y
slippers by the library fire. I put them on, and plunged into a pamphlet
lately published by a distinguished member of a German university
faculty. I thought the incident closed forever."
He gazed sorrowfully at the two young men.
"But, gentlemen, I had not counted on that viper that we nourish in our
bosom--the American newspaper. At present I will not take time to
denounce the press. I am preparing an article on the subject for a
respectable weekly of select circulation. Suffice it to record what
happened. The next day an evening paper appeared with a huge picture of
me on its front page, and the hideous statement that this was the
Professor Bolton who had said that 'One Peroxide Blonde Is Worth a
Million Suffragettes'.
"Yes, that was the dreadful version of my remark that was spread
broadcast. Up to the time that story appeared, I had no idea as to what
sort of creature the peroxide blonde might be. I protested, of course. I
might as well have tried to dam a tidal wave with a table fork. The
wrath of the world swept down upon me. I was deluged with telegrams,
editorials, letters, denouncing me. Firm-faced females lay in wait for
me and waved umbrellas in my eyes. Even my wife turned from me, saying
that while she did not ask me to hold her views on the question of
suffrage, she thought I might at least refrain from publicly commending
a type of woman found chiefly in musical comedy choruses. I received a
note from the president of the university, asking me to be more
circumspect in my remarks. Me--Thadeus Bolton--the most conservative man
on earth by instinct!
"And still the denunciations of me poured in; still women's clubs held
meetings resolving against me; still a steady stream of reporters flowed
through my life, urging me to state my views further, to name the ten
greatest blondes in history, to--heaven knows what. Yesterday I resolved
I Could stand it no longer. I determined to go away until the whole
thing was forgotten. 'But', they said to me, 'there is no place, on land
or sea, where the reporters will not find you'. I talked the matter over
with my old friend, John Bentley, owner of Baldpate Inn, and he in his
kindness gave me the key to this hostelry."
The old man paused and passed a silk handkerchief over his bald head.
"That, sirs," he said, "is my story. That is why you see me on Baldpate
Mountain this chill December morning. That is why loneliness can have no
terrors, exile no sorrows,
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