The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-02-28

Difficulties

AltMS 70 g through ne E1elQ
museum has become q sort o. mania
with McGinnis- Il is AZ once q reere-
alton. a dissipation, a lure and a dis
appointment
Years ago It oavned upon him that
going through the museum vas 9 duty
he owed himself and his city. So.
cOndeseendingIy one day While out for
a walk he said 10 himself that he
might as vel drop in
McGinnis had also something OF the
feeling Of the amateur when he found
a sign up saying that the museum vas
closed for repairs He walked away
with his respect for the institution IN
creased as ones respect always In
creases for the unzttainable. II he
could have walked right in ne prob
ably never would have thought any
thing more about II. but his curiosity
was now aroused Right al hand was
q 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 q holding up their hands and
exclaiming over the marTels at their
gates
When his cousin John came TO town
McGinnis clapped him on the Shout
der. And now" he said. well go and
see the Field museum
Cousin John vas glad to 90. Both
Of them, however. became so interest
ed in the cases Of Pompeian relics and
Roman bronze as one goes in that
It was closing tine before they knew
IL
Those bathtubs certainly we're
great,- Cousin John said that night.
To think that those old boys really
took baths the same as We dO.-
McGinnis' brotherin-law was better
educated, so when some months later
NcGinnis started out 70 sae museum
with him in tow McGinnis felt ne was
going TO have a 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 inerusted with lava
over here" he said. are g couple
Of bathtuhs. too. that they dug up on
q 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 lust at
the very start, Didn't you see some
stuffed elephants or something farther
back? Wen have to try again some
day."
The brCther-in-law. however, had to
leave Unexpectedly and McGlnnis
started out alone. Bfpps met him on
the way and said he'd Ike to 20, too.
McGinnis laid a straight course in the
direction OF the huge elephants q mile
o. so farther back. but Bipps collared
him.
Look at those old Roman thingsl"
he cried enthusiastically. 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 animals
has no equal In the world"
'Jiminy!" chortled Bipps. Look At
the bronze tables and things. And II
here aren't couple Of bathtubs. Say.
those are bigger'n ours today fel-
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 Ike a bath"
And Egyptian tiles and inscriptions
and birds from the moon, I guess.
and"
Those hathtubs certainly get me-
insisted Bipps dreamily. Look at the
effect Of the atmosphere on them! To
think that maybe Nero took q bath
in"
Sorry" said an attendant while
they we're stiIl looking at the bath
tubs. but it's closing time."
McGinnis stamped out, followed By
Bipps stin talking about the tubs.
There's 8 cuttlefish back there
somewhere" McGinnis growIed, ac-
know it's there. 1t has a tail like an
aeroplane propeller and two ruddsrs
that extend back for yardsl Yards.
I'm telling youl And a relief map OF |
the moon that"
They never could have got those
bathtubs into one Of our dinky mod
ern fats was Bipps' triumphant CON-
ment-
McGlnnis went absolutely alone the
next time. He resolved to cut his
dearest friend II he interfered- He
made a straight dash from the en-
trance past the Roman relics that ne |
could see nights IN his sleep and tore
madly for the treasures beyond.
Just as he sighted the African war /
elephants and caught glimpse o. q
whole menagerie Of chimpanzees and /
g0rillas and snakes and musk oxen
and about a hundred doors leading
into other entertainments Sadie LIN
nan grabbed his arm
~Oh, Mr. McGinnisl- she said. I'm
5000 glad ! met youl I've got 70
write a paper for our club on 2ompei-
IN days and I'm 5000 stupid. Won't
Fou come back with me to TIE en-
rance and tell me what All those
lueer cid things are that they've dug
ID from the ruins and read the IN
scriptions and things to mel There
IRE couple Of bathtubs there. too.
hat are 5000 interesting."