The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1914-09-16

in the cheapest and cleanest dress
ever saw, with an air as simple as a
queens, received me.
The reception room seemed mile
square. because there was nothing in
1t except some rows of books. on un-
painted white pine bookshelves. a
cracked marble top table, rag rug, a
hairless horsehair sofa and two or
three chairs. Yes, there was q picture
on the wall, colored crayon drawing
Of cluster Of pansies. looked
around for the portrait Of Andrew
Jackson and the pine cone hanging
basket. but they were not there.
AZalea Adair and had conversation,
little Of which will be repeated to
you. She was a product of the old
south, gently nurtured in the sheltered
life. Her learning was not broad. but
was deep and Of splendid originality in
Its somewhat narrow scope. She had
been educated at home and her knowl-
edge of the world was derived from in
! ference and by inspiration. OF such is
I the precious, small group Of essayists
brushing my fingers, trying uncon-
sciously to rid them guiltiy of the alb
sent dust from the half calf backs of
Lamb. Chaucer, Hazlitt, Marcus Aure-
lius, Montaigne and Hood. She was ex-
quisite. she was a valuable discovery.
Nearly everybody nowadays knows too
much-Oh, so much too mucb-of real
life
l could perceive clearly that AZalea
Adair was very poor. house and
dress she had, not much else. ! fancied
So. divided between my duty to the
magazine and my loyalty to the poets
and essayists who fought Thomas in
the valley of the Cumberland, | listen
ed to her voice, which was like a harp
slchord's. and found | could not speak
Of contracts. In the presence Of the
nine muses. and the three graces one
.hesitated to lower the topic to .
cents. There would have to be anoth-
er cOlloquy after / had regained my
commerclalism. But | spoke Of my
mission and o'clock of the next after
noon was set for the discussion Of the
business proposition
"YOur town." | said, as | began to
make ready to depart (Which is the
time for smooth generalitiesD. seems
to be a quiet, sedate place. A home
town. ! should say. where few things
out Of the ordinary ever happen"
It carries on an extensive trade in
stoves and hollow ware with the west and
south. and its Touring mills have a daily
capacity Of more than 1000 barrels.
Azalea Adair seemed to reflect
II have never thought of II that
way" she said. with kind Of sincere
intensity that seemed to belong to her
Isn't 1t In the still, quiet places thai
things do happen? fancy that when
God began to create the earth on the
first Monday morning one could have
leaned out ones window and heard the
drops of mud splashing from his trow
el as he built up the everlasting hills. |
What did the noisiest project in the
wOrld-l mean the building Of the tow
er of Babel-result in finally? A page
and half Of Esperanto in the North !
American Review"
"Of course" said platitudinOusly.
human nature Is the same every |
where. but there is more color-er- |
more drama and movement and-er-
romance in some cities than in Others"
"On the surface" said Azalea Adair. |
the world in golden airship waited |
on two wings-print and dreams. |
have seen ION one of my imaginary |
toursl the sultan OF Turkey bowstring |
With his own hands one of his wives |
who had uncovered her face in public. |
have seen man in Nashville tear up |
his theater tickets because his wife |
WAS going out with her face covered |
with rice powder. In San Francis. |
co.'s Chinatown | saw the slave girl |
Sing zee dipped slowly. inch by inch. |
In boiling almond oil to make her |
Swear she would never see her Amer- |
can lover again. She gave In when |
the boiling oil had reached three inches |
above her knee. At euchre party in |
East Nashville the other night | saw |
Kitty Morgan cut dead by seven OF her |
SchOolmates and lifelong friends he
cause she had married house painter
The boiling oil was sizzling as high ~
her heart. but wish you could have
reen the fine little smile that she car.
Fied from table TO table. oh. yes. II Is
n humdrum town. just n few miles Oi |
Ted brick houses and mud aud st0res
md lumber yards
Some one knocked hollowly at IN,
hack Of the house Azalea Adal'
breathed soft apology aud went g. |
investigate the sound. She came bact
In three minutes with frightened ey"
a faint flush on her cheeks aud tri
rears lifted from her shoulders
You must have cup of tea befor
yuu gO." she said. and sugar cake