Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-14

unlike the capitals, they do not give
to the district in, return for usury a
stately and permanent center, but
only this ragged camp. It is a par
asitic Greek civilization"-minus the
civilization.
There we are then" said Carol.
1.-THE remedy? Is there any. Crit
cism. perhaps, for the beginning of
the beginning. Oh, there's nothing
that attacks the Tribal God Medic
Gritty that doesn't help a little . :.
and probably there's nothing that
helps very much Perhaps some day
the farmers will build and own their
market-towns. (Think Of the club
they could have!) But I'm afraid I
any more! The trouble Is spiritual,
and no League or Party can enact a
preference for gardens rather than
dumping-grounds. There's
my confession. well?'
In other words, all you want is
perfection? 2" said Vida.
Yes! Why. no Pr .,
How you hate this place.! How
can you expect to do anything with
it If you haven't any sympathy?
But I have! And affection. Or
else l wouldn't iume so. I've learned
that Gopher Prairie isn't just an
eruption On the prairie, as@I thought
first, but as large as New. York. In
New York / wouldn't know more than
forty or fifty people. andI know that
many here. Go on! Say what you're
thinking"
We'll, my dear, if I did take all
pretty discouraging. Imagine how q
person would. feel, after working hard
for years and helping to build up a
nice town, to have you airily fit in
and simply say 'Rotten!' Think
that's fair ?" ~
""Why not. It must be just as dis
couraging for the Gopher Prairieite
to see Venice and make comparisons
+ "It.would not! I imagine gondolas
got better bathrooms! But My
dear, you're not the only person In
this town who has done some think
ing for herself, although (pardon my
rudeness1 I'm afraid you think SO.
I'll admit we lack some things@May-
be our theater isn't as good as shows
In Paris. AN right! I don't want to
see n foreign culture suddenly
forced ON us-whether it's street.
planning or table manners or crazy
communistie ideas"
Vida sketched what she termed
practical things that will make a
happier and prettier town, but that
DO belong to our life, that actually
are being DONE" OF the Thanatop-
sis ciub.sh spoke; Of the restroom,
the fight agadnstS mosquitoes, the
campaign for more gardens and shade
trees and sewers-matters not fan
tastic and snebulous and distant, but
immediate, and
Carols answer was fantastic and
nehulous enough:
Yes. Yes. They're
good. But II 1 could put through
all those reforms at once. I'd still
want startling, exotic things. Life II
comfortable and CLEAN enough hert
needs is to be less secure, o eager
The civic improvements which I'd
like the Thanatopsis to advocate are
i Strindberg plays, and classic dancers
-exquisite legs beneath tulle-and
Il can see him 81. clearly!) q thick
black-beared, cynical Frenchn1ar
who would sit about and drink and
Hng opera and tell bawdy stories an
laugh at our proprieties and quote Ra.
belais and not, be aa.4amed to kiss m,
handl"
Huh! Mo- sure about the rest Of !
hut I guess that's what you and al
1.-THE other discontinued young worneI
really want: some stranger kissing
your hand!" AT Carols gasp, thu
OLD squ1rfel-like Vida dated out al1t
cried, ..oh, my dear, don't take tina
too seriously. I just meant
Il know. You just mean Il. Go on
Be good for my soul. Isn't 1t funny
here we all are--me2trying 10 be goox
flor Gopher Prairie's soul, and Gophc,
Prairie trying to be good for my soul
What are my other sins7"
"Oh. there's plenty OF them. Posi-
bly, some day we shall have your "a.
cynical Frenchman (horrtble, sneer
Ing, tobAcco-stained object, tuininl
his brains ana his digestion with VII
1iQuor!) but, thank heaven, for
while we'll manage to keep busy witt
our lawns and paycmentsl You see
g these things really are coming! Tn,
b T~hanatopsis ID getting somewhere
And you Her tone italicised III,
words-to my great disappointment
are doing less, not moro. than the PEG
pie you langh att Sam CIark, on tn,
achool-hoArd. ID working Tor bette
school ventilation. ella Skowbod,
twhose elocutins you always think 1
20 absurd) has persuaded the rail
road to sabre the expense Of a parket
space ut the station, to do away witt
that vacant lot
You sneer 80 easily. I'm sorry
but I do think there's something 60