The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-19
THE NEW
GENERATION
JOAN GOES 10 COLLEGE.
By JANE PHELPS



Joan's trunk stood strapped ready
to go. Her new handbag with its
dainty ivory fittings all marked with
her initials rested comfortably beside
it. OLD Hannah stood in the doorway
wipi,ig her eyes on the corner OF her
apron, carefully keeping right side up
a lex of frosted cakes-the kind she
and Margaret had RECALLED Joan's
friends with for years.
Joan ana Margaret pinned on their
hats. each pretending to be too busily
engaged to talk. Joan's coat lay over
a chair It was too warm to wear it.
yet Margaret feared to have her pack
it. The weather might change before
she reached New York. Barnard col
lege had been Joan's choice after the
house had been disordered for months
with circulars from various seats or
learning.
Suddenly a chorus of animated
voices reached them.
There they come" Joan eX-
claimed, relief in her voice. 1t was
harder to leave home. her mother,
than she had thought it would be.
Her eyes felt hot and dry with I'M
shed tears. She knew her mother was
trying hard to be brave. that old Han
nah even attempted to hide her grief.
The advent of her young friends
would help them all.
"Oh, how envy you. Joanl"
Gloria Freeman said as they trooped
IN, haiT q dozen or them.
why. don't you come alonE?" Joan
returned. You are all ready to en-
ter"
Father and mother don't think it
necessary for a girl to know any
thing" Gloria returned dejectedly.
'They think a college education is all
foolishness. Dad says girls don't need
to go to college to learn to keep house
for some young man, that they can
learn that right at home"
I'm sorry for you, Gloria" Joan
said earnestly Self expression is one
thing we are all entitled to, and the
right to shape our own lives How
can you shape yours If denied the right
of education, the sort Of education
that appeals to you?"
Margaret bit her lip. She often
was tempted to smile at the earnest
way Joan's young lips delivered her
Opinions. One might think her 10 m
stead of II. did they net see her.
Nonsense, Joan!" Malcolm Frost
broke in, Just because you can do
anything you want to you shouldn't
make Gloria unhappy because her
people don't think as you do. Every
one can't go to college,"
II notice you can't
Yes, but it is because my father
thinks college education will make a
better business man out of me-"
why didn't you go to Harvard,
Malcolm? Then you could have kept
an eye on JOAN" Hortense Thompson
said. Hortense had always been a bit
jealous of Malcolms preference for
Joan. Her voice had a. sarcastic note.
Il was afraid 1 shodld study Joan
instead of books, SO chose Yale in
stead"
TOO bad about you! I should think
you would know Joan we'll enough to
suit even you after all the years you
have run around together"
Time to CO." Margaret interrupted.
With much chatter and laughter
Malcolm and Lonnie Carpenter
shouldered the shiny new trunk with
u. H." in large, red letters denoting
its owner. They told the taxi driver
to get out of the way. that Joans lug
gage was teo precious to be handled
by an outsider. Clarence Tobin, who
had outgrown his smarty ways. took
the bag, while Hortense possessed her
self of Joan's cloak, and Gloria. of the
box of cakes. Laughing. shouting,
they rushed out of the house.
Joan threw her arms about the
weeping Hannah, who now that the
parting really had arrived could not
restrain her sobs.
There won't be any use cooking
without you here. Miss JOAN" she
walled.
"Oh, yes. there will! Mumsie will
have Gloria and the others here often,
won't you, Mumsie? Then Hannah
you can send me a box every week"
$50 I can. Honey" Hannah wiped
her eyes, comforted.
Margaret took Joan in her arms.
She said no word, but Joan felt the
struggle it was to let her go.
AZ won't go, Mumsie. I'll stay at
home with you. I'll never be happy
away from you and home anyway.
Well go travelling as you always
wanted to-"
Don't be foolish, dear. Come, we
must hurry. Trains do not wait, you
know"
1t was their goodby. At the station
Joan was mobbed by her young
friends. Then:
"Goodpy, Mumsie darlingi" a shrill
whistle of the impatient engine, and
Joan was gone.