OUR GUEST BOOK 



combination of a painter and a naturalist could have 

 produced it. Very ingenious it is and very interesting, 

 but not everyone agrees with him. This does not 

 please Mr. Thayer at all. 'Don't you think that any 

 of this bird color was created simply for beauty?' asked 

 my friend Mr. B — . 



" T am surprised that a man of your intelligence 

 should believe that there is such a thing as beauty,' was 

 the sharp retort." 



Then the Constant Improver and the Modest Genius 

 began to exchange wondrous tales and the air was filled 

 with laughter and much encouraging applause. 



"You remember the story about the hippopotamus, 

 don't you? No? Why, that's one of my stand-bys. 

 A man began suit against his neighbor for calling him 

 a hippopotamus ; and when the case came up the judge 

 said, 'But I find that it 's nearly two years since he called 

 you a hippopotamus.' 



" 'Yes,' was the bitter response 'but I never saw one 

 until two weeks ago.' " 



After listening one morning to an enthusiast upon the 



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