Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-09-12
"A Mutual
Adm!iiratio Society
By ESTHER VANDEvEER

Mrs. Middleton ranby is sort Of
Mrs. Leo Hunter. in whom Dickens
satirized woman ambitious to shine
as q literary star and to entertain lit
erary stars, though Mrs: Middleton-
.Tranby was not the caricature, Mrs.
Leo Hunter was and lived in the TWEEN
tieth instead Of the nineteenth cen
tury.
Among the literary salons given by
Mrs. Tranby (the whole name is too
long for repetition) was one where q
professor Of German literature in a
prominent university was to address
the company. The professor. who was
as unpretentious as his name, which
was Brown, did not know when he ac-
cepted the invitation that he was to
speak to a mutual admiration society.
His address was to be in the after
noon, and half an hour before he was
to appear on the rostrum he stepped
into a trolley car which would carry
him direct to the residence Of Mrs.
Tranby. He seated himself, took a
newspaper from his pocket and be-
gan to read.
Presently two ladies entered the car.
sat down opposite the professor and
began to chat There were various
noises connected with the journey,
such as the conductors bell ringing
and vehicles rafting over the stones
without, and the ladies found 1t diff
cult to modulate their voices.
"Have you read Mrs. Middleton
Tranby's latest poem in the - Maya
zine?' asked one lady, who wore some
thing like muff for a hat on her head
Eyes. Isn't it lovely?'
Beautiful! But it doesn't compare
with your My Rover"
Don't you think so? It's awfully
good Of you to say So"
II love dogs, and the close Of your
poem. when your dog looks up at you
so expressively before be dies, is just
too lovely for anything" =.
"Thank You ever so much. Have
you been writing anythingf" -
Nothing in verse. have story
I'm going to read at the next meeting
of our literary society. I've spent q
lot Of time over it. which l:fear may
have been wasted. When I write q
poem I dash it right of without think
ing. and it's better than when take
palms."
that's genius. I wish we were 60
ing to listen to your story this after
noon at Mrs. Middleton ranbys in
stead OF having to listen to that pro
lessor. think our meetings when We
read our own papers are SO much more
interesting"
$50 do l. I don't care for German
literature. There is SO much philoso'
ply mixed up in it,
MRS. Engleheart's paper or
Goethe read at our last meeting, was
very good"
"Good! It was delightful! But Their
we are all so familiar with the opera
of Faust that Goethe has special
charm for u.s." :
whats the name of the professor
who is to lecture this afternoonT
Brown, believe"
"Brown! He isn't the Professor
Brown whose loose ideas on marriage
have excited so much comment? I be
lieve the trustees of his university ask
ed him to resign-Cuthbert Brown
professor Of something or other,
don't remember"
II think that's the man who is tt
speak this afternoon. but I'm moi
sure" >.''
If it is I shall not remain for thu
lecture ="
you'd better be careful. You know
Mrs. Middleton ranby has her fourth
husband, all the other three still living.
II didn't think Of that Ever 81
much obliged to you for mentioning It
OF course it wouldn't do to offend .
hostess. Besides. rather like to hea
what horrid theories people will pro
mulgate." - r. =
II can stand a bit Of spice myself. !,
this man Brown doesn't advocate posi-
tive free love l rather think l shall
~ To- 81 NJ