The Modest Immigrant
to a large class of immigrant working-girls, for whose benefit philanthropic women had planned evening classes, dexterously enlivened by a variety of entertainments. I was not sure whether I ranked as useful or amusing, and the number of topics I was bidden to tactfully avoid, added to my misgivings; when suddenly all doubts were dispelled by the superintendent saying sweetly, "Oh, Miss Repplier, you were asked to speak for forty minutes; but I think your address had better be cut down to twenty-five. The girls are eager for their ice-cream."
I said I sympathized with so reasonable an impatience. Even at my advanced age, I prefer ice-cream to lectures.
"Moi, je dis que les bonbons
Valent mieux que la raison."
But what did not flatter me was the clear understanding that my audience listened to me, or at least sat tolerantly for twenty
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