Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-23
CHAPTER II.
The Beginning of My Adventure.

Inc be2l001nS OIL NY AOSSAIuAS'
Virgins strange conduct and Jewett 8
dark hints so disturbed ME that the very
next afternoon ] again sought the Aso-
lando tearoom, feeling that in its atmos-
phere / might best weigh the few facts
possessed touching my friends love at
fairs.
Those who care for details in these
matters may be interested to know that
the Asolando is tucked away among print
shops and exclusive haberdashers, a
stones throw from 5th avenue. The Aso-
lando tearoom has. a history Of its own,
but it is not the Office Of this chronicler
to record it. Weightier matters are ahead
of us; and it must suffice that the Aso-
lando is sacred to wooers OF the flute of
Pan. secession photographers and CONT
dent believers in an early revival OF the
poetic drama. One OF my friends. VINO
has probably done more to popular1ze
Nietzsche than any other American, had
urged me to visit the Asolando,
where he declared. the daintiest imagin-
able luncheons could be obtained at nomi-
nal prices: but should not have paid this
second visit had it not been for Jewett
history.
/ Ioafed between my professional engage
ments that the monthly deficit at the
Asolando was cared for by q retired
banker whose weakness is sonnet-se-
quences. AS to the truth OF this l nave
no opinion 1t will suffice If I convey in
the fewest possible lines a suggestion Of
the tranquility. the charming cloistral
peace of the little room. with Its arts ana
crafts chairs and tables. its racks of
books, its portraits of Browning, Rossetti,
Burne-Jones and kindred spirits: nor
should fail to mention the delightful In
adyertence with which neatly framed ex-
cerpts from the bright page OF British
song are scattered along the walls. No
where else, many had aVerred. was one
so likely to learn of the latest Celtic poet.
or of newly discovered Keats letter;
and lest injustice be done in these sug-
gestions to the substantial scholarly at
tainments of the habitues, 1 must record
that II was over "a cup Of tea in the Aso-
iando that Bennett made the first notes
for his revolutionary essay on the Sap
phic fragments in a dog-eared text still
treasured among the rooms memorabilia.
I chose a table, sat down and suggested
Zone does not order at the ASolandoD a
few articles from the card an attendant
handed me.
We're out of the Paracelsus ginger
cookies" she replied, but l recommend
q Ruskin sandwich with our special cfoco-
late. The whipped cream is unusually
fine today
She eyed me with a severity to which I
was not accustomed, and 1 acquiesced
without parley in her suggestion. Before
leaving me she placed on my table the
latest minor poet. in green and gold.
1t was nearly o'clock and there were
few customers In the Asolando. At the
next table two women were engaged IN
conversation in the subdued tones the
place compelled. Surmised from the
amount and variety of their impedimenta
and their distracted air, peculiar to those
who partake Of lobster salad with an eve
on the AIS, that they were suburbanltes.
One of them drew from her net shopping
bag several sheets OF robin s-egg blue
note paper and began to read. BY the
Jingle of the rhymes and the flow Of the
rhythm it was clear even to my ignorant
lay mind that her offering was chant
royale When she had concluded her
reading her friend silently pressed her
hand, and after subdued debate for pos
session of the check, they took their de-
parture, bound. I surmised, for some
muse-haunted Lesbos among the hills OF
New Jersey.
I was now alone in the Asolando. The
attending deities in their snowy gowns
had vanished behind the screen at the
rear of the room: the food and drink with
which had been promptly served proved
excellent; even the minor poet in green
and gold had held my attention, though
limitations Of Coventry Patmores odes
bore me as a rule. Near the street. half
concealed behind mosquelike grill. sat
the cashier. reading. bundle OF joss
woman sent thin smoke into the air.
Her head was bent above her book in
quiet attention; the light from an electric
lamp made q glow Of her golden hair.
She was an incident Of the general pic
ture, a part OF a scene that contained no
Earring note. A man who could devise. in
the heart of the great city, q place SO In
stinct with repose, SO luliing to all the
senses, was not less than a public bene-
factor, and I resolved on the spot to pur-
chase and read. at any sacrifice. the SON.
net-sequences of the reputed angel of the
AsOlando.
ture-for 1t shall have no meaner name
actually began. My eyes were still en-
joying the Rossettililze vision In the cash
Liers tiny booth, when q figure suddenly