The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-25
THE NEW
GENERATION
JOAN TELLS MARGARET OF AN
OTHER FRIEND.
By JANE PHELPS


JOAN TELLS MARGARET OF AN
OTHER FRIEND.
- Chapter Il.
i Margaret had asked Joan to tell
her about the man with whom she
had the telephone conversation, the
one whom she had told she would not
marry until he had chance to pro-
lpose.
A very interesting fellow. He wears
corduroy clothes, winter and summer,
and never wears a hat. He has done
all sorts of interesting things trav-
eled all over as a hobo altho he is
really educated along many lines.
He's terribly clever and everyone likes
| him. His name is Rexford Taylor"
But couldn't he be just as clever
| and wear a hat?"
He thinks it $ good for his hair
I guess he also thinks he can think
better. He's written several books,
guess he didn't make much money
from them. He is always broke. I
| ask him to dinner once in a while. He
never bores me-
Margaret smiled at Joan's last re-
mark. One might think her blase to
hear her talk of being bored, and the
| child was as ingenious as a girl of five
about many things.
'That's something-not to be
| bored Margaret said after a moment.
| Then, But surely you don't think men
who have lived that sort of life are
the good Companions, do you?''
| why not? He hasn't done any
| thing wrong! You conventional peo-
pie make me tired. I beg your par
don. Mumsie, but you do. Because a
man doesn't wear a hat and isn't
| dressed up like a. doll you object to
| him. Clothes don't make the man. -
| she quoted quickly.
| "No-but they sometimes help peo-
| pies Judgment on him. l am the last
one who would judge a man by what
| he wears, If he is clean," Margaret
| added, "eYen if do love nice becom-
ing things for myself now. But it al
ways seems to me that people who do
| unconventional things are unable to
| get the attention they desire and crave
any other way, so they do peculiar
things to gain it. OF course I may be
wrong. l have lived such a shut-in
Hfe--thank goodness it is ended" she
added .fervently. But perhaps I am
not so good a Judge as you. I am
only saying how such things look to
Joan flushed a. little. What allied
her mother of iatei without finding
any fault with her-Jean-wfthout in
any way trying to take away her lib
erty of action, Margaret made Joan
reel she might be vrong-at least she
might be mistaken. It was an m
comfortable feeling for the sure-I-am-
$3.50 Jan, one she hated. She
sdulrmed a little before she said:
Ihats where you don't understand
then' us-for 1 am one of them, the
Behemians. Their minds are so filled
With the bigger things than clothes
the amenities of life mean nothing to
them: They are only interested in art
ana literature, in mentality. and per-
onality-atmosphe the free life of
the true Bohemian, means everything
replied. -
t'They are most of them poor. But
they are happy" Joan went on. warm
ing 70 ner subject. They are all eco
nomically independent-"
Aren't they all rather quick to put
themselves under obligations. scarce
ly ever come down that you aren't
feeding one or two. Yet you seldom
go to them"
Don't you see, mother, that's the
way it is down here. I have little
money why shouldn't I share what I
have with them? Ny work doesn't let
me have much time to go out. I am
studying journalism. I feel I shall
have a message for the people some
day, and shall need a vehicle for its
deliverance. I was SO stupid not to
find my meter before. can scarcely
forgive myself for so wasting my
time"
81 don't think you will find It
wasted. dear. No knowledge is wasted.
You will be all the better fitted for
the career you have chosen because
of your years work in college. only
wish I were a college girl. They do
have such good times as well as learn
ing so much. Oh, well, I'm almost 8 8
and you IS. It doesn't seem possible.
Why, it seems only yesterday when
you came home with your hair bobbed,
and you were only about II. How
cried after I went to bed. You had
lovely hair, two long braids. I used
to love to plat them" Margaret's
voice had trailed reminiscently on.
Don't hold post mortems, mother,
and don't be sentimental. 1t isn't good
form. Bodied hair is convenient and
healthy-two reasons why no one
should object to it,
ayes, dear" Margaret answered
meekly.
(Tomorrow-Ted Walters is expected
for Easter vacation.)