Life — January 30, 1902 — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

our College is to turn out objets d’ Art.” ‘* But you are neither beautiful nor pleasing,” asserted the Monk, naively. “And I thought Art——” “A very old misconception. Let me see. Ihave a thesis somewhere about me on Modern Art.’’ The Monk repressed a strong, prime- val instinct to take to the woods, “ Pray do not trouble to read it now,” he said, politely; ‘but if you will answer one or two questions, I shall be greatly obliged. Will you tell me to what particular branches of kuow]- edge you have devoted yourself?” “All,” she replied, “save Life. It really wouldn’t—well—be at all the proper thing for girls toknow anything about that. And Nature is so—so— well, you know you went into a mon- astery yourself that you might be able to shut the door on her.” A shadow of pain flitted over the “A shadow of pain flitted over the Monk's face.” Monk's face. ‘Who taught you,” he asked, hastily," the sum of wisdom?" “Our instructors,’’ she answered, “‘were, of course, intellectual old maids.” “And what are they?” “Just what you are,’’ she replied, triumphantly. An anomaly in Na- ture. They aro the most artificial products of an artificial civilization. You know we really are making great strides and getting farther away from Naturo every day **I try to hope s0,”’ said the Monk. “Oh, you must not be pessimistic. We really are.”” “You are so kind and so willing to enlighten me," said the Monk, edging nearer, ‘ that I am tempted to make a confession. In all my attempts to crush ont Nature, I have been haunted by a vision of Woman. She was beanti- ful, and strong, and tender. When Man was weary, her very presence rested him; when he was sad, sho soothed and solaced him. She was not silly, nor yet pedantic ; but his friend and playmate.” The College Girl laughed merrily. “That eras a delusion, I assure you ; a practical joke sprung on you by your old friend, the Devil. But, really now, I must leave you. Iam about to join the summer colony of the ‘Iam It’ Society.”” “ Sorry you must go,’’ said the Monk. “ But I have to thank you very much for having entirely dispelled my ideal of Woman. That old ghost is laid for- ever.” He then went back to his monastery quite content with his lot; while the College Girl returned to the world to live the strenuous, intellectual life. Mrs, Wilson Woodrow. comicbooks.com