Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-05-31


cupied by a class that is studying the
constitutional history of England"
She opened the door, and the young
men were permitted to look In the
room, where they saw woman profess
sor on dais lecturing to number of
young women. Between the opening
and the shutting of the door these
words were heard:
"Up to the time of the accession of
George ". England had been n consti-
tutional monarchy, the sovereign being
usually a crackbrained man. Under
the contemplate Georges it gradually
changed into a virtual republic. But
its most glorious half century was I'M
der the rule Of that greatest of all its
sovereigns, woman, Victoria"
When the door was closed Tom sug-
gested that now England had got an
other George it had fallen into a re-
lapse"
"Not bit of it." retorted Laura Girls
void. "Since Victoria there has been
no need of a sovereign. Victoria taught
the English people to govern them
selves. That's something no man could
do"
"Women are our natural governors"
remarked Jim.
The party emerging on to the campus,
Jim asked:
whats that building with a dome
on it?"
"That's the astronomical observa-
tory"
I'VE must see that, Of course" said
Tom.
"The night being cloudy, no observa-
t1ons can be made. There's no one
there to receive u.s." said Laura.
well, now,' said Jim, that's just
the reason for our going there. 1 must
have look at Venus"
"Shut up, Jim," said Tom. IF any
Of the dons heard that remark the re-
suit would be serious"
The party were some time passing
over the campus, for they were COM
paratively free from observation, but
the boys hoped for greater privacy in
the observatory, so they ascended to
the dome Laura turned on a light,
thus giving view Of the telescope.
There Jim and Laura went out on to
the roof for conference, leaving the
other two where they were.
While the couples were separated
Miss Euphemia Marston, the astrono-
mer, seeing light In the dome Of the
observatory, mounted the staircase
leading to 1t, and, since a woman's
shoes are not usually noisy, she was
not heard by the inmates until she had
entered the room. Tom and Luella
fortunately were sitting In close COM
munion behind the stone pier on which
the telescope rested, and the lady did
not see them. Going to box of eye
pieces, she was bending over it, un-
mindful of their presence. Tom gave a
cough, and the professor, Strengthening
up, looked around. Luella advanced
and, somewhat i'll at ease, told Miss
Marston that she was showing the
telescope to visitor.
The lady received Tom with courtesy
and entered into long explanation Of
the different parts of the instrument.
Meanwhile Jim and Laura had heard
the conversation In the dome and
learned of the approach Of the astro6s
omer. The professors presence, with
Jim and Laura being out on the roof,
was not without danger, and Laura did
not know whether to put on a bold
front and enter the dome or wait for
the astronomers withdrawal. Think
ing that Miss Marston would not re-
main long, she adopted the latter
course.
But the astronomer found Tom so
appreciative of her explanation of the
parts Of the telescope and its general
uses that she showed no disposition to
leave. Then Laura and Tom were hor-
rifed to see rift in the clouds and the
moon appear. If the astronomer saw
the moonlight she would lift the shut
ter Of the dome and make observa-
t1Ons.
II have It," said Jim, and, taking OF
his coat, he held 1t against the only
window in the dome that the moonlight
would shine through.
But his game did not work. Sudden.
ly the shutter was lifted and the dome
began to turn.
'I'll have to go down from the out
side" said Jim, and, finding a corner,
by the help of water spout and some
intervening window ledges he reached
the ground. Then Laura went into the
dome.
When the party descended and had
separated from the astronomer jim
joined them, and since it was getting
late they felt constrained to return to
the presidents quarters. Jim. after
thanking the head Of the college for
the attention he and his friend had
been shown, wound up with a flourish
in this statement:
II am glad to say that the young
ladies who have shown us over youl
institution have assured us that there
is nothing in its appointments or man
agement that can be improved upon
They are simply perfect"
The article Jim was to write never