The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-08-27
A Mutual
Admiration Society
BY ESTHER VANDEvEER

Mrs. Leo Hunter, In whom Dickens
satirized woman ambitious to shine
as 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 u
professor of German literature In &
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 10
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 trolley car which would carry
him direct TO the reside1ce 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 it 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 hat on her bead.
Eyes. Isn't 1t lovelyr
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 he dies, is Just
too lovely for anything"
THANK you ever so much. Have
you been writing anythingT
Nothing in verse ! have a story
I'm going to read at the next meeting
of our literary society. I've spent
lot Of time over it, which | fear may
have been wasted When ! write
poem dash 1t right off without think
ing. and it's better than when take
pains"
THAT'S genius wish we were go
ing TO listen to your story this after
noon at Mrs. Middleton Tranhy's In
stead of having to listen to that pro-
fessor. | think our meetings when we
read our own papers are SO much more
interesting"
so do /. don't care for German
literature. There is so much philoso-
ply mixed up in it."
Mrs. EngIeheart's paper on
Goethe read at our last meeting. was
very good.
Good! 1t was delightful But then
we are all so familiar with the opera
of Faust that Goethe has a 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-
lleve the trustees of bis university ask
ed him to resign-Cuthbert Brown.
professor of something or other,
don't remember"
II think that's the man who is to
speak this afternoon, but I'm not
sure"
eff it is I shall not remain for the
lecture"
you'd better be careful. You know
Mrs. Middleton Tranby has her fourth
husband, all the other three still living"
81 didn't think Of that. Ever SO
much obliged to you for mentioning IL,
or course it wouldn't do to offend a
hostess. Besides, rather like to hear
what horrid theories people will pro-
~ can stand bit of spice myself. II
this man Brown doesn't advocate posi-.
tive free love / rather think j shall
hear him out. But, since he is to speak
on German literature. perhaps he won't
his peculiar ideas"
Possibly not, but SO long as he holds
them and we have to listen to him ID
would be disappointing to have him
stick to his dull subject"
BY this time the car had reached
cross street leading to Mrs. Middleton.
rranbys residence, and the ladies'
alighted. They were followed by Pro-
lessor Brown-Charles. not Cuthbert
Brown and a husband and father of
six children-who Jagged behind them,
30 that when they entered the Tranby
residence they did so without having
noticed that he bad followed them. /,
Lets go right into the lecture ROOM
said one, "and get seats where we can
near I'm a little deaf"
They took seats In the front row. and
when the room had been filed behind
hem the lecturer. with Mrs. Middleton ,
rranby, passed down an aisle, and they
mounted the platform together. Ii
Great heavensr' exclaimed the lady &
With the muff hat
TT is the man who sat opposite Us
n the car"
I'VE must 60"
How can we? It's impossible. We :
lave got TO stay 1t out" !
The lecturer. having been introduced !
" the hostess. cast one meaning
dance down at the Indies directly be
eath him. then delivered bis lecture.