The Prescott daily news., 1913-07-21
UP TO DATE INFANTS
By CAROLINE CROW.

Looking up wonderingly from her embroidery, the girl in the apple blos- som kimono behelG her roommate stalk gloomily in from the matinee. Without a word the newcomer pitch ed her huff at the offended angora. Still without word, she poured and drank three cups of tea in desperate succession.
 "Oh, Meg! Now what has happen ed?" pleaded the girl in the apple blos- som kimono. Couldn't the children go to the matinee with you, after all?"
 "Oh, yes, we went, seven went, seven strong" darkly responded Meg. Lois, how old am I?"
 Why, don't you know?" queried her bewildered friend in the kimono.
 T thought I did. But oh, those children-those alleged children!" groaned Meg, clasping her white | gloved hands about her knees. If | you wish to preserve one lingering H. fusion, Lois" she said presently, "nev- CT, never be deluded Into giving fac | ulty children a treat"
 But Why? demanded Lois. My first misgivings attacked me when l saw how competent and com | posed the little creatures were at the very outset" related Meg some what calmer by now. No timd, up ward glances for guidance at cross ing; no clinging to my skirts when the | fearsome locomotive approached full | blast-you know it makes my heart | jump to this day to see the great mon- | sters coming on no shrinking reluc- tance about selecting and appropriat- | ing the best accommodations on the train"
 I'm sure the Blodgett children have charming manners" defended Lois. And Jamie Dowd-"
 | "Oh, they have, they have!" wail- ed Meg, biting rose stem savagely. Nothing alarmed and discomposed me so much as their manners My own are crude, backwoods product by comparison. They had the man. ners of little dukes and marquises to each other and to me. My mouth sim | ply fell open, and stayed open, at the polite lies those midgets favored each other with. They certainly have the responses down pat. Now, personally, I like nice hammered children-but by that I mean just good, old fashioned, farm manners!"
 Her companion laughed merrily. You would!" she agreed heartily if somewhat ambiguously. But didn't the dears seem to have good timer"
 "The finest kind of a time," assert ed her friend, nibbling a ladyfinger. There was 1 just thrilling over the magic and wonder of it all, laughing and crying by turns, and all but climb ing on the stage in my absorption in the sport Then there came an inter- mission. I dried my eyes and turned to clasp the enraptured babes to my heart.
 Instead of finding enraptured babes found six mature little entities, cool, alert, pleased as Punch, and interest edly discussing-what do you sup pose? the mechanics of the produc- tion! That was what had caught their attention and continued to hold it, despite my heartbreaking efforts to Interest them with the miracle of the thing. They didn't care two figs about fairies and poetic imaginings, but wires and bulbs and back drops moved them to sincere enthusiasm Lois, got fairly hysterical before the | end.
 The worst display of all. however came when we were in the foyer, pass ing out. A dear, we'll meaning, moth erly soul as pitiably behind the times as l had been myself but a shoyt while before, accosted our party.
 "Beaming on Rhoda's little golden seraph's head, she said: And wasn't it all just perfect, dear?"
 "Rhoda regarded her gravely for a moment-not shy. you know, merely weighing her answer. Then. With one possible exception she replied courteously. I suppose, of course, you noticed that the climax comes far too early in the piece'
 "Oh, Lois! Hand me that cat!"- Chicago Daily News.