News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-06-23
BETTY AT THE FAIR
Letters of the Panam a Pacific Expo
sition by Florence Livingston
LETTER VII
SAN FRANCISCO, June 9, 1915.

My Dear:-I don't know what should
d. without joe. l am deliberately put.
ting out of my mind the thought that
the adoption is temporary, because the
little fellow has become SO thoroughly a
part OF my thought and plans that l
should be lost if did not have him with
me. Perhaps it is because 1 have had SO
few near relatives. And then he is SO un-
deniaby engaging, full of harmless mis-
chief, to be sure, but on the whole do
voted to me and anxious to do whatever
he thinks will like.
On Thursday we went to Mrs. Win
woods. Joe has taken great fancy to
her, and he made the most elaborate
preparations. He scrubbed his small
face until it was wonder that the freck-
les didn't drop off from the friction, and
his hair was SO sleek and wet that only
the hardness of youth saved him from a
severe cold.
Mrs. Winwood's house is simple on the
outside, but luxurious and tasteful with
In. AS one steps inside, one feels the
impress of hostess who has ceverness
and poise. We were ushered into the
drawing room, and Mrs. Winwood joined
us almost Immediately, bringing with
her that atmosphere of gentle strength
and self possession that makes one feel
rested and ready to meet anything. Pres
emily she took us into the library, and
then pleasurebecame absolute bliss.
Mrs. Winwood took her place at the
tea table and Joe curled up on the win
dow-seat with huge book of beautiful
pictures, a good natured tortoise.shell
cat to pat and squeeze, and all the cakes
he could eat. The poor child, who has
had very little excitement was ecstatic
over three sources of it at once.
"Say, Miss Betty, he said, looking
around slyly, "when you get ready to 60
home, don't mention it to me-"
Mrs. Winwood and 1 had most charm
ing chat, growing rapidly so we'll &C.
quainted that l, had the courage to ask
| her if she had any children.
'No", she answered sadly. II had
daughter. but - lost her,
That was another bond of sympathy,
and told her that if it was snything |
like losing a mother, 1 knew how it |
must be.
"You poor dear!', she said softly.
She was so quiet for moment that I |
was afraid 1 had offended her. Then |
she leaned forward and said: "Won't |
you come to me for while when your
friends leave, and Wen pretend?"
"Why, - but -". stammered,
"I-I have undertaken responsible
ties, you know"
She glanced toward the window seat,
and the twinkle in her eyes seemed to
ride on the surface of her SMILE "When
invite you, l invite the responsibility,
Also"
Father dear, can you think of any good
reason why should accept the hospital
ity of a lady who is almost stranger?
That is where the odd part comes in.
We are so much in sympathy that sh e
does not seem stranger at all. We dis
cussed the matter for some time; and al
though it is not definitely settled, for
see that l may give in to the temp la
ton. The brakes will leave me this
week, and how shall ever have the
courage and self-reliance to shut myself
out of a home that is really home and
has been offered me whole-heartedlyo
l am working out method of attain
ing distinction-the easiest method. If
you decide to follow it, it may necessi-
tate your moving your insurance Office
to dizzy height above the most ambi-
tious buildings in New York, and having
your clients whizzed up to you in some
sort of chute. Perhaps you will think
at first that you won't have any clients
at all under such circumstances, but L can
assure you that you will. They will
come because you are the only one in
your line who has had the courage to
perform in the sky instead of on the
ground, where you belong.
never express an idea that someone
doesn't ask where got it, so l will tell
gested by several things which have
occurred here at the Exposition. Re-
Gently man has been singing from the
top of the Tower OF Jewels. l don't
know anything about him from an earth
ly standpoint. 1 am willing to believe
that he is a commanding vocalist when
he is down in the midst of his fellowmen,
but do know that he is attaining con- \
celebrity by singing songs 400
feet above the ground, region hereto
fore disputed by birds and aeroplanes.
And his voice comes down, as does every r
thing else that scars to that height. d
Then on the Zone, there is the aero |
scope, a continuance that weighs 800 tons. r
At the end of very long, strong steel T
arm is hung a car seating more than +
hundred persons. The arm lifts this car S
from the ground, raises it to height of
265 feet, turns it slowly around and drops t
It gently to its starting point. The whole a
rests upon trucks which travel Il