The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-03-24

merer the Grocer" with no
sense Of humble admission. In their
city, "Kammerer the Grocer" was the
finest, most de luxe institution of its
kind in town. Indeed, there were
those who moved away to metropolises
like New York and Chicago, who found
it necessary to write back to Kam-
merer for certain delicacies such as
exotic spices, fruits. that were obtain
able nowhere else.
"Kammerer the Grocer" was not just
the corner tradesman catering to the
green-and-tinned-nee of a small
neighborhood area. Kammerer's bak-
ing, delicatessen, vegetable, fruit,
timed and staples departments were
so complicated and highly organized
as any big business.
The stamp of Kammerer was the in
sigma of a housewives ability to sup
ply her family with the best.
Aesop Kammerer, while he did not
actually serve the trade, could be
found on the premises of the business
from early morning until late at night.
There were roomy If not particularly
luxurious offices on the rear of the
second floor, and he could either be
found there, or in close and careful
scrutiny of the needs of his various
departments.
At no time of the day, except the
noon hour, was a customer, asking
for the head of the concern, likely to
be told that he was out, or unavail-
able. Kammerer, who had built up
this business almost single-handed,
never relaxed his hold when success
came. Nine and ten hours a day, six
days week, he gave it heart and body
and soul, importunings Of his wife and
children to the contrary nOtwithstand-
ing.
"Aesop, just think, our children have
been to Europe six times now in all.
Don't you think it high time we were
entitled to just one holiday"
you're right, mother. That's what
I'm planning. Next summer we'll join
the young ones and see the world"
Father, you've been saying that for
six years, now"
II mean it this time, mother. High
time we were beginning to get some
thing out of it. Next year this time
the business can spare me-"
The children, high-spirited twins Of
eighteen, were also of a mind. "Hon-
estly dad, it's up to you and mother
to come over with us next summer.
You two darlings make us look snide,
being so home grown"
"Never you mind, children, your IA
Their and I are going to France and
Italy with you next June. It's COM
ing to u.s."
And, finally, although as mother
said, she didn't actually believe it until
they were on the boat. the Kammerer
family, four strong. did set sail for the
European trip, which the older pair
had been contemplating, planning,
dreaming, for at least two-thirds of
their married lives.
The youngsters, pampered in every
form of travel and education, and to
whom the voyage was an old story, set
out upon this one in the high spirit Of
the adventure of experience leading
innocence by the hand.
Within twenty-four hours after land
ing Aesop Kammerer and his wife
were being swung through Europe &C.
aord;Dr 70 tho diofafoc oP thair two
high-handed effervescent youngsters,
who were determined on showing them
show it was DONE"
The results need not have been sur
prising, but they smote the parental
Kammerers with something akin to
Inundated dismay. The older pair
who, according to all precepts and
precedents, should have been having
the time of their lives, found them
selves overwhelmed with the most pro-
found sense of inferiority it had ever
been their ill fortune to even conceive.
Accustomed in their home city each
to position of authority and social and
business recognition, here they were,
being led around by the noses, to
speak, by two youngsters who were
versed in aspects Of life of which they
had never even heard.
1t was one thing to hear Amy and
Robert recite the expedition of their
summer travels, year after year, when
they returned from the long and lux
urious vacations afforded them by
their stay-at-home parents. It was
another matter to come face to face
with these wonders Of European civil
lization; wonders to which their chill
dren were injured, and stand there,
as Mother Kammerer finally admitted
to her husband, like two dumbells out
of Dubuque.
Their mutual admissions, kept
boarded from one another during the
first six weeks Of the trip, burst forth
one night in their hotel room that
overlooked the Arno in Florence.
"Aesop, you may not know it, but
we're a pair Of what the children
would call 'dumbells out Of Dubuque"
He had been sitting beside the win
dow, resting his tired and aching feet
upon a pillow when this outburst
came, and he turned upon his wife the
tired defeated eyes she had been no.
ticing in him for weeks.
"It's terrible, mother. If l have ia
face another art gallery or another
cat edral and pretend to those young