The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1910-02-17
Bachelor Queen

Inc BiilS ~ the sulluleT institute Ol
Forest Lake were busy at work at
their benches preparing lettuce slips
for transplanting. They were enjoy
Ing camp life with its attendant dis
cipline and studying school garden .ne
at the same time. At the bugle call
OF "reveille" they arose each morning
and worked, studied and recreated at
stated periods. Every night when
the sad echoes of taps" reverberated
from the surrounding hilltops. all
lights were out, the camp was still
and Morpheus reigned supreme.
"Oh, the odium 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
! beg OF you, escape II possible this
sad state Of single blessedness; bu,
II Fate should unkindly relegate you
to sip your cup of tea in a lonely cor.
ner when you C-e old and gray, reject
the odious title Of old maid and adopt
the modern term OF bachelor girl"
The girls stood aghast at this unex.
pected speech from their beloved
teacher. She was a woman in middle
life. intellectual, refined and synlpa.
thetic. the idol of her girls because
of her scholarly attainments and her
sterling qualities. In youth she had
been fair as goddess. Her Grecian
head, crowned with glory of silver
gray hair waved over smooth. broad
forehead: grayish blue eyes, patrician
nose and firm mouth bespoke honora.
BILE ancestry and gentle breeding.
The years had dealt kindly with /. er;
nature had not robbed her of many OF
her youthful charms. for she proved
kind mother to her ardent devotees.
Marie felt that she must redeem
herself In her favorites estimation.
and apologetically added, Miss Cor.
don. when girls get together, the eter.
nal he is generally the subject of con.
slderation. / wonder If the eternal
She is the topic when the lords OF
creation assemble"
Undoubtedly 1t is" said Miss Cor.
don, although | say so tentatively. as
! have not had the opportunities af.
forded me to settle that question be.
yond the shadow of a doubt. But.
jesting aside, girls, have come to
ask you to honor me with your pres.
ence at farewell chafing dish. and
marshmallow party tomorrow even
ing at the Bungalow The board of
administration has allowed us the use
of the building until the first call of
taps Will you come, my friends?"
"Of course we will" chimed all the
girls, surrounding their sumner
mother" dancing and singing a song
composed in her honor by one OF
their number.
The next evening the Bungalow"
presented 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, vivacious, bubbing,
mirthful life. Miss Gordon presided
at the chatting dish, assisted by her
dancing butterflies. Marshmallows
galore were toasted on hatpins before
the open fire. Finally, the repast of
fudge, sandwiches and fancy cakes
was spread upon the floor, and all
sat in circle around the fireplace
"A story, story from Miss Cor
DON" shouted athletic Alice Burk-
hardt when interest in eating began
to wane. Miss Gordon bowed gracl-
ously, saying, 81 will tell you a true
story Of "A Girl That Have Known
Some years ago in New York |
knew a young woman OF 19 who was
preparing to be teacher. She was
OF an intense nature, strong in her
likes and dislikes. The mediocre nev.
er satisfied her; she was seeking the
ideal in life. Her friends said she
would never marry because the para
gon she sought did not exist in hui
man form. Yet they were wrong in
their conclusion.
When her training was over she
elected to work in the East Side, in
that congested district where the
stunted flowers in the Lords garden
do not enjoy their rightful heritage of
fresh air, sunshine and cleanliness.
Here she met young physician, an
other enthusiast, aiming to be a lead
er In his profession. His specially
was the study of the Great White
Plague it's cause, treatment and era
dication. These two idealists became
engaged, but their hopes Of marriage
We're never realized, as he died vic
tim of typhoid. She still labors In
her chosen sphere. teaching the beau
ties Of Gods creation to the children
OF the Ghetto. Her labor may not
bear fruit in this generation, but 1t
cannot fall to reap results in the
next"
Just then Miss Gordon arose to
sound the first call of taps The
girls remained motionless, awed by