The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1912-02-15

Difficulties

with McGinnts. It 10 at once q Iecre.
alton, dissipation, . lure and q dis
appointment. .. :
Years ago 1t dawned upon him that
going through the museum was duty
he owed himself and his. city. SO,
condescendingly one day while out for
q 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 his respect for the institution in,
creased as ones respect always in.
creases for the unattainable. 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 shouE
der. And now" he said. "well 20 and
SEQ the Field museum!"
Cousin John was glad to 60. Both
OF them. however, became 80 interest;
ed in the cases Of Pompeian relics and
Roman bronze a. one goes in that
It was closing time before they knew
It.
Those bathtubs certainly were
great!" Cousin John said that night.
TO think that those old boys really
took baths the same az We dol"
Mc0innis' brother.in-law was better
educated. 20 when some months later
McGinnis started out to the museum
with him In tow McGinnis felt he was
going to have treat. Having seen
the first cases before. McGinnis took
great pride in pointing out to his rel;
alive the old frying pans and vases
and pitchers incrusted with lava.
"Over here" he said, ARE a couple
of bathtubs. too. that they dug up on
Pompeian estate"
Sorry" said the attendant, hours,
later, tapping McGinnis on the Shout.
der, but it's closing time"
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
dayl"
The brother-in-law, however. hsd TO
leave Unexpectedly and Mc0innis
started out alone. Bipps met hinton
tho way and said he'd IKE to 20, too;
McGinnis laid . straight course In tns
direction OF the huge elephants mile
or 90 farther back. but Bipps collarsd,
him.
Look at those old Roman thingsi"!
he cried automatically. Fancy!
their being actually used Thousands OF
years ago!"
There's some elephants back
there" McGinnis protested. I'm told
the collection of stuffed wild animaIsI
has no equal in the world"
"Jiminy!" 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-a fell
low could take regular swim" !:
"And cases Of butterflies from India
and Africa and China" pursued the
anxious McGinnis. Like enamels in
their color" ";
J They must have had coolies of wasa
ter In those days." said Bipps. Say:
how'd you like a bath" IA
"And Egyptian tiles and inscriptions
and birds from the moon, guess.
land" ri
Those bathtubs certainly. get new
insisted Bipps dreamily. Look at the
effect of the atmosphere on them! To
think that maybe Nero took q bath
lin" =
Sorry" said an attendant whils
they were still looking at the BATH
tubs. ''but it's closing time!"
McGinnis stamped out. followed BY
Bipps still talking about the tubs. /
; There's cuttle1sh back there
somewhere" McGinnis growled, ao1
cusingly. "Tweester saw It, 20 4
know it's there. It has tail ike an
aeroplane propeller and two rudders
that extend back for yards! Yards;
I'm telling you! And relief map OF
1.-THE moon that" i
"They never could have got those
bathtubs into one Of our dinky mod,
ern fats" was Bipps' triumphant com.
ment.
McGinnis went absolutely alone the
next time. He resolved to cut his
dearest friend If he interfered. He
made a 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 40 he sighted tho African war
elephants and caught q glimpse OF q
whole menagerie Of chimpanzees and
gorillas and snakes and musk oxen
and about . hundred doors lsadine
into other entertainments Sadie Lin!