The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-06-05
PRIMITIVE MAN
BY ELLIS MORE.


features that were rugged. There was
no experiment that he would not at
tempt. He was brave in that way.
But when it came to making Helen
Burne's acquaintance there his heart
failed.
And Helen Burne was of all the
girls who studied under him'the very
one he wanted to know.
q never could understand" he said
to her one day when he had at last
got up courage enough to talk with
her aside from the necessary instruc-
tions in the laboratory, why you
chose to specialize in chemistry
Helen looked up at him with bewil-
derment, test tube in hand. Am l
| really so stupid?'' she asked, and her
eyes of blue were very wide open.
Indeed, it is not that. Perhaps 1
have said more than I ought"
Not at ALL Helen replied, putting
/ down the test tube and wiping her
| acid-stained hands on her enveloping
| apron. Il see what you mean. You
mean that in your native land blondes
! like me would be picked for the career
| of a hausfrau. l suppose you will
have no use for me when you know
that l am a suffragist. I've just been
elected president of the club here at
! college,"
One day-it was Saturday, with no
laboratory hours-Helen came uncere-
moniously into the laboratory.
oh, Professor Hudiberg," she be
gan, Il have just thought that you
would do for a part in the suffrage
pageant we are getting up. Tell me
you will, please. I've gone over the
list of all the men in college, and
there isn't another one that looks the
part. VIII your"
Yes" said the professor happily.
oh, lovely" she said clasping her
hands. You see, we are going to de
- piCt the evolution of woman from
+ primitive times to the present day. We
2 are going to have the primitive man
: tramping down the primitive woman
You'll do beautifully for that You are
so-what shall l call it? Well, you
have such wonderful dark, bushy eye
, brows and you are so, sO-rugsad."
n Il am afraid-but l gave my prom
p ise." There was a twinkle in the pro
0 fessor's dark eye. Clearly he wa:
;. very much amused. BY any chance
/ are you going to be the primitivc
: woman"
u oh, no, indeed. | am going to b.
It the emancipated woman. That's be
= cause l am president of the society
- ! shall wear a long, flowing Greel
i tunic, with my hair down my back
and all the arts and sciences will com
before me-those will be some of tn
college boys dressed to symbolic tn
= different subjects-and pay me tril
ute.
= The professor closed his eyes Sigh
:. Iy and looked at her with a puzzle
:, air.
Yes, that is a very good idea" h
-. said after a pause. But you are nj
= the one for the part One of thos
- tall young persons-there are so man
~ Amazons in your class-would q
- much better for that final tablea
- That is only my suggestion. Yo
- would not really like always to remai
- on that pedestal--alone, independeu
~ self-reliant, would your
- Helen blushed in spite of herself al
-, said precisely what she did not wis
". to say: That depends a great de
- on circumstances. No, l should pro
:. ably become very lonely. Still, it
- all arranged. I must not change Il
&c plans
Work for the suffrage pageant pT
crossed. Helen put many hours in
-, the work. The affair promised to
-. a really splendid production. Hell
- had worked herself pale and wo
over it and, truth to tell, had sac
On neglected her studies because Of it.
Then one day-it was the we
I'D after the midterm quizzes-a We
pale little Helen appeared rather ii
"A idly in the laboratory of Profess
Hudiberg.
,,d I wanted to tell you." she beg;
"a and then swallowed a choke in /
- voice and went on, that | am no lol
,.o er to have anything to do with the S
40 frage pageant. It will be carried {
as / planned. But on the results
the quizzes / have had my warm
note from the office. That means, J
know, that I can take no more act
part in college activities till l h;
raised my standard 1t is fair, S
, pose. 1 am glad, at least. that .
didn't haveSto give me bad mar
- Il should have been very sorry
y am sure" said the professor, IF ,
had done anything but good work
my department. What, then, of
primitive man 2"
That was what was going to 8
The pageant viii go on without !
- of course. They win want you for
hearsaI tomorrow afternoon. l hi
wn. rehearscd everyone else"
zen Then you can please tell them t
~" they viii have to find a new PRINT
man. : made my promise to you.
- to your successor. | had hoped 70