Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-01-21
Bachelor Queen

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The girls at the summer institute OF
Forest Lake we're busy at work at
their benches preparing lettuce slips
for transplsnting. They were enjoy
ing camp life with it's attendant dis
cipline and studying school gardening
at the same time. At the bugle call
of "reveille" they arose each morning
and worked. studied and recreated ct
stated periods. Every night when
the sad echoes Of taps" reverbsrated
from the surrounding hilltops. all
lights were out, the camp was still.
and Morph us reigned supreme.
"Oh, the iium attached to spinster.
hood" laughingly interposed Miss
Gordon, one Of the summer school In
structors and matrons Of the dormi-
tory, suddenly appearing in the door
way. What horrible creatures old
maids are. Why does not Osler ad-
minister some Of his soothing chloro-
form to these useless creatures and
consign them to sweet oblivion? Girls,
I beg Of you. escape If possible this
sad state OF single blessedness; but
If Fate should unkindly relegate you
TO sip your cup Of tea in lonely cor.
ner when you a-e old and gray, reject
the odious title Of old maid and adopt
the modern term OF bachelor girl. -"
The girls stood aRhast at this unex-
pected speech from their beloved
teacher She was a woman in middle
life. intellectual, refined and sympa-
the,ie, the idol of her girls because
OF her scholarly attainments and her
sterling qualities. In youth she had
Been fair as a goddess. Her Grecian
lead. crowned with a glory Of silver
gray hair waved over a smooth, broad
-orehead; grayish blue eyes, patrician
rose and firm mouth bespoke honora.
bic ancestry and gentle breeding.
The years had dealt kindly with her;
nature had not robbed her of many Of
her youthful charms, for she proved a
kind mother to her ardent devotees.
Marie felt that she must redeem
herself in her favorite's estimation.
and apologetlcally added. Miss Cor
don, when girls get together, the eter-
nal he is generally the subject Of con-
liberation. wonder If the eternal
she is the topic when the lords Of
creation assemble"
Undoubtedly it is" said Miss Cor
Ion, although l say so tentatively, as
have not had the opportunities af-
iorded me to settle that question be-
gond the shadow of a doubt. But.
iestlng aside, girls, have come to
ask you to honor me with your pres
enee at a farewell chafing dish and
marshmallow party tomorrow even
.ag at the Bungalow The board of
administration has allowed us the use
Of the building until the first call Of
taps VIII you come. my friends?'
"Of course we will," chimed all the
girls, surrounding their summer
mother" dancing and singing song
composed in her honor by one oi
their number.
The next evening the Bungalow
presented a scene from fairyland. A
log fire was burning in the open FIRE
place, lighted japanese lanterns
swung galy to and fro,and the girls in
their airy muslin gowns gave the final
| touch OF fresh, vivscious, bubbling
mirthful life. Miss Gordon presided
at the chafing dish, assisted by hel
dancing butterflies. Marshmallows
galore were toasted on hatpins before
the open fire. Finally, the repast o
fudge. sandwiches and fancy cakes
vas spread upon the floor, and al
sat in a circle around the fireplace.
"A story, a story from Miss Cor
don," shouted athletic Alice Burk
aardt when interest in eating begaI
10 wane. Miss Gordon bowed graci
usly, saying. 81 will tell you tru'
sory of "A Girl That | Have Known.
Some years ago in New York
rev a young woman OF 10 who wa
preparing to be a teacher. She wa
OF an intense nature, strong in he
likes and dislikes. The mediocre nev
or satisfied her; she was seeking tn
ideal in life. Her friends said sh
would never marry because the para
gon she sought did not exist in hu
man form. Yet they we're wrong Il
their conclusion.
when her training was over sh
elected to work in the East Side, 4
that congested district where tn
stunted flowers In the Lords garde
lido not enjoy their rightful heritage G
fresh air, sunshine and cleanliness
Here she met young physician, ar
other enthusiast, aiming to be a LEAD
er In his profession. His specialt
was the study OF the Great Whit
Plague its cause. treatment and erl
dication. These two idealists becam
engaged. but their hopes Of marriag
were never realized. as he died a VII
/ tim of typhoid. She still labors
her chosen sphere, teaching the beaI
ties OF Gods creation to the childre
OF the Ghetto. Her labor NAV nc
bear fruit in this generation, but
cannot fail to reap results In tn
next"
Just then Miss Gordon arose I
sound the first call OF taps Tn
girls remained motionless, awed b
the subdued voice Of the narrator an
the dull flashes OF light reflected O
the rafters from the dying embers.
1T is the story of her own life
whispered Alice to the wonderin
: group.
1 "a toast a toast to Miss Gordon
cried the irrepressible Marie Cour
leigh IAN stand ana lift your glass'
high in her honor" As each girl va
p about to drain the emp Of sparklir
beverage, Marie proclaim cd. ITO Nil
Gordon, Queen OF Bachelor Girls" an
with wonderfully sweet but IS
smile Miss Gordon silently ScceptS
? the age.-ELIZABETH Z. HAi