Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-23
ELLEN ADATR 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.

IN.
think that poets sometimes make the
sravest errors. They sing Of youth and
sunny days and happy hearts. Youth
typihes to them the shecrCst 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,
Ions thoughts of youth" are passing
strange-I know they stretch out to
eternity, and always with a vague new
restlessness. / think it's happiness we
seek, but under unfamiliar names. Some
call il duty, some a great career and
some poor fools "a good time in this
world. 1t cannot come from outward
circumstances. "A heart at leisure from
itself" might bring 1t here--l do not know
II wish l thought of others feelings
more.
CLEAN, d widc Kaleidoscope arch over
wet English fields. To me the universe
could hold nothing more fair. 4 want
to reach the rainbow where 1t ends! /
cried, and tramped for miles over WllG-
scented heath, through dripping woods
to catch that rainbow's slcam. But al
ways 1t eluded ME. cried my childish
heart out To- an hour.
Then mother gave me a new toy, with
darting quicksilver in 1t. l broke that toy
20 catch the cleaning mctal-out there
again l failed!
/ think the old folks know tr1ie hapni-
ness. AT least they know quiet calm
and peace. on many furrowed, wrinkied
face see such happy looks. They also
serve who only stand and walt
ARRIVAL IN PHILADELPHIA.
NY train brought me to Philadelphia
on summers day at o'clock. In the
big railway station [ saw no familiar
face. surely my uncle must be there
TO welcome me. l knew he was the kind
iiest man, ard on that one short visit that
he paid to England he had liked me we'll
I waited by the bookstall for an age.
Strange crowds went by me, as l stood
alone. The girls and women seemed so
emartly dressed, so fashionable The
men all looked rather alike, | thought all
wearing the same sort of hat-straw,
with 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 and hungry.
sat down at a little table. all alone. Why
had my uncle failed to welcome me? \
sudden thought then came and brought
Selief He must have sent a substitute.
Perhaps his wife had come and missed
me in the station crowd?
1 raised up hopeful eyes and then
strange thing happened. \ beautifully
Sowned woman slowly crossed the res
taurant and came to me. l thought she
had the loveliost face, the most bewild-
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
ARE you all alone? Is no one meeting
iyou?"
[ ~ thought my uncle would have come"
II said, 'or perhaps my aunt-but [ could
lnot recognize her, and she can't know
jme'
My dear" she cried, and With the
\klndliest gesture seized my hands, "arc
gou the little girl we were expecting?
p've searched for YOU an hour! How glad
q am! I'm the new aunt"
! This lovely new relation made me feel
quite shy. she looked so grand. She
tlnade me talk and ordered a light meal
y'Your uncle sent me, as he was de-
taned," said she. our motorcar is
waiting to take YOU home TO dinner, and
a welcome"
II will not bother YOU and uncle long
mean 10 work" I said. Il think you
are the loveliest and the kindest things"
A sudden shadow crossed her face.
please don't say that she said, as
81 my words had hurt Tell me about
your life at home"
] think the hoodCateS opened then;
my strange wall OF reserve went down. [
told her of my English home, and of
long walks upon the wiud-swept moors. I
told her how the wind sang in the trees
and how the little woud-sorrrl grew
everywhere. 1T is so pure and fresh"
said. 1T has tho tiniest. piukest face,
know you'd love my English home"
Go on, 20 on" she said in brcathIoss
esEemess. "I-vas-an English girl once.
too"
1 told her ot the freshness or the moorS
so different from dusty cities and from
towns" I said. ! told her Of tho lovely
Sussex Downs, and how tho dew lay long
upon the grass. Then noxt ( told hcr Of
the artists words. "Aud when ] met