selves cheap soda water. Once before they Just avoided an explosion, 
and night before last they had a very bad explosion. They had the stuff 
in a very thick pottle and the pressure must have been tremendous. There 
were about thirteen kids, Jane said, in the home of one of them carrying 
on this experiment in the kitchen. When the explosion occurred, only 
Ed and the boy's whose home it was happened to be in the kitchen. Edwin 
was hit by the flying glass, one piece of which cut entirely through his 
left eye and another one cut one hand to the bone. The other boy had 
a bad cut in his forehead. 
Edwin had to go to the hospital at once and have his eye re- 
moved. His mother was with him all night and Jane all day yesterday. 
I asked Jane how she came out in her encounter with the doctor. She 
said, " Oh, I have appendicitis and he says I cught to have an operation 
pretty soon, but I can't do an^hing about it now with Edwin in this fix." 
I said, "I suppose Edwin has less money than any of the rest of you." She 
said, "He has one dollar in the bank, and this is going to be an expen- 
sive business." I guess his mother has spoiled him rotten. 
He won't be issued a driving license for three years, Jane 
saye, until he becomes accustomed to the use of only one eye. He is 
mad as hops about it, but it will probably be a good thing. In that 
time he may grow up a little and get a grain or two of sense. 
We got off at one o'clock yesterday in order to see the A.rmy 
Day parade. It rained pitchforks all day. Just a few minutes before 
one Miss Bates (who cataloged for us one, you remember) dropped in. She 
had gotten off at 12:15 and had time on her hands until the parade passed 
here at two o'clock, I was so mad at her i could cheerfully have choked 
her. She sat aroxmd here tmtil two o'clock, I never did like her when 
she was here, and I dislike her coming in now and then to waste my timet 
When she left, I went home. 
Mrs. Van Winkle is here. She got in last evening, and went 
to call on the Congers. She wanted me to go with her, but I had a dinner 
engagement which I had made several days ago, not knowing she would get 
here before today. We are having lunch with Conger today, is stay- 
ing at the Powhatan Hotel with the friend who is with her, 
doubled their rates this week, and the girls are paying $S,00 for a $4.00 
room. Nice racket, isn't it? They are going on to Boston early tomorrow. 
Seward Rathbim called me up this morning, to a,sk me to keep 
an eye on Miss H. It seems that the left the house in a huff this morn- 
ing without her lundh, and the maid told him she seemed very confused, 
I asked him if he wanted me to get her a lunch. He said yes*, if I 
could make it seem accidental. I had an extra apple and I bou^t a sand- 
wich which I gave Jane. Just now when Miss Rathbun started to put on 
her coat to go out, Jane told her she had more than she wanted and wouldn't 
Miss R. have lunch with her? Miss R. accepted and told Jane how nice it 
was of her, Seward didn't say anything about reimbursing me if I got her 
lunch. Of course it is a small matter, but I am interested to see what 
happens when he comes in here this afternoon. 
