Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-24
A NEW ENGLAND ANDROMEDA
lOUSIN CAROLINE lived in Bethlehem,

NOUSIN CAROLINE lived in Bethlehem
A0 -. Massachusetts,, the town from which
5@N@R America grew-at least that's wha
NXE~G we BethlehemiteS say. We don tel
OTS\S(u it to strangers, lest claim .S1OulC
IM{a6N be contended, and being descended
- !; !
|DlSGN from Ouakers we are not favorable t.
KYI10S&WH disputes We take it for granted
(N|NGlN| among ourselves, however, that ou
VlAGIW ancestors, by their unalded strength
WE4IX founded this great Republic; in con
WANIs sequence of which fact we of ,Bethle
a ~. 81 hem the only true aristocracy II
@ - America. It's grand sight to set
sSX/,t:' our ladies go visiting attlred IN the
3VCG -. -stiffest of black satin: they have al
: - etiquette as courtly and binding a.
that ef aassaf:the Processes of Europe: :.
Va BetfaehenlteS are separate nation rather thai
a community of townsfolk and prejudCeS have thu
proportions of national hatreds Boston patroniz
and despise of the modernness of Back Bay
but Salem we despise and never speak to, because
truckles to summer visitors, and makes profit out o
being ancient In Bethlehem it considered vulgar to b.
wealthy bad to be modern and sacegous to sell
alter destroy the old homestead Our struggling
and crooked dwellings have not changed in hundred
years; and of the inhabitants it is only the bodies
the minds that have changed We make it point o
honor to be quaint and nothing fills with greater pride
than to be told that century behind the times
Cousin Caroline stanch Bethlehemite as yo,
could hope to find thrOughOu all the period of her
girlhood; that is to say, until she had arrived at
her But why number her years? All spnSterS
are girls in Bethlehem till their hair turns gray
white. Cousin CarOlne's still golden and she
had the manners of demure child She had been
COurted tor many years by SlaS JephcOtt, and,
while he making up his mind in what words to
propose, she kept house for her brother Joseph.
1t was considered mark of conspicuous refine
ment in Silas that he should have consumed so
much time in overcoming his lovers hesitancy;
but it was never doubted that he would one day
change Caroline's state by the marriage ceremony
from that of girl to a woman A quite different
change suddenly without his aid, in a way
entirely unexpected.
A NEW YORK periodical, long established and
gradually emerging out of suspicion into the
respect of Bethlehemites, anxious in
its sales. To this end it offered to send
free of charge, with years subscription, copies
of the works of certain standard authors. Among
the names given to select from that of an
extremely French author whose Christian name
Guy. Cousin Caroline knew little about
France and next to nothing about its literature;
but she liked the name of Guy: it sounded roman
tic to her. In filling out her subscription blank
This act, though she did know it, was the first
step in her emancipation
When the books arrived, she peeped between
the pages and somewhat scared at the
illustrations Then she set them aside till Sun
day; for there is unwr1tten law in Bethlehem
that new books must never be begun on a week
day. 1t is considered low and lays DAYS
shalt thou labor, and do all thy work, and
the seventh thou shalt improve thy mind" I'm
proving ones mind is luxury that most of my
townsInen set out to attain by, spreading pocket