Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-12

tatlNe, weary
so we must learn to find it un
thinkabie that our wills. our tastes,
even our standards, should encase
our children III world of our fixa-
ton. 1t Is theirs, the world-life is
theirs. say it again and again
Biologically that is all that we are
the abandoned husk upon the
rround----''
Philip Mallory, whom the sound of
that voice had arrested at the door
of his room, above the library where
his sisters meeting was in progress.
sighed. His own foreboding at that
very hour, His own foreboding re-
inforced by science. Hadn't Violet
told him che was importing some
eminent psychiatrist for this final
meeting OF The Rivermead Mother
Teachers Association? He had been
right then--at AZ his day was done.
lie listened yet another moment to
the spatter OF gently applaudinS
hands lie listened to faint murmur-
ings OF women relaxed from the strain
Of attention He listened to fright
ened mother endeavoring TO combat
the psychiatric doom. Violet helped
her. Violet was a dear and patient
chairman. her brother thought with
tender, amused admiration.
Il only wanted to ask DIR. Wade.
the questioner painted, IF we--par-
ents, | mean. and teachers, and all of
us older ones-ought tn think that
we are only husks-only husks
was becoming chant. but with. a
mighty effort she pulled out of it
economically. too. II it is true that
we are nothing at all o-bio-biologi-
cally. but something you'd sweep into
the dust-pa how about us as pro-
vders? And anyway, aren't We
aren't people. l mean-middle-a aged
people-something besides biologists?
i mean something more than BIZ
than BIZ"
At last she succumbed to the over
mastering difficulties of speech, but
not before Or. Wade had extricated
her thought from its entangling al
liances.
What Mrs. Thorley is asking he
said. is whether the human adult
in that stage of civilization to whlcf
we have advanced has no other func-
ton than the biological. 1t is a fair
question and"
"A fair question: should say it
was." declared low voice at Philip
Mallory's elbow. He swung around
surprised. That little woman
know she's little, don't you?-could
make minCemeat of the psychlatr1st
il >.he had "ntv learned their iareon.
The speaker was a spirited young
woman, rather short. sturdy. with
hair the dark auburn of an irish
settlers. She had evidently been sit
ting in a nook at the turn or the
stairs toward the third story. She
looked with friendly eyes at Philip.
You're Mr. Mallory. of course. You
=. tri11
lock-"
"Of course you are. | ought 20
have known you--you are exactly
like your mother" He shook her
Arm. brown hand cordially.
Il telegraphed your sister yesterday
from Boston. asking if l might come
here for a night before l sailed. I'M
going abroad tomorrow on the Cedrlc.
And | ran into this. l told aunte
would come down and help dispense
tea afterward, but not to the meet
ing. No more juvenile psychology lor
me this season. You see. | teach AT
st. Monica's, and my vacation mas
just begun"
his gray ones had golden lights that
might have been reflected from her
clinting hair She was better look
ing. Philip decided, than her mothef
had been a quarter of century ago,
I'm glad you are going to be win
us. even If it is only for little WINE
he told her. I'll see you at DINNER
Aren't you coming down?
NO. / have to do some thinking
on being a husk." He smiled.
Well" she laughed, turning u"
leave him, don't forget that You are
something besides biologist
X * x X
DHILIP stil smiled as he watched
L the swing of her body going
down the stairs. 1t wouldn't be so
had he reflected, to be an outworn
shell upon the sands of time II one
could have child like this. But ms
son Corliss-Corliss was another mat
ter. Philips smile faded.
The great authority downstairs. ne
sunnosed. would challenge his theory
hui for his part he didn't believe that
child was fairly started whose
narents had not whole heartedly
loved each other. And he knew now
mar what he called his love for Minna
Corliss had survived their marriage
only briefly. Poor Minna. Their
marriage--he saw it now with the
ewes of lis maturity-had been OF her
vehement contrving. In it he had
heeu acuuiescent rather than eager
az later he had been acquiescent 10
the family verdict that he had pet
Ter take the opening with WheeleI
and fleming, cotton brokers. ne
hadn't really wanted 10 go INTO ma
business. lie had wanted TO teaCll
the history of the fine arts. 10 Wrlte
a play. to explore Africa-he hau hi,,
ali The nebulous aspirations or All
younc men with educated tastes and
without robustly shaping talent. but
he had fallen little in love Win
Minna Corliss: he had married ana
settled down because other peop1e
thought il a good thing TO do.
Two wears alter his marriage, slA
months after Corliss' birth, his VIE
had died, and again he had acdulesceo
this time in his sister Niolet's plea
"a he allowed TO come and keep ms
home for him. Violet had been "a
pretty slip of a girl then. 10. pulslns
with undirected tenderness ana seher'
os;ty. She lavished 1t all on the oaoH
Ccrliss. 1t hadn't been fair TO Nlolet-
and it hadn't been fair to Cornss'
either. Philip had acqulesced III H.
Ha,f amused. half bored. he had &C
oniasced in all of Violet's pretty child
raining enthusiasms. And what eX-
perirents. good. bad and Indifferent,
rad not been tried upon his son! a
medley Of names and terms struggled
through his Observation-Disclosures 20
wears of them. Or. Holt. MontessorI'
Winifred Stoner. self.determination.
Binet. the sacredness OF personality
The creative intention Of destructive
acts-poor. eager. searching Nloiet.
But poorer Coriiss.
A JTTOMOBILES were beginning TO
"A depart. That vivid young creature,
Katrina Blakelock. must be near the
end OF her tea pouring. He was glad
she waste be there for dinner. Sen
sible woman. her mother had been
older sister Of a friend of Niolets girl
hood, The family had moved West.