Las Vegas optic., 1914-03-26

Beginning today The Optic will pub
lish at frequent intervals essays by
students Of The New Mexico Normal
University which have Been entered
in the contest for the Padgett cup.
Every wear Colonel N, N. Padgett,
editor Of The Optic offers a, prize
for the best essay written by a Nor.
NAL student In the course of the, reg
ular years work. None of the essays
is prepared especially for the con
test, the teachers making selections
of those they consider worthy the con,
sideration Of the judges. The 10 Lest
essays are published, without correc,
tion Of any kind, in The Optic. The
winner is announced at commences
ment time. Here are the first two
essays to be published.
The Ambitious Guest
BY "A.
It was at the dinner table that Mrs.
Harrison found time to oren a letter
which had come in the morning mail,
She was short rather inclined to
stoutness and almost always good hui
mored so that her husband looked up
in astonihsment when she gave a
Sigh and said dismally. @oh dearl"
What's the matter. mother?s asked
Billy, the oldest boy. Az
Your Aunt Alyira writes that she
il coming in two weeks to- pay sus a
visit ( replied Mrs. Harrison tragical.
fly. A chorus Of groans arose and
Billy said. "a
White and tell her that we can't
have her stay with US
Il can't do that, repliedihis mother,
but we won't have much peace while
she is here. III have to warn the
cook about your aunt's business" q
For the next two weeks the coming
of Aunt Alvira was the main topic oi
discussion at all times. The reason
that she was dreaded so was that she
was very ambitious She was never
Satisfied with existing conditions, but
always wished to improve them.
4 At length the eventful day arrived
At five in the afternoon the whole
family was at the station waiting fol
the train. Soon a whistle was heart
up the track and a minute later the
train rumbled into the station and came
to a standstill. Almost Immediately
! Aunt Alvira appeared coming dowr
the steps of the car, She was quite
loaded down with a heavy suitcase il
one hand and band box and um
brella in the other. She was the ex
act opposite Of her sister, being tai
and thin while her face was very
severe. After kissing her sister at
fectionately, Aunt Alyira said tina
she must see about her trunk imme
diately. Mr.. HARRISON replied tha
he would attend to the matter in th'
morning.
'That must be attended to Idgh
now" emphatically declared the own
er Of the article in question Aftel
Yainly arguing, Mr.. Harrison a
length took the check and went Of
to the baggage room. He soon re
turned and said thar the trunk woult
be sent up the next day. His sis
| ter-in-law protested and declared tina
the trunk must be sent up immediate
lly, but Mr., Harrison said that thi
agent was busy and could not atten,
to the matter until later, Aunt al
vira abandoned the argument, but al
the way to the house she kept sagini
that neither trunk nor cneck wouI'
Ibe seen again. she waa evidentll
tired out from travelling for she wa
quite subdued at supper and retireI
early. II s,,s
| The next morning after breakfas
was over che insisted on helDin
wash the dishes.
/ But / have d girl To do that, sis
ter said Mrs. Harrison
4 II don't care If you have. Sh
doesn't do it right, I'll warrant" an
out to the kitchen went Aunt Alyir
followed by hsf sister still protesting
she took charge at once and drov
the servant almost distracted by he
criticism. Then she discovered tha
the kitchen cupboard needed clear
ing and she cleaned 1T thorough
and arranged it to suit her own taste
and when she finished the cook did
MT know where to find anything Sh
next Instructed the cook ii the art Q
making pudding and SO confuse'
that worthy person that the pudding
was spoiled, In tho afternoon sh'
changed the furniture in the guea
room to suit herself and was KEEP
from helping the cook get suppe
only by the combined persuasion 0
the whole family.
Thus week passed and each da!
Auuf Alvira changed enmnfhiug. Oh