STUDENTS JOURNAL.
9
Editor left for college. She was a warm friend of Miss Blackburn's, was very much interested in the object of The Chromo, and wanted to do some practical work among the people.
"Well, 'the slums' certainly aren't very extensive,' " she said, laughing, in answer to the Editor's demand.
"The colored people compose them. mostly, I suppose?"
"Not at all. There certainly are a large number of negroes in Lowville, but on the whole they are tolerably respectable in their ways of living,and are well behaved. 'The slums,' as I call them are composed of a family, or more properly speaking, a tribe of low, white trash.' Have you really never seen the place?"
The Editor confessed he hadn't. "Indeed you must then. It's one of your editorial duties."
"How so?"
"Why, in the first place, because it's a blot on the ideal little city we are going to produce, and in the second, it is situated in a spot of exquisite natural beauty."
The Editor expressed his willingness to go at any time to visit the place.
"That's all very well, but you can't talk about it any longer." said Miss Blackburn who had been standing before them for several minutes.
"Here is a whole room full of people," she continued, "all the four hundred of Lowville, anxiously waiting to speak to the Editor of The Chromo. There are several young ladies present who think your ideas are simply heavenly: but I wish to introduce you first to a real old friend of mine, who desires to have a good look at that 'ultery young man.' 'Ultery' is ultra, but just what he means by it, neither he nor I know."
Gertrude laughed heartily. She had a very energetic way of talking and often burst out speaking so vehemently as to startle people. She took great pleasure in life. The Editor and Mildred were speaking of this quality of hers as they walked along on their way to "the slums."
"Miss Blackburn seems to get a good deal of amusement out of her receptions," said the Editor.
"Yes, she does. I think I never knew any one who so thoroughly enjoyed other people's idiosynracies; or her own, too, for that matter. She finds life in general interesting, but herself most interesting. She says she believes she has a dual existence. One self seems to project the other into the world of external things, while the first withdraws into itself and laughs at the prejudices and inconsistences of the other. I believe she has worked it out into system."
"She is certainly very intelligent. The success of The Chromo is due entirely to her contributions to its pages."
"O, no! At any rate, it wasn't be so because I am a raid she will soon tire of it."
"Indeed, I hope not," said the Elector sincerely. He was daily becoming more interested in his work and wished it to continue. He was not altogether pleased with the popular reception of his ideas. People were bowing down before the man saying, "What a beautiful thought!" but no one considered himself the person to put it into action. Newspapers were pointing the finger of scorn at the Editor saying, "Get down off your pedestal and go to work." That there were economic measures involved in his scheme, the Editor knew perfectly. The consideration of them, however, he did not regard as his task. In a democratic government, each one has his place to fill. The Editor's was to inspire enthusiasm.
"Nerve yourself for the spectacle." said Mildred, "for at the next turn of