The Normal Record. December 1904

              16
THE NORMAL RECORD.
lecture. Several times while Mr. Brown was
speaking, my friend said to himself, "Yes, yes.
Lincoln was a great man!" He then turned to
me and remarked that it was a mystery to him
that Mr. Baker had not said anything of him
in his Chronicle.
When Mrs. Hall sang the first verse of the
"Three Maids of Lea," he remarked that they
ought to be old maids, but when she sang the
last verse, he said that he felt sorry for them,
and he would not mind taking one of them.
About ten o'clock, the concert closed. My
friend any I were among the last to leave.
Before I could persuade the knight to step out
into the darkness, I had to assure him that
there no Mohocks in Chico. —B.
At the concert last night, I, in my accustomed character of Spectator, became very
much interested in observing the conduct of a
well-dressed, elderly woman sitting near the
corner where I had placed myself. I soon
classed here as belonging to a certain group
of people always found at places of amusement
who seem to consider that they must criticize
everything and let people know that they have
attended entertainments much superior to the
present one. She would, from time to time,
whisper little disapproving comments to her
companion. It was somewhat annoying to a
quiet listener like myself, that, in the best
part of a song or a most interesting sentence
of the lecture, she would take occasion to communicate with her friend. As the program
progressed and I studied this woman closely,
I could not help thinking that if she could
know how she appeared to the people near
her, she would have refrained from creating
such a disturbance. —D.
******
This morning I was aroused from my work
by a tapping on my door. On opening it, I
found my landlady there, who told me there
was a gentleman below who wished to speak
with me. On going down, I found Will Honeycomb standing in the hall and ogling the picture
of a pretty maid, which hung on the wall. Will
informed me that he was going up to the
Normal and asked me to accompany him. I
was highly pleased with the idea, for I had
often heard of the Normal as a great place
for learning.
On our journey up to the hall, Will gave
many, dark hints of a certain young student,
whom he called Flora,  and on whose  tender,
young heart he seemed to have made impression. These thoughts led him to speak of other
conquests he had made, so that, by the time
we reached the building, he was mightily
pleased with himself. He was in such high
spirits that he promised to present me, if
possible, to his young lady.
When we entered the hall, we at once found
ourselves among a large crowd of students,
as it was the noon hour and they were standing about enjoying this brief rest from their
duties. Will was at once surrounded by a
large number of young women, who seemed
very glad to see him. Seeing him agreeably
occupied, I slipped into the library, where I was
soon seated at a table near the door with a
book for entertainment.
My attention was soon drawn from my book
by a group of young girls, who stood near the
door. They took part in the general laughter
and chatting, and each seemed bent on making
herself and every other have an enjoyable time.
Their merriment reached such a height, that
at times bursts of laughter could be heard
through the closed door. As I was gazing on
them, the librarian rang the bell. Immediately
the group dispersed, each going slowly, as if
unwillingly to her work.
Here the chain of my reflections on these
young people, was broken by Will Honeycomb,
who said he would take me over the building.
We were accompanied by one of the teachers,
who seemed a most sensible man; and who
gave many interesting details of school life.
As I passed through the new addition, I could
not forbear admiring the generosity which the
California people displayed in the equipment
of their schools.
We now concluded our visit and turned homeward, both being well pleased. Will was fully
satisfied with his reception by the young
women; while I was delighted with the thought
of spending many pleasant hours in perusing
some of the new books in the library.   —C.
CONDITIONS.
Wild was the day; the wintry sea
Moaned sadly on New England's  strand,
When first the thoughtful and the free,
Our father's trod the desert land.
—Bryant.