The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-04-12
Under
Difficulties

with McGinnis. 1t is at once q recre.
alton, a dissipation, a lure and a dis.
appointment.
Years ago 1t dawned upon him that
going through the museum was a duty
he owed himself and his city. So,
condescendingly me day while out for
a walk he said to himself that he
might as we'll drop in.
McGinnis had also something OF the
feeling OF the amateur when he found
a sign up saying that the museum was
closed for repairs. He walked away
with hts respect for the institution in
creased as ones respect always in
creases for the un%attainable. II he
could have walked right in he prob
ably never would have thought any
thing more about it. but his curiosity
was now aroused. Right at hand was
a wonderful collection Of instructive
things and he was puzzled to know
why people persisted in talking about
stocks and ocean trips and the cost
Of beefsteak and dairy products in
stead Of holding up their hands and
eXclaiming over the marvels at their
gates. ~
When his cousin John came to town
McGinnis clapped him on the Shout.
der. And now," he said, "we'u go and
see the Field museum!"
Cousin John was glad to go. Both
of them, however, became so interest.
ed in the cases of Pompeian relics and
Roman bronze as one goes in that
1t vas closing time before they know
it.
Those bathtubs certainly we're
great" Cousin John said that night.
TO think that those old boys really
took baths the same az we dol"
McGinnis' brother-1n-law was better
educated, so when some months later
McGinnis started out to the museum
with him in tow McGinnis felt he was
going to have a treat. Having seen
the first cases before, McGinnis took
great pride in pointing Out to His rel
ative the old frying pans and vase
and pitchers incrusted with lava.
"Over here" he said, ARE a couple
OF bathtubs. too. that they dug Tip on
Il Pompeian estate"
Sorry said the attendant. hours
later, tapping McGinnis on the Shout
der, but it's closing time" 80
1T does beat ALL" McGinnis said as
they started reluctantly homeward,
how much time one can waste just at
the very start! Didn't you see some
stuffed elephants or something farther
back? Well have to try again some
The brother-in-law, however, had to
leave unexpectedly and McGinnis
started out alone. Bipps met him on
the way and said he'd like to go, too.
McGinnis laid a straight course in the
direction of the huge elephants a mile
50 farther back. but Bipps collared
him.
Look at those old Roman things!"
he cried enthusiastically. Fancy
their being actually used thousands Of
years ago."
There's some elephants back
there" McGtnnis protested. I'm told
the collection of stuffed wild animals
has no equal in the world"
Jimmy" chortled Bipps. Look at
the bronze tables and things! And II
here aren't a couple of bathtubs! Say,
those are bigger'n ours today reI-
low could take a regular swim"
"And cases of butterflies from India
and Africa and China" pursued the
anxious McGinnis. Like. enamels in
their color"
They must have had coolies OF wa
ter in those days." said Bipps. Say.
how'd you like a bath"
And Egyptian tiles and Inscriptions
and birds from the moon.AI guess.
and" I'D
Those bathtubs certainly get me-"
insisted Bipps dreamily. LOOK at the
effect of the atmospheric on them! To
think that maybe Nero took a bath
in"
Sorry" said an attendant while
they we're still looking at the BATH
tubs, but it's closing time!"
Mct1innis stamped out, followed by
Bipps still talking about the tubs.
There's a cuttlefish back there
somewhere" McC5innis growled, ac-
cusingly. "Tweester saw 1t, so 4
know it's there. 1t has Q tail like an
aeroplane propeller and two rudders
that extend back for yards! Yards.
I'm telling you! And a relief map Of
the moon that"
They never. could have got those
bathtubs into one of our dinky. mod
ern fats" was sipps' triumphant com.
ment.
McGinnis went absolutely alone the
next time. He resolved to cut his
dearest friend II he interfered. He
made q straight dash from the en-
trance past the Roman relics that he
could see nights in his sleep and tore
madly for the treasures beyond.
Just as he sighted the African war
elephants and caught q glimpse OF q
whole menagerie OF chimpanzees and
gorilas and snakes and musk oxen
n~lnnIn.k = b,,r1.nd Son~c loodtne1