Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-08-11
AIbertine's Theme

the head OF the dinner table: 1all
to see any good reason why a univer'
sity professors unfavorable com.
ments on your theme should provoke
so much merriment."
buke with giggles.
"A professor!" Albertine echoed.
If you could see him, daddy! He's
only senior. anyway, and so set up
because Dean Bradley let's him criti-
else themes that he tries to make US
think he's more than human"
"ln other words, he's been blind to
Bert's charms" Nan murmured under
her breath, and Mildred nodded know
irgly.
"Why, girls! AS If Id care to charm
him! With all his owlish ways. he
didn't know really good thing when
gave it to him!"
"Albertine!" This time the rebuke
came from both ends of the table at
once. 1t is one of the sacred tradi.
lions of the Bromley household that
anything in the guise of teacher
shall be spoken of with respect. Be.
sides. Albertine. the university stu
dent, was setting an unseemly exam.
pie to her high school sisters.
"Wait till you hear the theme, dad
dy. You'll say yourself that it's good.
Won't he. girls?"
Il wish to hear the theme" said
Bromley severely And your mother
and l will hear your teachers criti.
cism, too. It's time some one follow
ed you up little"
Shall get it now, while desserts
being served?" Albertine volunteered.
Getting her parents consent, she
fastened away.
First" she began gleefully, when
she came back, you ought to know
that this young man has prosecuted
the whole class from the start. He's
so young that he has to act old-es.
pecially with girls. You'd think I was
disembodied spirit when we have
consultation over theme, instead Of q
girl with expensive new ruching In
my neck and sleeves! He never looks
at me. He's like to have US think he's
walking dictionary-oneo Of these all.
mind creatures that just gnaw Greek
roots when they're hungry. And he
never admits that anything is good,
though you know can write fairly
well. when l try, daddy"
Il know you can. That's the reason
I've no patience with such nonsense. "
well. l was a trifle careless with
this English course. just at first, but
since then I've been trying. and do
you suppose he takes notice? Not
he! So last week got desperate and
made up my mind to give him some
thing superfine and made him praise
him. That's this theme"
She tapped the long. folded sheet
and smothered another laugh as her
eye fell on the written criticism that
covered its back.
what has he written there?"
Bromley demanded, more and more
displeased by his daughters levity.
"He says"-Albertine choked-"he
says that it's limp, crude and trite; it
lacks conference and iridescence: it's
formless-not worthy of grammar.
school girl. l must rewrite it,"
Three napkins flew to three con.
vulsed faces. then shrek of laughter
burst forth, while the elder Brom.
leys stared at their daughters in as.
tonished disapproval.
"Children!" Bromley Numbered,
How do you suppose feel to have a
daughter of mine get criticism like
that on her work? Read the theme!"
Albertine, her face scarlet with sup
pressed laughter, unfolded the paper,
while Mrs. b:omley shook her head
gravely at her other two giggling
daughters.
Il called it Moods" said the ED
est daughter, demurely. II really
think it's good, daddy. 1t begins:-
Dream delivers us to dream and
there is no end to illusion. Life is a
train of moods, like string of beads.
and as we pass through them they
prove to be many-colored lenses which
paint the world their own hue, and
each shows only what lies on its TO-
Gus. From the mountain you see the
mountain. We animate what We can.
and"
That's enough" Bromley Interrupt.
ted, majestically. "Im plain man
myself; l may say he don't once in
a while and get called down by my
educated daughters; but l know
enough to see the value of your in.
structor's criticism on such writing
as that. When think of it as coming
from YOU"
"Oh, but daddy"
"Wait! When I think of it as com.
ing from YOU Why, child. you did
infinitely better in high school! Isn't
that right, mother?"
1T seems SO to me-" Mrs. Bromley
agreed, solemnly.
ooh! oh! OH" the Bromley daugh-
tiers screamed in hysterical unison.
Don't! Don't say another world"
Albertine pleaded. with tears rolling
into her dimples. TITS out of Emer-
sons essay on Experience daddy
Just straight Emerson"
Emerson" The eyes of the father