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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1914)
THE BEE: OMAHA, SATURDAY, MARCH LH, 1014. 11 , .... Out Mother Eve 0 & A Petal from the First Flower Copyright. 19H, lntprn'l Nowa Service By Nell Brinkley Nell Brinkley Says: ;.; T fcamd on a darlinv14ttle kid I know the qthpi; tfayi ' Mouthing qti' her 'plunift1 'jltUtf' kneesvdnl.tjiu slippery top of her mother's dressing table, among the sparkling crystal bottles of orange oil and "beautiful, golden 'and vioiof water, gazing ritytly into the morror at her own little self. . She had been to tho maid's room .and decorated her thin .Jlttlo neck wjth.that hard.-wor.king y.oung. perspri's '-aSiibec'Wads, .and'-'tuey1 hung lldfbttllan'd chain' around a flower stem but they glowed like any thing, and that was all she caredl Horo In her mother's jewelry box she Was rioting, her little fists full of gold beads and tilings that glittered and winked as the. sun. struck thorn full. And tho cynic smiled triumphantly, "re're is -our n'ricfent Mother 4Evoi - Alwnys hanging herself with things and adorning hot own imago! Eve in tho tree-nest, with her pet leopard dozing at its foot, wrapped her -garment of hair about her and found horeolf in tho pool below. This baby's mothor, anothor Evo, is right now, 111 wager, perched before hor biggest, clearest mirror ' p.uttlng up hor hair and smiling at her pretty face looking back' Women are vanity From, tho fominino atom utf.- And from the lovely Evo down!" f ' And yet, do you know I stood once for twenty minutes closo by a great,, fascinating, smooth plate-glass window. And thoro never passed ono. singlo man who did not tako a big survey or a little peok at himself as bo swung by. And about one Mothor Evo to his five 'did! What ;dld that mean, Cynic? mm f 1 i Dancing . Synopatu of Preceding: Chapter. Philip Anson, a boy of 15 when the atury opens, is of good family and has been well roared. Ills widowed mother lias been disowned by her wealthy rel atives and dies In extreme poverty, Fol lowing her death tho boy Is desperate. On. his return from the funeral. In a Violent rain, he Is able to save the life of a little girl, who was caught in a street Occident He goes back to the house, where his mother had died, and Is ready to hang himself, when a huge meteor falls In the courtyard, lie takes this as a sign from heaven, and abandons ijulcldc. Jnvestihatlon proves the meteor 'to, have been an Immense diamond. Philip arranges with a broker named tlsaacsteln to handle his diamonds. In getting away from Johnson's Mews, where the diamond fell, he saves a policeman's life from attack by a Criminal named Jockey Mason. He has made I friends with Police Magistrate Ablngdorn, and enrages him tq look after his affairs as guardian. This ends, the first part of the story. ulS?.8 Beoonl1 Part opens ten years later. , Philip has taken a loyrse nt tho unU yerslty, and is now a wealthy and ath letic younff man. much given to roaming. He haf learned his mother was sister of blr Philip Morland, who la married and baa a stepson. Ho is now looking for his nephew. Johnson's Mews hns been turned into tho Mary Anson Homo for Indigent Boys, one of London's most notablo private charities. Jockey Mason, out of .prison on tlckct-of-leavc, seeks for venze- nce, ana lulls in with victor Grenler. a master crook, and James Lnntrdnn. Ati. son or air Fiuim Morland. n lialnnt,i rounder. Philip saves a irlrl from insult from this eanr. and learns latrr is the same, elrl whoso Ufa hn hod on that rainy night. Grenler plots to get possession of Philip's wealth. His plan Ik to Impersonate Philip after he has been kidnaped and turned over to Jockey Mason. Just as this pair has come to an under:tandir.g, Langdon returns from tho girl s home, where he has attended a re ception. The thre crooks lay their plans, and In the meantime Philip arranges aa Mrs. Atjierly recovers some of her money from Lord Vanstone, her cousin, and secures u promise (rom the daughter to wed him. Anson Is lured by false mta ages to visit n secluded spot. Anson Is trapped by a gang at a ruined house. He Is hit on the head by Jockey Mason, who Qilnks he has slain the man he hated, and Victor Orenler helps strip the body. They throw the naked body over a cliff into the sea, and Grenler completes his preparations to Impersonate Anson. A note from Evelyn warning Philip of danger Is opened and read, and Orenler tins 3ison to can Anson a servant He finds Anson's check book, and with Jockey Mason sets out for the railroad, meeting and chatting with a rural police man on the way. Orenler roes to York and opens communications with Anson's bankers, witn AMngaon ana miss Atrieriy. fCopyrtght, by Edward J, CJode.l The bank manager assured him thero 'would be no difficulty whatever under such conditions. Orenler obtained hla passbook and checkbook, after writing a chock on London before the other man a Ices. . . tor a small amount an introduction would have been necessary. In the cass of Philp' Anson, tho millionaire, a man who handled thousands so readily, It wait needless. Moreover, his procedure was un exceptionable strictly according to bank ing business. Grenler rushed off to the station, caught a train for Leeda, wont to the bank of a different company with different London agents and carried through the same maneuver. Ife returned to York and secured tho services of the hotel typist. He wrote to Philip's bankers: "I am transacting some very important private business In tho north of England and have opened temporary accounts with the bank In York and tho - bank In Leeds, and 1 shall need a considerable sum of ready money. Possibly I may also open accounts In Bradford and Sheffield Today I havo drawn two' checks for 5,000 each. Kindly let me know by return the .current balance of my credit, as I dislike overdrafts and would prefer to real I to some- securities," The next letter ran: .".My Dear Abingdon: Excuse a type writer, hut I am horribly busy. The Mor lands affair la a puruy family and per sonal one; It brings Into activity circum stances dating far back in my life and In the llveH of my -parents. Blr Philip Is not dying nor oven dangerously 111. Lady Louisa Is In Yorkshtro and I am making arrangements which will close a long. standing feud. "Write mo here If necessary, but kindly keep back all business or other communi cations, save thpse of a very urgont char acter, for at least a week, or, perhaps, ten days. "8orry for this enforced absence from town. Jt simply cannot be avoided and I am sure you will eav,e a detailed ex planation until wo meet. I have algnej the enclosed annual report of the home, tary? Yours sincerely, "PHILIP ANSON." Grenler dictated this epistle from a carefully composed copy. He. understood the very friendly relations that existed between Philip and his chjet agent, and h- thought that In adopting a reml-apol-Will you kindly forward It to the aecro ogttlo, ' frankly rctleent tone, he was striking the right key. The concluding reference to the Mary Anson home was smart, he Imagined, while the main body of the letter dealt In safe generalities. Naturally, he knew nothing- of the con versation betwen the two men on this very topic a couple of months earlier. But Langdon'a ample confessions had fcearly revealed Philip s attitude, and the unscrupulous scoundrels was willing now to dare all In his attempt to gain fortune. While he was dining, a telegram was handed to him: "You forgot to send your address, but Mr. Abingdon gave it to me. Bo grieved you are detained. What about blue atom? ''EVELYN." Did ever woman Invent more tantaliz ing question than that concluding one? What, was a blue atom? No doubt, crea tion's scheme included blue atoms, aa well as blaok onea and red ones. But why this reference to any particular atom? Hor tried the words In every possible variety of meaning. BLUB ATOM. They became more Inexplicable. In one respect they were effective. They spoiled hla dinner. He had steeled him self against any possible form of surprise, but he was forced to admit that during the next thro days he must succeed In persuading Evelyn Atherley that Philip Anson was allvo and engaged In Import ant matters In Yorkshire. That was Im perative was hla scheme to be wrecked by a blue atom? Moreover, her query must be answered. Hla promise to writo was, of course, a mere device It would be manifestly ab surd to send her a typewritten letter, and, excellently as he could copy Philip's signature, he dared not put hla skill as a forger to' the test of Inditing a letter to her, no matter how brief, Finally ho hit upon a compromise. He wired: .Stupid of me to omit address. Your concluding sentence . mixed up In trans mission. Meaning not quite clear. Am feeling so lonely. PHILIP; "Then he tried to resume his dinner, but his appetite was gone. In postal facilities, owing to its posi tion on a main line, York Is well served from Londqn, At 9 p. m. two letters, one a bulky package and registered, reached him. The letter was from Mr. Abingdon. It briefly acknowledged his telegram, stated that a man In the Athenaeum, who knew Hr Philip Morland, had Informed him. In response to guarded Inquiries, that the baronet was exceedingly well off, and called attention to some Important leasca Inclosed which required his signature. The other noto was from Evelyn. It was tender and loving, and contained a reference that added to the mystifica tion of her telegram. "In the hurry of your departure yes terday." she wrote, "we forgot to men tion Blue Atom. What is your opinion? Tho price la high, certainly, but, then, picture the joy of it the only one in the world." And, again, came another message: "I referred to Blue Atom, of course. What jdld iho. POAUffjf e. ma.ke It into? EVELYN. Blue Atom was assuming spectral di mensions. He cursed tho thing fluently. It was high priced, a Joy, alone, In soli tary glory. What could It be?' He strolled Into the station and en tered into conversation with a platform Inspector. "By tho ,way," he said, casually, "havo you ever heard of anything called a blue atom?" The man grinned. "Is that another name for D. T.'s, sir?" Grenler gave It up, and reeolycd to postpone a decision' until tho next morn ing. By a late train Philip's portmanteau arrived. It was locked, and the key re posed In the cafe. Green, It ultimately transpired, solemnly opened tho safe, In the presence of the housekeeper and the butler. locked It again without disturbing any of the other contents, and handed the key to the butler, who placed It In tho silver pantry, , In trio solitude of his room, Grenler burst tho lock. Tho rascal received ono of the greatest shocks of his life when he examined tho contents a quantity of old clottling, some worn boots, a ball of twine, a bed coverlet, a big Iron key, the tattered letters, and a variety of odds and ends that would ImVo found no corner In a respectable rag shop. He burst Into a (It of hysterical laugh ter. "Yo goda and Utile fishes!" ho cried, "What a treasure! Tho Clnrkcnwell suit, I suppose, and a woman's skirt' and blouse. Oldtlmers, too,- by their style. His mother's,. I expect. He must have been fond of his mother." . At that moment Jockoy Mason, beetle, browed and resentful, waa reading a let ter which reached his lodging two hours before hla arrival, In an envelopo bearing the ominous Initials O. II. M. S. It was from Bouthwark police station. "Sir; KJndly make It convenient to attend here tomorrow evening at 8 p, m. Youra truly,' T. BItADLTJY. Inspector. The following day It waa Mason'a 'duty to report himself under his tlokct-of-leave but It was quite unusual for the police to give a preliminary warning In this respect. Fnlluro on his part mount arrest. That was all the officials looked after. "What's up now?" he muttered. "Any way, Grenler was right. This gives me a caattron alibi. I'll acknowledge It at once." Hla accomplice, hoping to obtain sleep from champagne, consumed the contents of a small bottle In his bedroom, while he scanned the columns of tho local even ing papers for any reference to a "Sea side Mystery' on the Yorkshire roast To Bo Continue' Monday ) An Expression of Joy in Life Most Natural of Our Impulses By ELLA WHEELER WILCOX. Copyright, 1914, by Star Company. Dancing Is an expression of Joy In life. When love for his Makor awoke In man the danco began. 'Ah far back aa history reaches we find daclng associated with religious rites. Dancing com- prlsca all the other arts. A beautiful dan cer expresses po etry, music, sculp ture, painting, all In tho dance. Besides being tho moat beautiful of all- Ri-ts, It Is tho most healthful of all oxorclses, whon enjoyed under light conditions. Besides being the most healthful, It Is the most moral of exercises. Young peoplo who aro given training In dancing and allowed to dance fre quently In clean, wholesomo environ ments and under wise chaperons utilize surplus vitality, whlr.lt. when suppressed by rigid rules or bigoted Ideas, ofttlmcs results In mlschtof and disaster. Take the old-fashioned religious com munltlen where dancing Is regarded as. n fin and there aro always to be found numerous cases of hysteria among tho young girls and various nervous maladies among the youths, No proper outlet for their superabundant young vital forces has been provided, no escape valve. Little children dance before they have cVor seen dancing; littlo kittens, and little puppies, and all small animals dance with the, Joy of existence, Tho waves of the sea, the loaves of the trees, tho grasses of the meadow fill dance. The sunbeams dance; and light Itself Is over In motion. The man and woman who have nevor learned the Joy to be experienced in dancing have missed a great happiness. . And they have missed a means of physical grace. Tho present renaissance of the art of dancing Is remarkable. For a decade, at least, before the tidal wavo rose, young men fled from ball looms and left girls to find partners among themselves. The woman who had passed 39 apolo gized If she waa seen dancing; and mar ried people were afraid to express a love for the diversion lest they be ridiculed. A beautiful and healthful and enjoy able urt seemed on the decline. Then sqddenly a change; an awaken Jng'o'f dull minds, a Umbering new In- tereat In the oldest of all arts. The dance was reborn. And youth Waa reborn in the hearts and bodies and minds of men and women of all ages, Grotesque, abnormal, unbeautlful and even vicious were' the early contortions of this reborn art. It seemed like some strange creature which had been shut in the dark so long that it became half In tone when let forth once more into the full light of day. Bo cramped had It been with its In carnation that It flung itself about - In curious contortions to make certain 'of Its freedom, But those contortions are now becom ing graceful movements; and the Insane expressions of liberty are resolving them celves once mora Into the primal meaning of the dance the Jpy of life. Nothing more absurd, nothing inoro un reasonable, could bo than the ban placed by various Individuals on dances bearing certain names. One sees tlamfnr headline announcing1 that somebody In power, socially or other wise, has sent forth an edict against the "tango" or some other new dance. As reasonable would It be to decry walking because It Is poaslblo to walk In decently. As reasonable would It be to brand music as an agent of the devil because music has been put to evil purposes by the vloloua minded. There wero certain curious dances, which sprung forth like fungus growths, and' lasted for a night and a day, bearing unwholeaome namea. The "turkey trota" deserved to be tabooed; moro particularly because of the suggestion of the barnyard, and tho most ungraceful of fowls, than for Ha own Inherent wickedness. It was vulgar rather than wicked. Dancing la an art. and should suggest only the artlatla and the beautiful. It belongs with perfumes, with flowers, with statuary and music, with gladness and rejoicing. Long ago, In eastern lands, devout and reverent souls danced songs to the rising sun, and today In those lands there are dancers In the temples who devote their lives to (acred rites, and who live purely and aweetly that they may be worthy In the eyes of their Creator to perform the religious dancea. There are moral minded men and women who have associated every evil meaning with the word tango. Yet the tango Is graceful, artistic and beautiful, as the minuet, when properly danced. It Is aa Innocent of anything Injurious to the morals of the young as skipping the rope. Instead of selecting some one or two new dancea to decry, our well meaning moralists should decry Indecent attitudes or suggestive movements In all dancing The same moralists mako no protests J against the Walts and two-step. Yet both of these dancea can be mad quite as objftctlonablo aa any of the most modern Inventions if the participant! so wish. When the waltz was first Introduced in tho ball room .It created aa great ex citement and aa vlocnt protests aa tho modern dancea are creating. Lord Byron, who was debarred from the pleasure by lameness, exhausted hla vocabulary of Invective against' the Immoral wait. Let ua be sensible and. reasonable. The dance Is reborn; and It must live Its Ufa. It must do Its work. It must be met aa a factor In social life. Instoad of at tempting to crush It, or abolish it; inr stead of saying to our young people, "You can dance and two'step, but yoU must not learn any of the new 'dancea,; they , are Indecent,' let ua aay, "Learn all the now dances, but be modest, de cent, graceful and well behaved qn the dancing floor. "Dane only with your r)end,s,, nd In tho environment which Is respectable and safe from Intrusion of the1 undesirable. Show all observers .how beautiful a 'thing dancing may be." Ana to our older people let u offer hearty congratulations that they no longer need apologize- or explain when owning to a love, of the art of all arts. For, today, the man or woman Who does not dance is the exception; He or she need to explain why. Not the dancer. 'A ncalthler world, a happier world and a more normal world will result from" the welcoming of this art than from It sup pression. And the world at large Is to be.' con gratulated, that a recreation has xomfc Into voguo, which brings tho sexes to gether. For many years there has been a ten dency, especially In America, toward separate pleasures for men and women Men herded In clubs; women In clubs of their own mahtcss drawing rooms, whore the eternal and braln-dwarftnsr and body-atlffenlng bridge game waa pur sued. Card are excellent friends to the human race when Indulged, in occasion ally. But nothing la more arresting to mental development, nothing la more un healthful and unsocial than a card mania, such a tho brldge-fobla, which ha now given place to the dancc-rltls. Women who spent entire days over the( bridge table, beginning In the fore. noo'n and ending at midnight, now meet their men friends at musical dances In the afterneon, or balls in the evening. Men who wero always In their clubs, when not In their offices, drop In at musical teas and enjoy dancing at their own homea or at the homes of their friends In the evening. On with the dance It will make the world more wholesome.