The Manitowoc pilot. [volume], November 21, 1901, Image 7

About The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932

Image provided by: Wisconsin Historical Society

                
The Other
Woman’s Hand
A Studied Offense and Its
Penalty.
By GWENDOLEN OVERTON.
THE young man win would make
lur hiu -elf a nami ami fa me roes
east. By th same token, he who
would hide those both Intakes him. elf
•west.
Henesly went west because the girl
he wa- in iove with jilted him. out of
hand, for a richer teiiow, and he was
very hard hit. He wont west and was
lost to sighi, and the place where he
hid been knew him no more, if any
one chanct and to mention him to the g irl,
she smiled the smiio of pitying con
tempt. which is most women's tribute
to the memory of a man they have
treated abominably, and said: ‘'Poor
Dick." the was as mean as she was
beautiful- which is not the fairy-tale
formula; but she got her punishment
in the end —which is.
This is how it came about:
Circumstances'and physicians over
which she had no control sent the rich
man she had married- whose name was
Kent —to spend a season on the Pacific
coast. K< nt’s fancy lighted upon a sea
port town, the only objects of inter st
in which were a break-water, in course
of construction, and a spit of laud
upon which, tourists were a-surt and. fh>
skeletons of dead and gone pirates
might yet he dug up. Neither these
nor the adjoining shipping village,
which only awaited the appropria
tion of a delinquent congress to
become the harbor of the Pacific
slope, offered to Mrs. Kent that
variety and excitement which alone
could make existence palatable to
her. So she decided that if there
were to be any such, they must come
from within herself. Therefore, as the
most unlikely tiling that she could
happen upon, she determined to try
what it might be like to lead that
whjeh is known asa normalnml healthy
life—going to bed when ti e f r<„ s be
gan to sing in the dismal marshes
about, and getting up w ith the sun. “I
will take plenty of exercise.’’ site ix
plained to her husband; "I will row for
a couple of hours before breakfast, on
the lagoon, I think."
At daybrt ak she made her w ay across
the strip of land that divided the la
goon and the sea. The hotels and cot
tages faced the sea,but the lagoon was
the inner harbor, and there were upon
it only wharves and rickety boat
houses and fishermen’s huts. It was
not exactly a picturesque outlook, or
dinarily. but the sunrise lichts east a
sart 1 giamoti" over it now. Even tin
deep, loose sand was cool and tinted,
and all traced over with fine caba istie
lines where the lizards had dragged
their tails and no one haa as yet
stepped. Later on, it would be blister
ing hot and the marsh weeds would
give out a choking smell; but this early,
their stunted yellow and pink blossoms
had a fresh and pungent scent.
She followed a path that led to a rough
board shack, standing on stilts over
the ebb-tide mud, where a sign adver
tised that boats were builded and for
rent. When she stopped in the small
doorway, her figure shut out most of
the light, and she could barely discern
the man who was moving about inside.
He eaiue toward her. Her back was to
the low rays of the sun, so her face was
in the b aekness, and only her form w as
as glistening white a' the Angel af
Apocalypse.
Had he a row-brat, she asked; one
not too heavy, and with oars of a trfod
erate sweep? He was taciturn—a,
’long-shore character, probably —for
he did not even answer, only took a
pair of spoon oars from their rack on
the wall, and led the way out to the
landing pier. She followed, running
against -grange -hape- of wood, and
stumbling over piles of lumber in the
gloom. When they were out on the
landing, he turned about and faced
her suddenly. She was quite close be
hind him, and she gave a quick start
back.
“I thought so,’’ ho said, steadily; “I
thought the voice was like yours.”
He had had that much warning, but
she had had none at all, and it might
have been a full two seconds before
-lie got control of herself. Then the
beauty f the situation and till its pos
sibilities floated upon her suddenly,
and she decided that her movement of
impulse had been the best she could
have made. So she followed it up.
She shrank back into the doorway
farther stilk “Rioha”d!” she said,
cowering.
He stood resting upon the oars and
scrutinizing her stolidly. He flattered
himself that he was calm, not to say
cool, but Mrs. Kent had a deeper than
surface sight. She knew t hat he ap
peared cool for very much the same
reason that a circular saw appears
still when it is going fast enough. Fof
herself and for the major part of man
kind -he was a very light scoffer at
love; but she was no such fool as not
to know that the luart which has truly
loved atui never forgets does have
its existence in the flesh as well as in
the lines of Erin’s hard. So. .summing
up the situation with the aid of obser
vations upon his character, made rath
er exhaustively some five years gone
by, she came to the conclusion that,
when she should be ready, it would
take p“rhap* half an hour at the out
side to have him at her feet as a tiger
.is at the feet of a trainer with a whip.
Henesly snoke at last. “You did
your work pretty thoroughly while
you were about it. you see,’ he said.
‘I went to the devil and to bed-rock in
something I--ss tin i a year. Then I
married a Pi rtugu •• fisher girl when
I wa- drunk, and she and I are living
together in rhif shanty over there.”
''e nodded in the direction of a little
vrp i’• 'ed I” ard -h.r-k some 50 yards
Mrs. Kent covered her face with her
palm- while she gained time to try
and think of something as dramatic
and concise. But her own appearance
did not 1-ad itself to narrative i.f the
kind. She made a broken murmur,
vague with hints cf her own deep
wretchedness, do instead. Henesly
did not answer; only turned or his
h‘d and led the way to the landing
steps.
He was there to hdp her nut when
she came back. Whet, -he asked if she
m'glit use the boat next morn’ng he
told hi r yes. He explained it to him
self as being proper pride, and that
she should not fancy him a r ra;d. After
a day or two he altered the explana
tion to 'hat it couldn't matter any
way. and often that hr did not try to
explain. He let things go. At this
point she lingered, sitting upon the
keel of a yawl up for repairs, and
talked about herself in hopeless vein.
The ensuing steps were ta’k about
himself. He responded f :ii v easily,
any! showed his drawings, his t tols
and the new gasoline engirt- band saw
which was his espe ! a! prble. Tie
taught her how to ,-ti ft the engine up.
and to out along traced lines through
the hardest wnoj! with the toothed
I and of steel.
It was Inevitable, thereafter, that
‘hey -bottld—having had herself and
himself- come to th elves. And
when that happ ned—it was about
the tenth day of her “normal and
healthy" Ilf- much more did as well,
-u that v. In r ’ ■ • "‘rd to go at last,
a'd stood, beauti":jl. In t’ - - ! dst of
all ’he rnu Viess p.rottn !, h ! < h°nd
. nt com U ' ly. and he caught her
hand again.-t his lips and held it there.
It was delight and bliss and temporary
oblivion to him. It wa- t V success of
an experiment with her, and the point
beyond which she did not mean to go,
for her wisdom was of this world.
But to Maria, Henesly’s Portuguese
wife—who was under the he-athon.se,
peering up through a knothole—it was
rage and jealousy of a very savage
kind. She had had her suspicions of
the woman who came so often and for
so long at break of day. and mow she
was verifying them. As for what they
said, the two, she could neither hear
nor understand all of that. Her Eng
lish was limited. Put she saw Henesly
kissing the shapely hand, and there
was nothing Incomprehensible about
that.
1 f Henesly had had the slightest idea
of what Maria had seen, he would have
li°en justified in being uneasy and in
recalling the warning of one of those
poets of his better days, anent mute
natures which punish you in deeds.
For Maria made no sign at all. She
only wait -1 hr time. It came very
soon. That same night Henesly was
called Upon to repair the hull of a
launch, and lie had to be up until long
past midnight, working with lanterns,
to takes advantage of the fide. The
eor.se.oienee was that h? overslept
himself the next day. Maria, however,
did not. She arose early and went out.
When Mrs. Kent came, humming a
snatch of song that she knew would
be calculated to awaken memories in
Henesly, Maria was hidden behind a
pile of lumber in the dark corner
where the gasoline engine was. lying
"n wait, with a big knife up her sleeve.
Mrs. Kent had no suspicion of that,
'die wandered around the boathouse
playing with various things, and final
ly. the time grew long, she went
ivt r to th- corner land amused lier
i’f by starting the band-saw up, as
Henesly had shown her how to do.
The gasoline engine began to -pit and
hi-s, and the shiny contrivances,
whose names she did not know . to clat
ter and turn. 'I Its saw-edged band
‘seif began to whir so very fast that
b -*■< nted ibe quit? s-tiH. She held
a scrap of wood against it and watched
it cut smoothly in two without a jar.
When sh ■ looked up she could see
Ti -ne-Iy hurry v. r along the path
through the timti from his shack,
she stopped playing with the saw. and
stood waiting for him. begbining the
-train of song again. Her hand was
lying close to the moving band. Maria
raised herself up in the shadow and
looked at it. It was so white.-so small,
so near the turning saw. It was the
same hand that Henesly had kissed
tlie day before.
The whir of the machinery was in
Mrs. Kent’s ears. The light of the low
rays falling through the open door
was in her eyes. She did not hear the
boards behind her creak. She did not
see that someone was-coming nearer
and nearer, with lint eyes watching
that white and careless hand.
The engine was spitting and elatter
inc unconcernedly when Henesly
stepped into the place, and in th*-
gloomy corner near it. something
white and huddled was on the floor. It
was a woman’s figure fallen on the
face and with arm- thrown out. On
the end of one arm there was a hand.
On that of (he other —there was none.
Mrs. Kent’s tale, to Henesly and to
her husband, was never quite clear.
Perhaps she had moved: perhaps she
had swayed; perhaps someone had
.pushed her arm against the saw. She
had thought that someone had gone
past her. just as she reeled and fell—
and. besides, the hand, out clean a* the
wrist, was gone.
And Maria, too, was gone. Henesly
never saw her again. But that night
a- he sat alone in his cabin, his head
dropped on his folded arms, a voice
came in nt the window above his head
—came in with the croaking song of
the frogs in the swamp outside and
with the drifts of the thick, gray fog.
“Kess it," it said from vacancy, al
most in his ear; “kess if. ef you like
to. now." And something fell on the
table near his forehead, with a thud.
He groped and touched it. It was soft
and cold. He felt it over. It was a
small, stiff hand.—San Francisco Ar
gonaut.
A rough pencil sketch made by
Queen Victoria 35 years ago was sold
Loudon the other day for S3OO.
How Lelia Entered Her Claim
By FRANK H. SWEET.
LELIA STAUXTOX had gone to
Florida with the intention of
taking up a homestead; but had been
at her brother-in-law’s there three
now without hearing of a
■single vacant piece. One day he eame
in with a radiant face.
“I’ve found a prize for you, Lelia,”
he exclaimed. “A German who lives
two miles from here has just been
left a fortune at home, and is going
back. He entered his claim nearly
three years ago, and has made quite a
lot of improvements; but of course he
doesn’t mind them now. He leaves this
afternoon, and then the land becomes
public property. 1 asked him if he had
spoken of it to anyone, and he said
o ly to the postmaster, lie received
the news this morning, and told the
I -sf;u;i.-;er about it. I have been able
to do hint some service, and when I
i "V ■ about you be seemed pleased,
and said that he would like yon to
have the land and the improvements.
He said he would like to think of the
place belonging to some of my people.
Xow, the sooner you file your claim, the
better. I will go with you to-morrow,
if you like.”
“Why not at once?” asked Lelia,
eagerly.
“I have an engagement this after
| noon, and can’t possibly g°t off. But
we’ll start early’ in.the morning.”
“That might be too late. It’s only
15 miles to Gainesville. Why can’t I
fO a- tie?”
“Well. I—don’t1 —don’t know,” thoughtfully.
“I hardly like the idea of your going
alone. Still, time is important, as ygu
• ay. and the road is good, and you are
i splendid rider. Yon could make it in
three hours, and spend the night with
Mrs. Wilson. Under the circum
stances —”
“I would better go,” she interrupt
ed. “Good! Xow, if yon will please
saddle the horse, 1 will tret ready.”
Her brother-in-law’s place was in
the outskirts of a small town, and as
he went toward the stable he heard
hasty footsteps outside the fence
which separated him from the street,
and presently a strong, athletic figure
vaunted over and came toward him.
i "I beg your pardon, Mr. Gifford,” lhf>
stranger said, hurriedly, “but let me
have a horse for a few hours? My broth
er said that you kept the best horses
in town.”
“Xot to let. though.” answered Mr.
Gifford, rather coldly. Who is your
brother?”
“Henry Wayne, the postmaster. Von
see, I only reached here to-day, and
Henry has been telling me something
which renders my presence in Gaines
vllle imperative "
“Ah!” Mr. Gifford’s, “ah,” was very ex
pressive, and he looked out across his
orange grove ns though in search of an
answer to some unspoken thought.
“I am in a great hurry,” hinted Mr.
Wayne, after a prolonged silence, “and
1 will pay yon well.”
“1 want no pay,” hastily. Then with
. sudden change of voice; “Yes, ! think
1 can let you have a horse, but 1 do
tot warrant his speed.”
Leading the way to the stable he
nointed to a large gray.
“That is the strongest one in the
stable," he said; “you ran have him if
von like. The black is faster, but I
•eserve him especially for the side
addle; and the two bays have been
w. rking this morning.”
Five minutes later he led the black
'torse to the stile. Lelia was waiting
“Who was that gentleman?” she
asked.
“A Mr. Wayne. He is goingtoGaines
ville. 1 let him have the gray horse.”
“The gray horse!” she echoed, as
he sprang lightly into the saddle.
“Why, that is the plow horse. He could
go faster on foot.”
“So I think,”'coolly, “but 1 found he
is after the very piece of land 1 t Id
you about. He has gone by the main
road; you must take the short cut
through the live oaks. That will save
you two miles, and allow you to avoid
him. He might recognize the black
horse.” He took a slip of paper from
his pocketbonk and handed it to her—
“that contains all the necessary in
formation about the homestead,” he
admonished. “Give it to the clerk
whose name is on the back. Hi knows
me, and will see that your entry is
made correctly. Xow go, and don’t
spare the whip.”
“Lelia was a good rider, ns he had
said, and it w-as not long before she
had passed through the live oaks to the
main road. The stranger was not in
sight.
For half an hour she sped on, the
horse taking the road almost as light
ly as a bird; then suddenly a piece of
newspaper rattled across their path,
and the horse shied violently, throw
ing her into the buhes.
Fortunately, she was not much hurt;
but as she rose to her feet a sharp
twinge told her that one of her ankles
was sprained. The horse was nibbling
tussock grass a few r yards away.
“Dick, Dick! Come, Dick!” she
coaxed, limping toward him.
But Dick was in a playful mood, and
as she advanced he retreated. She fol-
I lowed him several rods, then he
whirled and trotted back over the road
they had come. Lelia watched him un
til he disappeared. She did not feel
able to walk any farther, so she sat
down upon a stone to consider. Gaines
j ville was six miles away, her home
: nearly ten. and her ankle was growing
worse. Clearly there was nothing to
do hat wait for some chance passer to
come to her assistance.
An hour went by, then she heard the
faint tap. tap of hoof beats in the dis
tance. Presently a gray horse ap
peared, and behind him wau Dick, ap
(Copyright, 1901, by Authors Syndicate.)
parently being led by the rider of the
gray. As they appeared, she recog
nized her brother-in-law’s plow horse,
and the rider was, of course, after tie
very land she wanted. Her heart
sank.
“I suppose this is your horse.” The
voice was rich and musical, and a.- the
stranger lifted his hat she noticed that
his face was strong and scholarly. "I
met him down the road, and thought
that he had run away. Ah, you are
hurt,” as she essayed to step forward.
“Here, let me assist you." He sprang
from his horse, throwing the bridle of
the black over his arm as he did so.
"My gray will stand till right. I am
afraid his owner thought I wn- a poor
horseman, and so gave me a ste< and that
wis safe. Easy, now; loan on me.”
lie assisted her to the saddle, ard
then examined the girths and bridle to
see that everything was secure."
"Do you think yon are able to go
alone?” he asked.
"Oh, certainly. The bushe broke
my fall. I think that my ankle will be
all right by to-morrow,”
“Well, then. T w ill not try to keep up
w ith you. My horse is very deliberate
in his movements, and I doubt if I
reach town before dark, Good-by.”
As she rode on. Delia’s emotions were
a curious mixture of exultation anc
dismay. She could be first to enter a
claim to the land, but in doing so she
almost felt that she would be taking
an unfair advantage of the man who
had come to her assistance. At times j
slm thought of stopping and waiting
for him to come tip. am] of explaining
everything, and offering him a fair
race. Then she would think f her
mother, and of her brrther-in-law, and
of the Herman who had said that he
would like her to have the land. Of
course she had a better right to it than
firs stranger; and of course it would
be the height of folly for her to throw
away any of her advantage.
Hut she could not quite sat! 'v her
self; and the thought of th< slran
o'er jogging along on the old plow
horse nceompanii and her info town,
and into the land oflire. and grew
stronger when she knew that the
homestead was securely in her pos
session
Early the next morning she started
on her return trip, and soon after
leaving town overtook the old gray
horse and his rider, moving slowly
back toward home.
“I am glad to see you looking so
well.” said Mr. Wayne, ns she reined
in her horse in answer to ! i- saluta
tion. "J hope your adventure of yes
terday caused you no inconvenience."
“Very little, thanks to you.”
They rode on for ,-ome minutes in
silence, then Mr, Wayne looked at
her humorously'.
"If you arc not in a hurry." he
said, "I will do my lust to make the
old gray keep up.”
"I have the day before me. and
will be glad to have company.”
“Thank you.” Then: "Did you en
ter your claim all right?”
Delia flushed and looked at him in
quiringly. He laughed frankly.
"I recognized your horse ns one
I had seen in Mr. Gifford’s stable* and
( put one thing and another togeth
er. Hut don’t think I harbor the
least ill feeling toward the old gray,”
he went on. quickly, patting the an
imal as he spoke; "he and I are get
ting on famously together. And really
and truly and honestly, Miss—”
“Staunton.”
“Thank you—Miss Staunton, I am
a thousand times obliged to you for
obtaining tint land. Von see, my
brotner was wild about my getting
it, and bis enthusiasm was so conta
gious T never paused to consider the
consequences. Now, I am a lawyer,
and I think I see a good opportunity
down here for me to practice my pro
fession. Hut suppose I had buried
myself out or. that homestead? Why,
it would have been the extinguishing
of both the profession and myself.
Not but what it is a fine piece of
land," hastily, “and a prize to any
one who can afford to live on it the
necessary five years. Hut you see I
could not do that and practice.”
Delia looked at him senrchingly.
“Are you in earnest?" she asked.
“Really and truly and honestly, as
I just observed."
She loo'ked relieved.
"I am glad to hear it,” she said.
“I was afraid that I—l might not
have acted quite fairly by you.”
When they reached the house of
Mr. Gifford they found the owner
absent. Mr. Wiyne assisted Delia to
dismount and took the horses to the
stable. Then he came back to the
porch to say good-by.
“It has been a very pleasant ride.”
he Sind, earnestly, and something in
his votee brought a warmer color to
| her face. “May I call again?"
The color grew and eper, and some
thing of her embarrassment even
etept into her voice as she answered:
“Yes, certainly."
If I Cnnld Know.
If I could know that word or deed
Of mine had helped a soul In need.
Mad given comfort, eased the smart
Of some poor, tortured, aching heart.
With what rare Joy my heart would glow.
If 1 could know ! If 1 could know’
If one should whisper In my ear:
“Your words have made me stronger. dear,
To fight this evil thing within.
That leads me often Into sin"—
Life's darkened ways would lighter grow.
If I ki owl If I could know'
Each day, I ask the Lord to bless
Some act of mine to fruitfulness.
And though I know not how, or where.
He sends the answer to my prayer.
When I Into His pres-nce gi,
Then 1 shall know ! Then I shall know!
- Marian Phelps, In Chi ago Advance.
a , —'
UHA.JVKSGIX/IJVG 2)AJ". ;
Again the season is at hand in whi:h a host of grateful people observe with due fitness
the Thanksgiving Day. It is a festival that converts every family mansion into a Family
Meeting ißmse. Every family prepares for this day. makes the table groan under its bur
den of plcntv, makes pleasant the home with warmth and good cheer. Let u> suggest a few
articles of household necessity that you may find yourself in need of in the preparations for
this festival.
V Just Let the Turkey Splutter, v
, If you have lodged him in a *
roasting pan in the oven of a Solar
stove can depend on, yes
■fp joice over the assurance of a good
jjfc ' Thanksgiving dinner, for these '
-j 3 stoves have that knack of doing V% : * j**
„t an* {#iii
{HflH.Bvr wll 1 and healing well. These are the '•
■ Wwresults ot their faultless con-
which thev are made and their
- properly placed drafts.
They solve the problem of much heat with little fuel. < )ur line of Solar stoves comprises ■
Cast and Steel Ranges. Cos > Stoves, Coal and Wood Heaters and Base Burners.
Roasting Pans.
Improved roasters that ; low its con
tents to be properly roaste . without los
ing that much relished flavor.
Fine steel roasters, nicely iln- * A
ished at t/ / V
Another roaster, made of fine quality
granite steel, most durable, uand
some and easily kept rt* | "b r
clean, at 1 %L J
Ne Dinner Sets.
Have you thought of myinga iu decorated dinner set for Thanksgiving? C ome
see our line of fine china fancih decorated Dinner Sets; the price M ill tell you why you
should buy now.
SlO l(H(-piecc decorated din- (d'l |/ / .-2. t lou-pit ev imp< rta and Cliina Aj A F-i"v
ner set. special l 0 ■ dinner sT, special C/
THE PEOPLES SAVINGS BANK
R. G. OLP, Prop.
/Manitowoc, V V Wisconsin.
Oni* mill ll>.
A husky-looking, one-armed gentle
nnn, wearing’ the kloiicli hat that d< -
totes the southerner to the manor
>orn, wits entering the Arlington,
.vhen tie came into henr)-on collision
\itli a dapper, bewhiskered gentle
man who was making his exit at a
,’:io gait, says a Washington corre
pomlent. As each reeoiled from the
mpnet, profound exetis-s were made,
mil nothing would content the south*
•rner. who insisted that he alone was
it. fault, lint that the other should
iccompuny him to the chamber of
•onviviality.
"My name is Oates, snh William ('.
Oates ex-inemler of congre.-s from
Mabama," said the one-armed man,
as he released his hand from his new
acquaintance's.
"And mine,” said the bewhiskered
one, "is Ha}' —John Hay secretary
of state.”
‘'Ha. ha. ha,” laughed the hlnfT Ala
baman, slapping the premier on the
hack, "a good team, surely, suh May
and Oates. I think I can see tin
horses in the carriages out front
there sniffing the air hungrily, lint
this time we’ll reverse the rule and
consume one of their kin. Waiter,
bring me a pony whisky.”—Philadel
phia North American.
Free Sulphur Until* to I.mil Wiirkrru.
Paris supplies free of cost sulphur
ous baths to all persons engaged in
handling lead.
Carving Sets.
Large enough, durable and keen
enough to master t ie biggest turkey.
Fancy enough to please the eyes of the
admirer of articles of artistic merit and
enough that \ou should not even doubt
that you can afford a set.
apb <■■ cawing 'T, Ain 1\ finished Eng- C v “n
INh '-b 1 blade*, elaborately bolstered
? piece Engli- h steel carving set, known O < i ”
to he tie l best knife Made tgl.’rD
No. 2 English steel curving et bus no ijq
equal for the price ~ /OC
INFLUENCE OF DIME NOVELS.
Tinj Have Hern iin 1111 iiortnnl I-iie
tor in tin* it ii 11 cl iii k I |t n f the
tin-ill Writ.
"The old-fashioned Indian stories
produced the settlement of our great
west,” said u man wearing n brond
hrimmed hut and a hig diamond, as he
sat talking to a group of friends in u
Kansas City hotel.
*‘l don’t mean Cooper's stories,” he
continued; “they were too tedious,
I mean file dime novels of years hack,
which were within the reach of all the
boys. These novels used to circulate
in a neighborhood till they had been
read by every boy and had fallen to
pieces through handling. They fired
the ambition of the youngsters, set
them to practicing shooting and rid
ing, and sent many of them to the
west in seareh of adventures. Some
soon returned to their homes, others
became bad men and were killed in
time, but the great mass of them, too
proud to return home, created the vig
orous, wideawake population of our
western states.
"I have talked to hundreds of our
western pioneers about the cause,
which brought them west, and u ma
jority of them admit that dime novels
had more to do with it than anything
else.”
IBSEN’S WHISKERS.
An Amerlmn (ieiillenian'a Expe*
rleiife In I'niiTlnl nl n the
\\ Hl-Knun it
Oik rnthusiastic Ibsenite, while still
r;• bid, will content himself in future
with admiring the "master” through
hi>- work#, writes Henry Dick, in New
Lippincott. Officially ealled upon to
re side in Norway fora season, he, alter
meeting the playwright on several oc
onions, invited him to pay him a visit
lie found Ibsen a most difficult guest,
tie was extremely sensitive and senti
mental and his feelings were con
stantly being hurt. The morning after
ids arrival the guest did not appear at
breakfast. Instead a message arrived
that lie wished to see the eldest aon o'
the house. As the eldest son was no:
present, the puzzled host went to set
"what the difficulty might be. It
steiued that Ibsen desired the eldes"
.-on to act as a barber, that being the
custom of the country. His host ex
plained that, in the first place, the eld
est son was absent, and. in the sec'.>nd
that had he hr en present the operation
would have been fraught w ith peril, for
tin- -Ides 4 son was conspicuously un
skilled. Ibsen was advised, therefore,
to seek professional assistance. A
there was nothing else to do. Ibsen
weeping, departed and had his uppe.
lip attended to professionally.