The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-28
the BLUE STOCKING
By OSBORN JONES.

his career as an instructor in wom-
ans college," said Justine Craddock,
dean of Jones College for Women.
when Alan Kilby went TO her Office to
consult her regarding his acceptance
of a position just offered him as the
new professor of economics.
! Alan had gone to see her, partly be-
cause ne had known her several years
before when they were both students
| ut n co-educatiOnal college in the West,
and partly because the offer at Jones
college was distinctly better than the
assistant professorship he held in a
mans college.
1T doesn't seem like a mans job"
he told her frankly. and she had looked
at him not with the amusement he
expected.
Hang it all, Justine, it's just that
can't stand this blue-stocking atmos-
fphere l think it's that as much as
anything else"
There are very few blue-stockings
here" said Justine. "In fact, some
times / wish there were more. Blue
stockings have their good points, you
know"
From a womans point of view, per-
haps. But I'm primitive enough to
like feminine woman, and it goes
against the grain to see these girls.
some OF them pretty. almost all of
them healthy and happy, being fed into
this mill, to have the woman and the
femininity! ground out. They ought to
be marrying, most of them-marrying
and making men what they ought to
be, and having children and keeping
house."
Z "Of course you have never married
: yourself" suggested Justine.
! NO, and when do l shall not look
e to a wonan's college for a wife. I'm
q not educated up TO that yet
From all of which, | suppose, l am
to infer that you do not accept the po-
i sition?'
NO. The fact is, think l do. It's
t too good to turn down.
II SO Alan kilby became professor of
t economics at Jones' The first lecture
s was more uncomfortable than he had
:. expected it to be. AS time went on the
: lectures were easier and Alan had time
r to look about him. Sometimes there
It were suppressed giggles. and some
times three whispering heads bent to-
gether in the back rows of seats, I'M
mindful of word of the lecture-un-
mindful, too, that from the vantage
. point of his desk the professor could
not only see them but could catch
/ snatcheS of their whispered converse
/ ton.
i IF l do say it, l look awfully well
It in yellow said one whisper.
o. NOT that lemon shades-Ihore of a
II salmon don't YOU think"
How long is the skirt? They arc
S getting longer"
IS Il know, but my Tom likes them
q short. Have you learned the new
II steps No. that new wiggly waltz step.
II | mean. He doesn't see US, and we
can get the notes from Ida Isn't
1t he a perfect dear?" "Ida's quite crazy
" about him. That's why she sits in
II front and takes such long notes.
% And later: We'll. anyway, Kilby's
d dear. Did you ever see such eyesy'
L Going down the corridor later in the
- day he Glanced the meet the dean.
: Good morning, Mr.. kilby." she said,
always with the same serenity. How
: are the blue stockings"
Blue stockings muttered Kilby. eff
- there are any they haven't elected eco
nomcs.''
:. Kilby fled from the building to his
own study in his boarding house
There as he puffed at his comforting
), pipe he took leather picture case
" from his pocket and opened it. 1t
contained picture of the dean that he
had clipped from the magazine article
on THE Youngest College Dean" The
:" picture showed her in cap and gown,
:, with none Of the graciousness and al
:, most m0fherIy large heartedness that
- kilby had come TO appreciated within
title few weeks She had been at Jones.
:, Still. he found satisfaction in looking
: at the pictuFe-iust as reminder. he
said of the allegiance he owed to his
=. chief. This day he looked Ut the pic
ture longer than usual.
,o I've got to get a better picture he
told himself as he rose from his chair
,r and hurried through the campus TO
the deans office. But when he reached
r. there he forgot the picture and thought
only of the original"
w, How are the blue stockings?" asked
or the dean. as she closed the papers she
ID was working over at her desk and pre-
pared to take an easier chair by the
Or. open fireplace, where she might chat in
,d- comfort with Alan.
e, Blue stockings-there aren't any
ID groaned Alan. You're 4 blue stock
ing, and they're-they'r just girls.
Listen. Justine, I've decided that the
AZ, only type of woman l truly admire is
- a blue stocking. l used to think that
that was the trait in you that kept us
apart, back in the college days when
s. was - ga 'nN
tltdS- Ae'N H''' 1890 - "Aut &c