The Quiet Corner
November 17, 1926 THE COMMONWEAL 57 THE QUIET CORNER I counsel thee, shut not thy heart nor thy library —C. Lamb. Britannicus, wandering uncertainly into the library, heaved a sigh and...
...announced Angehcus impressively...
...asked Dr...
...No, her name alone is sufficient to assure me that she is fair," maintained the Doctor, with a far-off, romantic look in his eyes "Well, if you are going to have a girl-friend named Comaruru on Mars, there's nothing to prevent me, when I get my new, becoming, blue wings, from having a boy-friend named Cockalorum on Venus," replied Miss Brynmarian airily...
...He coyly refused further information about the fair Martian...
...She was explaining to me why only a repetition of the letter m came through to Mars last night.' The reporters promptly dropped everything else to inquire about Comaruru...
...Miss Brynmarian regarded the hollows under his eyes suspiciously...
...Robinson...
...Miss Brynmanan regarded him severely, and then pointed dramatically to the clock...
...asked Britannicus "I do, indeed," replied the Doctor...
...White wings, they never grow weary,'" murmured Britannicus...
...No, taxi" "Taxi'" exclaimed the Doctor...
...It is said that the Martians have ears like cabbage-leaves...
...The Doctor unctuously flourished his blue pencil over a manuscript...
...She is a great friend of the director of the biggest wireless station on Mars,' Dr...
...What does it say, Doctor...
...I was never more serious...
...Now even Dr...
...Will you let me witness your tnal flight...
...Say, rather, you were up all night on a lark," she remarked acidly...
...And crimson ones would be simply sweet on you, Britannicus...
...demanded the Doctor indignantly...
...Moreover, you seem to be in the best of health...
...Oxen'" asked Britannicus...
...If I were you, before I went to see Comaruru, I think I'd ask first for her picture...
...self-consciously asked the Doctor, looking up for a moment...
...Britannicus, wandering uncertainly into the library, heaved a sigh and dropped, exhausted, into a chair...
...As a matter of fact, I was up this morning with the lark...
...Yes," he said loftily, "I cannot but feel that I have been a model of punctuality lately I really don't understand, Britannicus, why you can't get here earlier " "It's the traffic," moaned Britannicus...
...He also astonished reporters who called on him by declaring that he was still in communication with the red planet...
...Angehcus hastily...
...Interrupting himself while being interviewed, he listened intently for a moment to a voice inaudible to others present, and then solemnly said: 'That is Comarum, my lady friend on Mars...
...Roller skates...
...And it will be no distance at all from Brooklyn to the library " "Not as the crow flies," admitted Britannicus "What do you mean by that...
...There are no larks in New York...
...58 THE COMMONWEAL November 17, 1926 "Every morning you will watch me flutter gently down among you...
...I have here news of the greatest importance which will revolutionize the traffic in New York and bring every man to his office in as short a time as though the aty were a deserted village with not even a solitary motor-car in sight—yea, even a shorter time...
...It seems to me you are rather self-confident," remarked Britannicus...
...But I don't know where I could find an ox-cart over here," complained Britannicus, "and as it is now, I am spending practically half of every day in journeying thirty blocks...
...asked the Doctor, flushing...
...queried Miss Brynmanan "No—wings...
...Perhaps not weary, but they do grow soiled," remarked Miss Brynmarian practically...
...In fact, I have just ordered a pair...
...Oh, nothing personal, nothing personal," said Britannicus hastily...
...Angehcus arrives before you do...
...If the least angelic, why not the most angelic...
...Robinson informed them...
...It's so congested that one could almost make a round-the-world cruise in the time it takes to get from Eighth to Forty-second Street...
...The oxen-drawn cart of Europe is infinitely less leisurely, and also has the advantage of being picturesque...
...Indeed1" sniffed Miss Brynmanan...
...I see you have another clipping there," suggested Miss Brynmarian...
...Subway...
...Do not despair," said the Doctor, pulling a clipping from his pocket...
...The Librarian...
...Oh, Doctor, how lovely...
...It is in poor taste to jest about such a grave municipal crime as the traffic congestion," said Britannicus soberly...
...I think, for myself, that I will choose sapphire blue ones...
...exclaimed Miss Brynmanan...
...Er—how do you travel, Britannicus...
...I suppose they'll come in all colors...
...Nor can I see why she should be girlfriend only to Dr...
...The machine consists of a pair of wings moved by an improved motor which, although extremely light in weight, furnishes a surprising amount of power...
...Allow me to read this to you " The Doctor focussed his spectacles on his clipping and read: "A despatch from Vienna announces that wings will soon adorn the least angelic of men, according to M. Lutsch, an Austrian inventor...
...The first model weighed eighty pounds and lifted the inventor several yards from the ground and enabled him to move swiftly in any direction at will...
...I shall, by all means, give an exhibition," said Angehcus...
...You're getting later every morning," she complained...
...Jest...
...H. Mansfield Robinson, the telepathist, who claims to be the only man on earth to send a message to Mars, has added that he has received a message in answer...
...Your selection of those two clippings is significant," remarked Britannicus...
...Do you contemplate using your new wings in an attempt to reach Mars'" "Well, I will admit that this Comaruru intrigues me," confessed the Doctor...
...Well, no wonder it takes you hours...
...He is credited with building an apparatus to be worn by the individual, which will enable everyone to do a certain amount of flying in comfort and safety...
...You misunderstand," said Angehcus...
...Do you expect to travel everywhere with them, Doctor...
...Angelicus looked a trifle embarrassed as he read: "London.—Dr...
Vol. 5 • November 1926 • No. 2
