The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-06-07
A Lucky
Mistake
~
By VICTOR REDcLrFFE
1917. Western Newspaper Union. }

He was sedate TO the point Of sol
emnity at times. and Amos Tyndall
wasIbeginning TO realize the fact. His
had been peculiar experience.
Brought up by an uncle who was Il pro-
fessiOnal antiquarian, the nephew had
been imbued with antique ideas. Al
msst from the cradle up TO manhood.
His baby rattle was relic from an Old
London watchman. his toys were ivory
idols five centuries old. The house was
a vast storehOuse OF antiques. The
books he was given To read were musty
old volumes, priceless In values. but the
contents dry, weighty and utterly i'm
penetrable TO the average mind.
His training and education had won
him post as curator OF a famous pub
lie museum. The perqulsites and sal
airy were quite liberal. but Amos had
an ambition to diffuse the information
he had gathered. He entered the lee
ture field In addition TO his museum
duties He yearly went the rounds Of
learning. During the past year, how
ever. he fancied that he was following
q beaten track.
There is not much new 90 say o.
the old" he remarked more than once.
Brighten your discourse with some
thing modern as TO style, then, profess
sor," suggested a close friend.
Once Professor Tyndall collected all
that was humorous along the line OF
ancient humor. He assumed a light
style In this especial work. sent the
article 10 a journal devoted 10 anti
Quarian features. and was frowned
down. To the mind OF the erudit edi-
tor the solemn dignity OF age must not
be invaded with trifiing wit.
For all that. Professor Tyndall made
the discovery that while old dyed-In-
the-wool college heads nodded approx.
ingly al the delivery Of time honored.
hackneycd themes. the young students
were distract and bored. Again. his
services were not called for 30 much
as previously He revised his old lee
lures. took the tattered. criss-crossed
manuscripts 10 city copyist. and
placed in the hands Of Miss Lettie
Rose the task Of their transcription.
The neat. pretty public stenographer
and typist wns about his own age. I'M
der thirty. and her interest in his lee
lures attracted him towards her. II
got TO be a pleasure to Tyndall to call
upon and chat with the bright eyed.
pleasant faced young lady.
II have learned so much from your
lecture on Ancient Pompeii.' Mr.. Tyn-
dali" said Lettie Rose quite enthusi-
astIcally one day. How very interest
ing your profession must be-alwnys
surrounded by mementoes OF ages long
since past. author. lecturer and ex-
pert. have finished copying the lee
ture you are TO deliver next week. and
I copied also Humor OF the Ancients,
Mr. Tyndall, I thought most Of that"
"You didT" questioned the professor
dubious as TO the literary taste Of his
amanuensis.
yes. professor. declared Lettie
doughtily. Il mean as 20 its entertain
ing qualities. You will pardon me for
Expressing my poor inexperienced
opinion. but II were a young man at
college that article would give me q
most pleasant hour"
Him 7" commented the professor,
rather dryiy. "The editor submitted
lIt to quite-er-wil. sat down on IT.
Then he had no true senes OF hui
Imor," asserted Lettie. "It brings out a
new vein In your literary ability. pro
fessor. Really, / would try II out some
time. Just to see the effect"
II have thought OF doing Just that,
murmured Tyndall in his distracted
way. do you know have often won
dered II my routine lectures are not
too dry and musty."
| -ohl never that. professor dis,
claimed Lettie.
| THAT friendly young lady is open
ing my eyes somewhat" reflected Tyn'
dall as he left Miss Rose and she was
indeed. not only as TO the current value
OF his production, but as well to new
conception OF the lighter moods of life
without which existence becomes Q
dreary routine.
A few days later Tyndall came in q
desperate hurry into the office ovei
which Miss Rose presided.
.T have Just time to catch train
a quick date for lecture. The first
copy you made. please. Miss Rose"
Lettie reached In the drawer Of ar
open desk where the copied manu-
scripts lay. neatly folded. She secured
the one labeled ancient Pompeii'
taking out several others to select Il
from. Then she became interested II
the explanation Of her patron that h'
was to deliver n lecture at certain
town that evening.
The charm of her company made
Tyndall temporarily forget the urgenc,
OF the occasion. and Lettie was so In
terested that she unconsciously mixed
up the manuscripts.
Il declare T. spoke the professor alb
ruptly, glancing at his watch, and h
sprang to his feet.
IL have only five minutes In which
10 catch my train"
He seized the manuscript Letti'
handed him. thrust II into an inside