By Ruth Benedict, I'm so. glad you brought Courtney with you, Doctor de Laney, because I wanted to explain toyon both why I wasn't at the meeting of the Civic League. You know I'm intensely interested in anything that affects local conditions and general welfare. Marjorie and I have just decided that we'll devote ourselves to furthering municipal interests till the fall season begins. I think we ought to be able to accomplish a good deal before the summer is over, don't you, Mr. Courtney?
(Boy, pay plenty lemon squash, chop chop.) oe The housing problem seems just. the point for us to attack. A woman's suggestions might help the Council considerably, shouldn't you say so? They'd give a practical turn to the discussion, if you get what I mean. Some of the men may figure out how much unused Jand should be taxed, but Marjorie and I want to know why it is that people like the Robinsons, who are as nice as they can be if he doesn't make much money, couldn't find a house to live in, though they spent all their gasoline budget—_ for advertising and Doris gave up two meetings of our little group of serious thinkers because she was hunting houses. Some were all right, but if they had paid the key money they would have had nothing left for rent, or else the rent itself was so high they would have had to turn right round and sub-let for more if they could find any one desperate enough to pay the price. ye But as I was saying, we just couldn't do anything about the situation this week because we were seeing Hangchow with Mamma along to chaperone. Not but what I believe that the modern girl should be free and untrammelled, but Mamma doesn't feel just no chance for excitement there was no reason why she shouldn't go.
Don't you sometimes think, Doctor de Laney, that we young people of to-day don't give up enough time to our parents? I feel that, busy as I am, no matter how engrossed with local problems or world questions I should manage to see Mamma and Papa at one meal a day any way. It isn't always easy (dear Papa gets away so early in the mornings!) but if I haven't seen him for a day or two I sometimes call him up at the office. I think it does a man good to have his attention taken off business, 0 fresh breeze blowing over his desk, as it were. Papa doesn't seem to think so, but since I can get a more detached view I can judge more clearly than he. (Boy, pay lemon squash and cakes.) oe As I was saying, I thought it would be nice for Mamma to see
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