The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-10-10
Under
Difficulties


Years ago it dawned upon him that
going through the museum was a duty
he owed himself and his city So,
condescendingly one 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
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 1t. but his curiosity
was now aroused. Right at hand was
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.
McGinnis clapped him on the Shout
der. "And now," he said, "we,l go and
see the Field museum!"
Cousin John was glad to CO. 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 time before they knew
It.
Those bathtubs certainly were
great" Cousin John said that night
ITO think that those old boys really
took baths the same as we dol"
McGinnis' brother-in-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 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 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
day!"
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 60, too.
McGinnis laid straight course in the
direction of the huge elephants mile
or so 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" McGinnis 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 IL
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"
They must have had coolies Of wa
ter in those days." said Bipps. Say,
how'd you like bath"
And Egyptian tiles and inscriptions
and birds from the moon, guess,
and"
Those bathtubs certainly get me-"
insisted Bipps dreamily. Look at the
effect of the atmosphere on them! TO
think that maybe Nero took bath
in"
Sorry, said an attendant while
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 a cuttlefish back there
somewhere" McGinnis growled, &C
cusingly. "Tweester saw 1t, so 1
know it's there. 1t has tail like an
aeropiane propeller and two rudders
that extend back for yards! Yards,
I'm telling you! And 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.
McGinnis 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 he
could see nights in his sleep and tore
madly for the treasures beyond
Just as he sighted the African war
elephants ard caught glimpse of a
whole menagerie of chimpanzees and
gorillas and snakes and musk oxen
and about a hundred doors leading
into other entertainments Sadie Lin
man grabbed his arm.
ooh, Mr.. McGinnis" she said. I'm
5000 glad | met you! I've got to
write a paper for our club on Pompei-
an days and I'm 5000 stupid! Won't
you come back with me to the en-
trance and tell me what all those
queer old things are that they've dug
up from the ruins and read the In
scriptions and things to me? There
are a couple of bathtubs there, too.
that are 5000 Interestingly"
liz Cap,A kfoAc