Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-20

But IL seems to me that she has read
almost every novel that I ever heard
of. Her appetite for books Is in.
satiable, and she reads with amazing
rapidity.
One rather old.fashioned woman was
shocked when she saw that Elizabeth
at 10, was reading Thomas Hardy
Tess Of the D'Urbervilles" and Jude
the Obscure" When 1 explained that
Elizabeth had been taught the so
called facts Of life" from the time
she was years old. the old-fashioned
woman was even more shocked.
When she was gone Elizabeth re-
marked to me: II really can't see why
she should be so shocked because
know all about my body. Sex isn't
any more mysterious or shocking than
dietetics and not half so interesting
Protected by knowledge.
When. In our living room, the heat.
ed discussions turned upon Freudian
psychology, Elizabeth was able to ex-
press her opinions on inhibitions and
complexeS with the best Of them. And
in behalf of my friends-all Of them
clever, creative people, should say
that not one of them ever expressed
any surprise or shocked disapproval
at the extent of Eizabeth'S knowl-
edge.
They believe. with me, that full
knowledge has kept Elizabeth free
from obscene, secret breeding and
from ugly whispering with other girls.
Because Elizabeth and I are as close
as two human beings can possibly be,
I know that she is clean and sweet
and wholesome clear through. At the
same age my mind was filled with
IrN h,,1
lions, taG-ends Of half-heard, less than
by evil-minded, untaught children.
I think have chosen the better way
in dealing with Elizabeth. At least
our companionHhip is absolutely com
plete; there are no dangerous fields
which We must skirt, with q wary.
shamed eye on each other. The en-
tire OpennasS and lack of self-con-
seriousness with which Elizabeth dis
Cusses with me the sex problems that
arise in conversation or in the books
she is reading proves to me that there
are no dark, hidden chambers III
which ugliness and ignorance are
fiouriShing.
|. New York offered Elizabeth mu-
seums. ZOOS, parks, aquariumS, art eX-
hibitions. symphony concerts. drama
opera and all the books in the world
to read, and she set about acquiring
these treasures for her own as soon
as she arrived here. Within month
she knew the subway systems, the
plan of the streets and the location of
points Of interest far better than l
did.
Able to Care for Herself.
] was working, and had no time to
take her about with me. except to
the theater on Friday or Saturday
evenings and the concerts on Sun
day. Every Saturday morning she
mapped out her program and sub
mitted it for my approval / used
to worry myself sick about her safety
as she explored Manhattan alone,
but soon ! became convinced that
she was safer than I was. for she
was more cautious. and possessed a
far better memory and sense of
direction. sI still worry. and I sup
pose I always shall, If we live to be
so and e. years old, respectively
but in the small lobe of my brain
which houses logic know that she
is well able to take care of herself
In the late Fall of 1929 I became
III and extremely nervous with over
work on the two magazines. and
went to Woodstock for q weeks va
cation. leaving Elizabeth in New
York. Hazel Ross. our newspaper
friend from Des Moines. occupied
my apartment with Elizabeth. Dur
ing my absence the president of the
New York League of Business and
Professional Women asked Eliza
beth to address a meeting on the
subject business and Professional
Women as Mothers. from the Child
Viewpoint Hazel was quite fus-
tered. and asked Elizabeth to write
out her speech in detail.
Didn't Admire Coolidge.
"Oh, that's not necessary" lazy
Eliza beth told her. I've got the
points all worked out in my head.
I'll be all right"
How many points," Hazel
prodded.
Eleven. Don't worry; l won't
forget any Of Them
And she didn't. She made her
speech, according to Hazel and the
reporters present. like a veteran of
the platform. Not for nothing had
she matched her wit against that of