New Britain herald., 1916-05-19
Mrs. Smith Tries to Put One Over."


 other of the crowd of women in the assembly rooms of the Lotus Study club as Mrs. Helen Brainerd Smith, l secretary of the club made her be- | lated entrance. . -. To me, chafng in my corner at her l rudeness, her manner of coming into | the room seemed insolently conde- sCending, majestic, even regal, as her progress down the aisle was. When she engaged me to give the course of lectures on history to the club she had asked me to be at the club rooms half hour before the meeting time on the day of my first lecture. By taking her at her word had been uncomfortabl bly, waiting, a stranger and alone, while the mem hers of the club, unaware of my identity, gossiped freely of me and my work.
 See the conquering hero-ine COmes," jibed a voice behind me in a whisper
 Acts Is if she owned the place and it's inhabitants" returned the woman beside her.
 My dear, she actually does." said the first speaker. "She was born in this house, and it belongs to her from chimney to cellar. She practically gives its use to the c1ub-it's the price she pays for being absolute dic- tator of the organization
 From their remarks before Mrs. Smith entered the room, I had dis covered that the women behind me were newspaper reporters, and I shamelessly listened to their reyela- tions.
 Pretty steep price for being dic- tatOr of this outfit
 Much she cares about this. She'd drop 1t in a minute, if it had served her purpose. She has an insane ann bition to be the queen bee of the big crowd, the Federation, you know. The fact that she's the whole thing here gives her a chance to get into the papers and accords her certain amount of prestige in the state or ganization. She's foxy. She'll never take the presidency of this club, wants to serve in a humber capa- city and that sort of rot But she runs things with an iron hand, and the president is always her puppet Look at the specimen up there now.''
 Poor little rabbit" said the other woman, and I agreed with her as I watched the timid, appealing-loo ooking little woman who stepped to the speakers desk, and looked hesitating- ly over the assemblage.
 Mrs. Graham on Inspection.
 'Is Mrs. Graham here?" she asked. If so will she come up here, please"
 My face was white with anger and cm barra ssment as I stepped out from
  the consciousness that every pair of eyes in the room was focused on my back. I had primitive desire to strike the patronizing smile from Mrs Smiths face, as standing by the presi- dent, she watched my progress toward her. I have always had a dread amounting almost to an cbsession, of having people stare at me. It was hard enough for me to undertake the lectures without hav- ing this ordeal thrust upon me-
 But I knew that this my first ap- pearance before the women whom I had been engaged to instruct, was no time to show any resentment, so I steeled myself to calmness, and pre- senter a courteous if unsmiling de- meanor to Mrs. Smiths smile of greeting, and introduction to the president, Mrs. Bent.
 So sorry to have been able to greet you,' she said with mechanical courtesy, but I was unavoidably de- layed. Really, however, there was nothing for me to say to you. Of course you have your talk all ready, and as soon as the business meeting is over the members of the history course will come forward Mrs Bent will introduce you and you can go right on with the work Is there anything you need for your lecture ?" T must have a large blackboard pointer and some white and colored chalk" I said with decision I had made up my mind that the best way to deal with Mrs. Smith was to be as uncompromising as she was. T can get along without them for this open ing lecture, but I must have them here before the next. The necessary maps I will provide. A school pub fishing house I know will lend them to me, deliver them here and take them away again, provided they can Ee safeguarded while here.'
 "Of course they will be safe here,' Mrs Smith retorted, "and if you will order the blackboard and other things sent up. I will arrange for their payment with you. Now if you VIII Just take a seat and wait until ,lie ouslness meeting is over. It will oe ct snort one, for our meetings close always at half-past 4 and of course you want plenty of time"
 When Sheck-Timc Came.
 sank into the seat she indicated,