Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 117, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1910 — CARLOTTA'S CULTURE [ARTICLE]

CARLOTTA'S CULTURE

Jl'V* " Y"> ' ■ it Proved somewhat Deflcient When Pat to the Teat. It was assuredly an event in the little Western town —the arrival of the author of the most widely discussed novel of the day. And it was Marjorie Alien’s privilege to call the famous woman cousin. It was all quite intoxicating, but Marjorie really did try to keep from saying “Cousin Margaret" too frequently before the other girls, and, otherwise, she sincerely desired to “live up to” their distinguished visitor. Perhaps it is not remarkable, when so few distinguish between being and seeming, that a girl of seventeen should try to make a good impression. Marjorie was very proud of her friendship with the traveled and educated Carlotta Boardman. “She’s so cultivated, Cousin Margaret,” she boasted to her cousin. “You will appreciate Carlotta. She speaks French just beautifully, and she’s read —dear me, I guess she’s read, about everything worth reading. And she talks so well!" It did, indeed, appear that Carlotta could talk, —almost too easily for a girl of eighteen,—but with a correct accent, perfected abroad, and with evident attention to enunciation. The culture so admired by Marjorie began to show itself in a creditable familiarity with topics of literary Interest. Especially did Marjorie admire today the skill with which Carlotta brought the conversation round to the famous book, and so got in her neatly worded little tribute. Cousin Margaret —who had had much of that sort of thing to endure—bore it with gracious patience. When questioned about the quaint and forceful title of her book, she replied, somewhat briefly, that it came from the Bible. “Indeed!” said Carlotta, with graceful interest. “May I ask just where?” The authoress, possibly hoping to escape from the conversation, and taking a Bible ‘from the table, opened it before the two girls, saying, "You will find it—there,” Carlotta glanced hastily at the page, then spilled deferentially up at the lady, saying. “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippines. How Interesting to know it!” “The Epistle to the—Philippines,” repeated Cousin Margaret, pausing with new interest. “It. certainly would be interesting to know —that.” “I’m going to read this epistle immediately,” said Carlotta. “Really,” she went on, with engaging modesty, “I’m rather ignorant about the Bible. You see, there are so many things that one must read.” ‘& * “I’ve noticed”—the distinguished lady spoke thoughtfully—“that young people now do not appreciate the opportunities fcr'culture’ in that remarkable old book. Now I wonder,” she asked suddenly, “if you or Marporie could turn, without hesitation, to the Book of Hezekiah, for instance?” “I’m not sure,” said Carlotta, quickly, “that it isn’t in the New Testament.” “You are quite right,” said Cousin Margaret, gravely; “it isn’t in the New Testament.” Then Marjorie, who had been looking at the epistle with reddening cheeks, turned hastily to consult the list in the front of the Bible. “Why, there isn’t any ‘Hezekiah’ in the Old Testament, either.” And this was the beginning of doubt in Marjorie’s mind —and, fortunately, in Carlotta’s, also—of the perfect soundness and all-roundness of Carlotta’s culture. —Youth’s Companion.