm disappointed in you," Mrs.
Blander replied, palpably RULED. 'It's
humiliating to know that my compan-
ionship has done so little for you
and that this hamper is to you moth.
ing but hamper l hope you"-turn'
ing to Mr.. Booder-"can see in 1t some
thing beyond the material"
Mr.. Booder advanced to the side OF
the wicker elephant and peered
within.
II can't, ma'am," he confessed,
shamefacedly; there amt anything
in it can see, not even materials"
He continued gazing dejectedly into
the bowels of the hamper.
If estheticism can snort, that low
word would best describe the sound
of disgust with which Mrs. Blander
favored Mr.. Booder.
Are men but clods?" she cried.
Does intuition play no part with you;
Intuit, sir, intuit"
Such was the commanding presence
of strong-minded Mrs. Blander and the
obedient servility of weak-minded Mr.
Bocder, that in the twinkling of an
eye, and before Mr.. Booder himself
knew what he was doing, he had
leaped over the side of the hamper
and was meekly gazing out at his res
olute customer.
Clarissa showed herself not alto
gether devoid of humor and staggered
painfully; but Mrs. Blander was sen'
sitive and silenced her by glance.
What do you mean" she inquired,
behaving in this fashion? Come out
at once and explain your conduct"
Mr.. Booder clambered out of the
Parthenon and answered, defiantly:
you told me to do It,"
81 did nothing Of the kind" contra
dicted Mrs. Blander in her most posi-
tive manner.
~Tll leave 1t to the young lady IL
you didn't" he recklessly retorted.
You called out: Into 1t, sir, into it,
and If that amt plain English I'd like
to know the reason why"
Once again Clarissa Jared upon
Mrs. Blander's nerves, and with a
sweeping gesture the latter waved
away the hamper.
"Ain't you going to take It, after
all?" asked disappointed Mr.. Booder,
loath to recommence his labors.
"Never!" cried Mrs. Blander. ''Not
after 1t has been desecrated by ridi-
Guile and inhabited by ignorance"
Mr.. Booder quailed before her eye
and embarrassedly trundled away the
classic pile.
1t was not until all of the stock had
been paraded before her that Mrs.
Blander decided upon medium-sized
hamper that bulged in the middle, had
outspreading handles and a magenta
band near the top.
"The magenta border is a blow to
me-" she explained to Mr.. Booder,
"as the room in which 1t Is to be
placed is in ethereal blue, and fear
a subtle a9tagonism between the
two"
"The price OF this" began Mr..
Booder pencil in hand, glad to be on
the ground he eomprehended.
But not so. Mrs. Blander raised
duplicating hand as she said; do
not name the price. beg of you.
make 1t point never to sully an OBJ
ject at the time of purchase by iden-
tifying It with the cost. II. when it
is delivered, / find II beyond what
can afford, simply return It. In this
way l contribute my mite toward
spiritualizing trade. Now let us go.
Clarissa. and as we 90 let us cast fre-
Quent chances at the new symbol, for
wish to carry away distinct pic
ture, uneonfused with environing OBJ.
jects."
So Mrs. Blander glided from the
room, part OF the time backward.