The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-05-01
ever saw. with an air as simple as a
queens. received me.

ever saw. with an air as simple as a
queens, received me.
The reception room seemed Il mile
square, because there was nothing in
it except some rows OF books, on un-
painted white pine bookshelves.
cracked marble top table. rag rug.
hairless horsehair sofa and two or
three chairs. Yes, there was picture
on the wall. a 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,
a 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. or such is
the precious. small group of cssayists
made. While she talked to me l kept
brushing my fingers. trying uncon-
sciously to rid them guil,ily Of the alb
sent dust from the half calf backs of
Lamb. Chaucer. Hazlitt. Marcus Azure
Illus, Montague and Hood She was en-
quisite, she was valuable discovery
Nearly everybody nowadays knows tou
much-oh. so much too much-of rea.
life.
l could perceive clearly that Azalpa
Adair was very poor y house and a
dress she had, not much else. | fancird
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 Il harp
sichord'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 regaincd my
commercialism. But spoke Of my
mission and 3 o'clock of the next after.
noon was set for the discussion of the
business proposition.
"Your town." l said, as | began to
make ready to depart (Which is the
time for smooth generalities,. seems
to be 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 it that
way" she said, with kind Of sincere
intensity that seemed to belong to her
isn't it in the still, quiet places that
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-
ell as he built up the everlasting hills
What did the noisiest project in the
world-I 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 l 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"
ION the surface" said Azalea Adair.
Il have Travelled many times around
the world in golden airship waited
on two wings-print and dreams.
have seen ION one of my imaginary
tours, 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 bis 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 Ameri-
can lover again. She gave in when
the boiling oil had reached three inches
above her knee. At a euchre party in
East Nashville the other night l saw
Kitty Morgan cut dead by seven of her
schoolmates and lifelong friends be-
cause she had married house pninter.
The boiling oil was sizzling ms high as
her heart. but | wish you could have
seen the fine little smile. that she car
ried from table to table Oh. yes. It is
humdrum town. just few miles of
red brick houses and mud and stores
and lumber yards
Some one knocked hollowly Mt the
back Of the house Aznlen Adair
breathed soft apology and went to
investigate the sound. She came back
in three minutes with frightened eye.
faint flush on her cheeks and ten
years lifted from her shoulders.
"You must have cup of tea before
you CO." she said. "ard sugar cake"
She reached and shook little iron
bell. In shutfed n small negro girl
about twelve, barefoot, not very tidy,
glowering at me with thumb in mouth
and bullying eyes.
Azalea Adair opened tiny, worn
purse and drew out dollar bill, dol
lar bill with the upper right hand cor
ner missing, torn in two pieces and
pasted together again with a strip of
blue tissue paper. 1t was one of the
bills had given the piratical negro
there was no doubt Of it.
Go up to Mr.. Bakers store on the
corner. Impy." she said, handing the
girl the dollar bill, "and get quarter
of pound Of tea-the kind he always