Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-24
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Touch of the Strenuous

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-Well. Lucy" greeted the pink
checked girl, Il haven't seen you tor
al age! Have you been away?
The girl in brown disappeared into
the depths OF huge armchair.
Yes" she murmured weakly, FOR
two weeks
why. Lucy Rowe" objected the
pinkruiiled Girl. you have not! saw
you only day before yesterday. You
were with a determined looking person
in green hat. You seemed TO be IA q
hurry"
Lucy sat up with jerk.
II didn't say I'd been out of town."
she defended. Il said I'd been away.
and have. I've been seeing the sights
with my Cousin Jane from Ohio. I've
been up on Montmorency's tower 10
get bird's-eye view and I've been out
in the lake to see the shore line. I've
consorted with every mummy in The
museums and every Old statute in the
art galleries. I've haunted greenhous-
es and batteries and the park ZOOS UNI
til | feel intimate with every ape in
town. I've visited all the seats or
learning and most Of the churches.
I've attended five concerts and a lot OF
plays and been down in the Russian
quarter TO buy old brass. I've
Somebody stop that girl!" cried the
person with pink ruffles. 1T fatlGues
me to hear her. You don't mean to
say that you did all that in two weeks,
Lucy"
Lucy made seornful gesture.
! "All that" she echoed. THAT isn't
one half.
You see Cousin Jane is a deter
mined person." Lucy continued. Il had
thought that she'd like 70 sit around
and knit, with maybe a few tea parties
and matinee. | imagined Ohio reo-
pie to be quiet in their tastes. But
Cousin Jane arrived with a guide book
and a complete schedule for every day
of her visit. She'sson of these Wild
eyed women who worry for fear they
aren't getting the most out OF life. she
had planned to sightsee five places
that first day, 50 had nothing to DO
whatever but be personally conducted.
I've forgotten just what we saw, but
know had headache and clnder
in my eye and blstered feet and lum'
bago when we got home. But Cousin
Jane had had wonderful time. She
went out again that night to a cabaret
and saw long- haired person she
thought was an artistit took her an
hour to record her impressions in her
fat red dairy.
Have YOU ever seen the Hawaiian
room in the Art Union? No? Wen,
when you go you ought to go with
Cousin Jane She had studied the sub
ject beforehand SO that she could
speak Familiarity of everything she
saw. know that she would earn for
tune as a guide I'm going to suggest
II 10 her! She was awfully scornful 10
me because don't know any queer
Bohemian people Who write or paint
or anything; | the ght OF askilg YOU :
out, Helen, as you're the Queere t per-
son | know, but we didn't have Time.
The third day we spent in ONO.
That is we called on al the Ohio PEG
pie who live in town. I'd no idea there
were so many, That state must De de-
populated,
And one day we shopped. IL you
want to learn how to shop take lessons
from country cousin Cousin Jane
was very firm about seeing every SUIT
In town before she selected one. And
l think she wanted the saleswoman to
take part payment in eggs from the
farm, but I'm not quite sure.
Cousin Jane was awfully surprised
because didn't know all our relatives
in-law who live hereabouts She should
think I'd see them every day or SO.
since we live in the same town. And
she thought l was neGlecting ry OPP
portunities dreadfully not 10 be study
Inc art and music and social science
and esthetic dancing. She couldn't
understand why | didn't go IN for i've
or six such things. II she lived in me
city
Il know" murmurod the pink cheek
ed girl sympathetcally. My aunt
from Montana was here last summer.
But I've always been glad | had that
opportunity to see the sights
The pink ruffled eirl sighed mourn
fully
Il haven't any country relatives"
she mourned I've never been in tow
ers and things. 1t sounds awfully in
teresting. But l suppose you 90 get
tired. Why don't you 20 into the
country and rest for few days,
Lucy?"
The girl in brown collapsed into her
chair.
1.-THE country" she exclaimed, vt
would be too strenuous. No, sir, I'm
going TO stay right here and rest! l
may not know how to get the most out
OF city, but do know how to rest in
it. Cousin Jane didn't"
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