New-York tribune., 1912-03-24

~OUSIN CAROLINE lived in Bethlehem
Massachusetts, the town from who
EQI@ America prew-at least that's wha
NXN[II we Bcthehemites say We don te
OIE/S~~<MI/d il TO strangers lest our claim shoul
IE57NS be contended and being descende
81 Q. ] !. j. i : .... 81. : d 4:
NJ I1CNgM from OuakcrS we are not favorable
bS/ENWNI disputes We take it for granite
|W. 8Nnl among ourselves, however, that ou
NEE4fSIU ancestors by their unaded strength
N%EpHU founded this great Republic; in con
WW4// sequence of which fact we OF Bethle
n DIN a hem are the only true aristocracy Il
~ ~ America. It's a grand sight TO SC
~ our ladies' 60 visiting attlred IN IN
QJ0 stFest Of black satin: they have a
eticuette as courty and binding a
that Of any Of the PrIncesses OF Europe
We Bathlelcmitcs are a separate nation rather Una
community Of tOwnsolk, and our preJudlceS nave u
proportions Of national hatrcds. Boston we parQL|
and dcpc on account Of the modernness OF Back Bay
but Salem we dcspise and never speak to, because
trucklcs 10 summer visitors, and makes proht Out
being ancient In Bethlehemit considered vulgar 10
wealthy bad taste 10 be modern and sacnegouS 10 Sc
alter de-trOvthe old homestead Our stTaggnS SIIC
and crooked dwellings have not changed IN hunure
years and Of the inhabitants it is only the bodies NJ
the minds that have changed. We make IL a poliIC
honor be quaint and nothing fills us with greater o
than 10 be told that we are century behind the uHc
Cousin Caroline was as stanch Bethlehcmlte as yo
could hope 20 find throughout all the period OF her
girhoOd; that is 20 saw until she had arrived at
her But why number her wears, All SplnSteTS
are girls in Bethlehem till their hair turns gray or
white Cousin Carolines was still golden and she
had the manners Of demurc child. She had been
courted for many years by Silas Jcphcott and,
While ne was making up his mind IN what words 10
propose she kept house for her brother Joseph.
1t was considered mark Of conspicuous refine
ment IN Sllas that he should have consumed 50
much time in overcoming his lovers hcstancy;
but It was never doubted that he would one day
change Caroline state by the marriage ceremony
from that Of girl 10 a woman a quite different
Change came suddenly, without his aid, in way
entirely unexpected.
A NEW YORK periodical long established and
gradually emerging out Of suspicion into the
respect OF Bcthlehemltes, was anxious 70 IN
crease It's sales. To this end il offered 10 send
Tree Of charge, with a years subscription, copies
OF the works OF certain standard authors. Among
The names given 10 select from was that OF an
extremely French author whose Christian name
was Guy Cousin Caroline knew little about
france and next 10 nothing about its literature;
Dut she liked the name Of Guy: it sounded roman
uc 70 her In filling out her subscription blank
a@e one ordered all that available Of his titles.
ms act, though she did not know it, the first
sIep IN her emancipation.
When the books arrived She peeped between
sne se pages and was somewhat scared at the
Illustrations Then she set them aside till Sun
gudy ior there IS an unwritten law in Bethlehem
ti"V new books must never be begun on a week
Gay, IL IS considered low and lazy" Six days
sit s,at thou labor, and do all thy work, and on
@ sne seventh thou shalt improve thy mind" I'm
pIoVilg one S mind IS a luxury that most Of my
''"'Sihen set out 10 attain by spreading pocket