Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-23
ELLEN ADAIR HAS
A NEW AWAKENING
TO LIFE'S REALITY
She Arrives at the End of
Her Journey and Has Tea
in a Small Restaurant in
Philadelphia.

I think that poets sometimes make the
gravest errors They sing of youth ana
sunny days and happy hearts. Youth
typiies to them the sheerest happiness.
They cannot see that youth may mean
the sheerest pain.
When one is young one wants so much
40 desperately much Then, OH the heart
ache IL one gets but little! The long,
long thoughts of youth" are passing
strange-I know they stretch out TO
eternity, and always with vague new
restlessness. I think it's happiness we
seek, but under unfamiliar names. some
call il duty. some great career ana
some poor fools "a good time" in this
world. 1t cannot come from outward
circumstances. "a heart at leisure from
ITSELF might brng it here-l do not know
II wish l thought of others teellngs
more.
once as a child watched rainbow
CLEAN. wide Kaleidoscope arch over
wet English fields To me the universe
could hold nothing more fair. want
to reach the rainbow where 1t ehds'
cried and tramped for miles over Wlld-
scented heath, through dripping woouS'
to catch that raiubows gleam. But al
wavs II eluded me- l cried my childish
heart out for an hour.
Then mother gave me new toy, with
darting quicksilver in it, broke that Toy
to catch the cleaning metal-out there
again | failed!
I think the old folks know true happi-
ness At least they know quiet calm
and peace on many a furrowed, wrlnkled
face | see such happy looks. They also
serve who only stand and wait
ARRIVAL IN PHILADELPHIA.
NV train brought me to Philadelphia
on a summers day at o'clock. In the
big railway station | saw no familiar
face. surely my uncle must be there
knew he the KIND
Hest man and on that one short visit that
he maid TO England he had liked me well.
1 waited by the bookstall for an age.
Strange crowds went by me, as l stood
alone The girls and women seemed so
smartly dressed so fashionable. The
men all looked rather alike. | thought, all
wearing the same sort of hat-straw.
with a highish crown. No one seemed
old and none seemed poor. America must
be great, glad place!
At length ! sought the nearest res
taurant, for l was tired and hungry. l
sat down at a little table, all alone. why
had my uncle failed to welcome me? A
sudden thought then came and brought
relief. He must have sent substitute.
Perhaps his wife had come and missed
me in the station crowd?
l raised up hopeful eyes and then
strange thing happened. beautifully
gowned woman slowly crossed the res
taurant and came to me. l thought she
had the lOveliest face, the most bewtd-
ering beauty A faint sweet perfume
clung about her gown. unlike the scent
of English flowers. She smiled the sweet
est smile and said to me: My child, why
arg you ali alone? Is no one meeting
you?'
II thought my uncle would have come"
I said, "or perhaps my aunt-but could
not re cogniae her. and she can't know
me-
MY dear" she cried and With the
kindlest gesture seized my hands, ARE
you the little girl we were expecting?
I've searched for you an hour! How glad
] am I'm the new aunt
This lovely new relation made me feel
quite shy. she looked SO grand She
made me talk and ordered light meal
Your uncle sent me, as he was de-
tanned" said she our motorcar is
waiting to take you home TO dinner, and
a welcome"
II will not bother you and uncle long
] mean to work" l said. II think you
are the lovelest and the klndest things"
A sudden shadow crossed her face
please don't say that" she said. as
II my words had hurt. Tell me about
your life at home"
think the ioodgates opened then;
my strange wall of reserve went down.
told her of my English home, and OF
long walks upon the windswept moors. I
told her how the wind sang in the trees
and how the little wood-sorrel grew
everywhere. 1T is so pure and fresh"
I said. 1T has the tiniest, pinkest face!
l know you'd love my English home"
Go on. go on" she said, in breathless
eagerness. "I-was-an English girl once,
too"
I told her OF the freshness OF the moors
$50 different from dusty cities and from
towns" I said. I told her OF the lovely
Sussex Downs, and how the dew lay long
upon the grass. Then next I told her OF
the artists words, And when I met