73/4 Hats and read Norwegian Novels that no one else ever heard
anything about.

On the Evening already mentioned she had a Cluster of Geniuses on
hand. They were expected to Talk for a couple of Hours, so as to
work up an Appetite for Neapolitan Ice-Cream and Lady-Fingers. In
the course of time they got around to the Topic of Modern Music. All
agreed that the Music which seemed to catch on with the low-browed
Public was exceedingly punk. They rather fancied "Parsifal" and were
willing to concede that Vogner made good in Spots, but Mascagni they
branded as a Crab. As for Victor Herbert and J.P. Sousa--back to the
Water-Tanks!

[Illustration: _They Love It._]

A little later in the Game the Conversation began to Sag and it was
suggested that they have Something on the Piano. They gathered around
the Stack of Music and then Vogner went into the Discard and Puccini
fell to the Floor unnoticed and the Classics did not get a Hand. But
they gave a Yelp of Joy when they spotted a dear little Cantata about
a Coon who earned a Razor and had trouble with his Wife. They sang
the Chorus 38 times and the Young Lady wore out both Wrists doing
Rag-Time.

* * * * *

MORAL: It is proper to enjoy the Cheaper Grades of Art, but they
should not be formally Indorsed.

* * * * *

_THE ONE OR TWO POINTS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEARNING AND LEARNING
HOW_

In a Red School-House back in the Web-Foot District, it was the Custom
to have a Debate every Friday Afternoon. The much-mooted Question as
to which does the greater Damage, Fire or Water, had been carefully
gone over by the Squabs. Also who was the heftier Proposition,
Napoleon or Washington? But the original Stand-by was as follows:
"Resolved, that Education is better than Wealth."

The Corporate Interests got many a Whack here in the Knowledge Works.
Most of the Children wanted to grow up and be like Galileo. They
claimed that mere Wealth could not purchase Happiness. The only
genuine Peace of Mind came from being able to call off the Geological
Periods with the Eyes closed.

[Illustration: _Otis and Bradford._]

Here in this little Brain Hatchery were two Kids who were not Mates.
One was named Otis and the other was Bradford, or Brad for Short. Otis
was the Boy who took the Affirmative side on Friday Afternoon. Ote
firmly believed that Learning was the most valuable Asset that a Man
could tuck away. Brad