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

I think that poets sometimes make tht
eravest errors. They sing OF youth and
sunny days and happy hearts. youth
typihes to them the sheerest happiness
They cannot see that youth may mean
the sheerest pain.
When one Is young one wants so much
30 desperately much Then, OH the heart
ache If one gets but little! The long
long thoughts of youth are nasslns
strange--I know they stretch out to
eternity, and always with vague new
restlessness | think it's happiness we
seek but under unfamiliar names. Some
call 1t duty. some a 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 bring it here-l do not know
i wish / thought of others feelings
more.
once as child l 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 II eHdS' /
cried. and tramped for miles over Wild
scented heath, through dripping woods
to catch that rainbow -ieam' but az
wavs IL euded me, / cried my thuuIsh
heart out for an hour.
Then mother gave me q new toy, with
darting quicksilver III 1t. broke that TOY
to catch the SleaminS meta4-'"I 'He't
again | failed!
think the old folks know true happ!-
ness At least they know a quiet cam
and peace. on many furrowed, wrlnk!ed
face l 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 clock. In the
big railway station l saw no familiar
face. surely my uncle must be there
I h no
lest man and on that one short visit that
he paid to England he had liked me well.
l waited by the bookstall for an age.
Strange crowds went by ne, as stood
alone The girls and women seemed So
smartly dressed. so fashionable. In"
men all looked rather alike, l thought al
wearing the same sort OF hat-st't".
with a highish crown. No one seemed
old and none seemed poor America must
be a great glad place
At length | sought the nearest res
taurant, for l was tired ana hungry. |
sat down at a little table. AL alone. why
had my uncle failed TO welcome me-
sudden thought then came and brought
relief He must have sent substitute.
Perhaps his wife had come and missed
me in the station crowd?
| raised up hopeful eyes and then
strange thing happened. a beautifully
gowned woman -luwly crossed the res
taurant and came to me- | thought she
had the loveliest face the most hewild-
ering beauty. A faint sweet perfume
clung about her gown, unlike tn" scent
of English flowers. She smiled the sweet
est smile and said t. MT. My child, why
are you all alone? l. no one meeting
II thought my uncle would have come
I said. ''or perhaps my aunt-but l could
not recognize her, and she can't know
me-"
my dear" she cried, and rSith the
kindiest gesture seized my hands, ARE
you the little girl ". We're expecting
I've searched for YOU an hour! How glad
I am, I'm the naw aunt
This lovely new relation made me feel
quite shy, she looked so grand. Sne
made me talk and ordered a light meal
''Your uncle sent me, as he was de-
tanned" said she. "Our motOgcar Is
waiting to take you home to dinner, and
a welcome"
Il will not bother you and uncle long
mean to work, 1 said. "I think YOU
are the lOveleSt and tho Nindesl 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 hood9ates opened then.
my strange wall Of reserve went down.
told her of my English home, and Of
long walks upon the wtud-swept moDrs. |
told her how the wind sang in the trees
and how the little wood-sprr~I grew
everywhere. 1T IS so pure and fresh"
! said 1t has the tiUia-t. piuEest face,
I know you'd love my English home
Go on, 20 on she said, in breathless
eagerness. "l-was-an ENGLISH girl once,
too
l told her of the freshness Of the moors
$50 different from dusty cities and from
towns" I said. ! told her of rho lovely
Sussex Downs, and how the dew Iay long
upon the grass Then next / told her Of
the artists words. And when 7 met