Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12
SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE
BY EARL DERR BIGGERS

As read on there returned to my heart glow had
known in forty years The bard spoke of her hair:
Her yellow locks. crisped like golden wyre
About her shoulders loosely she'd
and saw, as in dream -ahem. can trust you, Gen
tlemen!-a girl | supposed had forever forgot in the
mold and dust of my later years will not go further
into the matter. NV wifes hair is black
and reading but losing the thread of the poets
eulogv the golden fabric of my reSrrrected dream it
came to me TO compare that maid | knew in the long
ago with the women | knew today. All, Gentlemen!
Lips made but for smiling fling weighty arguments on
the unoffending atmosphere. Eyes made to light with
that light that by land sea, blaze instead
with what they call the injustice of womans servude
White hands, made to find their way to the hands of
young in the moonlight, carry banners in the
dusty streets 1t seemed the blue eyes of that girl
of long ago turned sad ebukng her sisters of today
AS finished reading heart awhlrl said to the
young men before
"'Ghere 7cdS a woman, Gentlemen-a woman worth
million s1ffragettes!
"They applauded. The fire in died down. Soon
my old, meek. academic self. The vision had left
dismissed my class and went home. found
that my wifeshe of the black hair-had left my slip
pers by the library fire. put them on, and plunged
into pamphlet lately published by distinguished
member of German university faculty. thought the
incident closed forever.
He gazed sorrowfully at the young men.
"But, Gentlemen, ! had not counted that viper
that noursh our bosom, the American newspaper.
At present will not take time to denounce the press.
preparing article the subject for respectable
weekly of select circulation. Suffice it to record what
happened. The next day evening paper appeared
with huge picture of me on its front page and the
hideouS statement that this the Professor Bolton
who had said that One Peroxd Blond Is Worth
Million Sufragettes
Eyes that was the dreadful version of nv remark
that spread broadcast. Up the time that story
appeared had idea to what sort of creature the
peroXd blond might be- protested, of course. might
well have tried to dam tidal with table fork
The wrath of the world swept down upon |
deluged with kilograms editorials letters denouncng
Firm-faced females lay in wait for and waved
umbrellas in nv eyes, Even nv wife turned from me-
hat She not ask me 10 hO1 her
the question of suffrage she thought might least
refrain from publicly commenting type of woman
found chiefly in musical comedy choruses. | received
note from the president of the university asking
to be more crcumspect in my remarks. Me-Thaddeus
Bolton-the most conservative of men by instinct
and still the denunciatlOns of me poured in; still
womens clubs held meetings resolving against still
steady stream of reporters flowed through my life.
urging to state my views further to name the ten
Yesterday resolved could stand it no longer. | de
terrnned to go away until the whole thing was forgot
ten. But they said to there is place on land
where the reporters will not find you. talked
the matter with my old friend John Bentley,
of Baldpate Inn and he in his kindness gave me the key
to this hostelry.
The old man paused, and passed silk handkerchief
over his bald head.
"That Sirs' he said as my story: That is why you
see me Badpae Mountain this chill December
ing. That is why loneliness have terrors, exile
sorrows, for me. That is why bravely faced your
revolver shots Again let me repeat, bear malice
on that score. You have ruined derby hat and
the honorarium of professor at leading university
is not such to permit of many purchases in that line
But forgive you freely. Even at the lannon's mouth
| would have fled from reputation if YOU will permit
to paraphrase the poet
WISELY Professor Bolton binked about him.
w Bland half asleep in his chair Magee
quick with sympathy:
professor" he said, "you understanding
l feel for you Here, am sure you are safe from
porters and the yellow journals will forget you
their discovery of the next distorted wonder Briefly
Mr.. Bland and myself will outline the tange of
t1,ath ro,,y TO tl,a inn"