Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-19

besides, the diary might have an i'm
portant bearing on the campaign.
She found the entries rather com.
monplace at first. They dealt with
things wholly outside of the Brooke
mansion, and prior to the arrival OF
the efficiency man. The diary was a
mixture Of closely written script and
shorthand Constance perforce skip
ped the latter because she could not
read it. Even after the diary reached
the day on which he took charge OF
the household, she did not find 1t OF
much interest Day after day, for sew
eral weeks. it was simple record OF
events that she knew only too well;
colorless, terse, and with many alb
breviations.
But then came an entry that caused
her to sit straighter in the big chair.
VIII write book. Data and results
too valuable to be lost to world.
That was news! H. Hedge was go
ing to write a book.
"A novel, I wonder?" murmured
Constance. What a queer novel 1t
would be-"
She continued her exploration with
thoroughly awakened interest. For
several days there was no further ref
erence to a book. unless hidden In the
undecipherable pothooks. An then:
Good title would be, Putting the
Home on a Business Basis" or,
Knocking the Graft Out Of the Amerf
can Household" Great chance for val
liable publication of pioneer work
along this line.
Constance was family disappointed
The subject sounded dull and unro.
mantle; yet none the less, she had a
personal interest in the pioneer
work." so she pursued her investiga-
tons further. References to the book
became more frequent as the idea laid
hold upon the mind of the efficiency
man and began to shape itself. She
found one, for instance:
Devote at least one chapter to waste
and inefficiency In homes of idle rich
.Unscienti1c methods. Non-producing
family members Money thrown away
Describe wicked friviality of life in
average home. Observation-Disclosures.
Constance frowned as she gathered
held up to the world as horrible ex
ample.
She wondered if the efficiency man
would have the hardihood to mention
names. and she intended to speak to
her father about it as soon as he re-
turned.
Then another entry, several days
later:
Chapter on c. Use her as typical
idle rich girl. No occupation. No use
full education.
Constance gasped, but read on:
Lack of mental discipline. No fixed
purpose in life. Chief amusement, ex-
travagance. Good material here, Say
that c is
At this point the efficiency man
dropped into shorthand again, running
on for half page. Constance stared at
the hieroglyphics and gritted her
teeth. There was no mistaking the
identity of CIT was herself. And
she was going to have an entire chap
ter.
Say that C is" Well, what? The
shorthand maddened her. AM man,
she abruptly decided, who would cloak
his opinions in shorthand was a
coward. She could not read single
one Of the several hundred characters.
yet she knew that every hated symbol
directly concerned herself All! There
was even confirmation of 1t at the
bottom of the page. for here, In long
hand. II. Hedge remarked:
Above points good. Very effective
case. Elaborate carefully
Elaborate, indeed. Constance was
becoming as angry as she was curious
She turned a page. Here was more Of
1t:
Advisable to subdivide. Make two
chapters on c. First, show c as found
representing undesirable type. Second
show C as reformed, after application
of scientific methods. More da "a for
second chapter necessary. See addi
tional notes-p. 1922.
Constance skipped page after page
Of the dairy. which contained COM
ments on A. and B and the servants
She was hunting wildly for more refer
ences to C. Several times she found
herself again the scalpel. but always
the efficiency man wandered Off into
shorthand at the most interesting
place. She turned back to the date on
which he decided to allot her two
chapters, instead of one. and reread:
See additional notes-p 122.
What were the additional notes?
Evidently they were somewhere out.
side the diary. She dropped the book
and delved into the drawer again A
pile Of loose manuscript came out
Notes, beyond doubt. and Of an elab-
crate character. Rapidly she ran
through the first dozen pages, then be-
gan skipping five and ten sheets at
time. It appeared that H. Hedge was
preparing to deal with the historical
features of domestic extravaganza In
the first part of his book, and she car
ed not a whit about that. 1t was what
he had to say about that spurred
her into feverish hunt
Ah-she had ii now-page 1872.
First chapter on CAS- She Was"
Describe physical and mental charac-
teristics, clothes. ct cetera Describe
manner idleness, recreations. ct
cetera. Note frequent irritability: lack
of self-control Headstrong: stubborn
Fairly good brain, but unframed and
unwilling to receive new ideas. Give
examples. Show her as perfect type
of useless class.