of a Lady who invariably was first over the Fence in the Mad Pursuit
of Culture. She loved to fill her Front Rooms with Folks who wore
7¾ 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.