Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-09-08
A Mutual
Admiration Society
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

Mrs. Middleton-Tranby is a sort Of
Mrs. Leo Hunter, in whom Dickens
satirized a 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 twen-
tieth instead of the nineteenth cen
tury.
Among the literary salons given by
Mrs. Tranby Cthe whole name is too
long for repetitiom was one where
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 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 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 - Maga-
zine?" asked one lady. who wore some
thing like muff for hat on her head.
"Yes. 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 he dies, is just
too lovely for anything"
"Thank you ever so much. Have
you been writing anything"
Nothing in verse. | have a story
| Ill
Of our literary society. I've spent a
| lot of time over it. which ! fear may
have been wasted. When I write a
poem dash it right off without think
ing, and it's better than when l take
pains"
"That's genius. l wish we were go
ing to listen to your story this after
noon at Mrs. Middleton-Tranby'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"
$50 do 1. | don't care for German
literature There is so much philoso-
ply mixed up in it."
Mrs. Englehearts 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 afternoon?"
Brown, l believe"
Brown He isn't the Professor
Brown whose loose ideas on marriage
have excited so much comment? l be-
lieve the trustees of his university ask
ed him to resign-Cuthbert Brown
professor of something or other,
don't remember
81 think that's the man who is to
speak this afternoon, but I'm not
sure"
IF it is l 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 it.
OF course it wouldn't do to offend a
hostess Besides. l rather like to hear
what horrid theories people will pro-
mulgate."
81 can stand a bit of spice myself If
this man Brown doesn't advocate posi-
tive free love l rather think l shall
hear him out But, since he is to speak
on German literature, perhaps he won't
mention his peculiar ideas"
Possibly not, but so long as he holds
them and we have to listen to him it
would be disappointing to have him
stick to his dull subject"
BY this time the car had reached a
cross street leading to Mrs. Middleton
Tranbys residence. and the ladies
alighted. They were followed by Pro-
fessor Brown-Charles, not Cuthbert,
Brown and husband and father of
six children-who Jagged behind them,
so that when they entered the Tranby
residence they did so without having
noticed that he had followed them.
Lets go right into the lecture ROOM"
said one, "and get seats where we can
hear. I'm little deaf"
They took seats in the front row, and
when the room had been filed behind
them the lecturer. with Mrs Middleton
Tranby, passed down an aisle, and they
mounted the platform together.
Great heavens! exclaimed the lady
with the muff hat
1T is the man who sat opposite US
in the car"
"We must CO."
"How can we? It's impossible. We