Page 38 - 1913 November - To Dragma

TO DRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI 43

the men and women, their lives and their tastes. She was recalled to
the presence of her companion by an excited whisper from her.

"Do you know I think these men just behind us are Harvard
medical students, they've been talking so much about cutting people
up. Just listen to their jollying. They are so funny!"

Two of the boys in question were evidently freshmen, and with the
prodigality of youth they were making the audience a handsome pres-
ent of their opinions on all sorts of subjects. They were very witty
at the expense of their two companions, older men, who were
carrying on a low-toned conversation and ignoring the gibes and
jeers hurled at their heads.

Sophy was delighted. Comedy of this type she could understand.
I t charmed her to discover that beings from a sphere of life she
regarded with reverence, could indulge in it. At last one of the
youths said, " A l , do you know why Harris the Great is with us to-
night? You probably think it's because he wants to listen to your
sparkling remarks and gaze into your dreamy eyes, but you have an-
other think coming. Did you know the medical profession took off
its hat to him last week because he proved he knew more about lep-
rosy than any six men in Uncle Sammy's little burg? I f you were in
the last stages you might expect some attention from him. Being
a healthy chap with a double chin, he takes not an atom of interest
in you."

"No, I didn't know i t , " from the other man, "but I hope to Heav-
en he'll never get a chance to take an interest in me! Why is he
wasting his time here i f he is such a grind? Looking for patients?"
He laughed at the folly of his question.

"My son," reprovingly said the other voice, " have you never done
any religious reading? Your parents, my boy, can't be any better
than they ought to be. They may have made you read the Bible,
but unless you have mastered Ben Hur also you can't truthfully be
called, in the broadest sense of the term, an educated man. To go back
to Harris, there is a scene in this play that has two lepers in it, and
Harris is here in his professional capacity. You may expect to see
him leap upon the stage and ask to examine them to see if they are
indeed the real things."

The house was darkened and the curtain rose, putting a stop to

further conversation.
Sophy, who had the theater habit in its most acute form, lost

her identity completely and when the scene ended sat entranced,
waiting dumbly for her mimic world to open to her again. Cimbria's
attention was caught by a new voice behind her.